2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS review from North America
"Good car let down by basic design flaws and poor service"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Battery went dead - insider at dealer acknowledged problem to be due to excessive drain from alarm system. Required replacement which was not covered under warranty.
Velor on seats attracts any lint and is nearly impossible to keep clean.
Corrosion on rear truck lid near plate light - trunk replaced under warranty.
All Wood veneers and wood shifter knob split due to coating failure - all replaced under warranty.
Matt black finish on arm rests starts to peel off after 2 years - even with replaced parts.
Dealer service leaves a lot to be desired and all calls are directed back to dealer - Volkswagen doesn't want to deal with consumers directly.
Had under-engine panel drop while traveling on highway nearly creating major accident - no real apology from dealer for mechanic not reattaching bolt to secure or offer to replace damaged panel.
Questioned use of higher viscosity oil in cold climate despite manual suggesting otherwise (resulted in longer cold cranking in winter) - only satisfactory resolution was to provide own oil.
V6 engine is a bit sluggish.
General comments?
Car handles extremely well and engine is very smooth.
Comfortable car and some nice touches.
Overall warranty issues and service experience do not encourage me to return to Volkswagen.
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| 2001 - Passat GLX 4 Motion wagon 2.8 Entry Level Luxury with problematic mechanicals |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2002 |
| Year of manufacture | 2001 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 16 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 86000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Nissan Maxima |
| Date of Entry | 27th December, 2004 |