Comments: 1-15, 16-17
Passenger-side rear door would not open from inside.
Passenger-side rear window would not open. (electrical problem)
Passenger-side rear window would not open. (mechanical problem)
Mag wheel lug-nut lock stripped.
Front brakes worn at 30,000 miles.
Door lock transmitter batteries dead... replaced and recoded for 150 dollars.
Cooling system leak.
Cup holders broken twice. (very poor design)
Squeaky wheels from brake-dust build-up.
Brakes run very hot!
Lower door molding regularly falls off and needs to be re-attached.
Engine knocks frequently.
Does not climb hills well. (must manually shift gears)
While the car is very attractive, safe (seems to be) and comfortable, the problems with this car and the dealerships have led me to believe that purchasing this car is one of the stupidest things that I have ever done.
We did not even get the car off the dealers lot before the problems began. In what was a clear omen, the rear door would not open from the inside. The dealer quickly fixed the problem.
Once we got the car home, we discovered that he rear window would not open. Also, in a matter of days, the rear door again would not open. This time both from the inside and outside. We took the car back to the dealership and they repaired the car again.
A few days later the door and window again would not open. Back to the dealer we went. We seriosly began to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. Also, about that time we noticed that the wheels squeaked. The dealer told us that this was normal and would subside. Thankfully, they fixed the door and window, but the squeak only continued to get louder.
We, at that point, called VW USA... and quickly discovered the futility of dealing with those dolts. They, amazingly admitted that the squeak was a result of the brake pad dust and that what we were hearing was, in fact, a normal noise. Well, if the noise was so normal I asked, rhetorically, why did people stare at us when we drove by them. Was it the sleek beauty of our car or the nerve-racking squeal.
I could continue to detail the multitude of problems that our car has experienced since we purchased it some three years ago, or tell you that thoughts of insurance fraud and the real possibility of jail time have begun to appear more attractive and cheaper financially then continued ownership of our 1999 Volkswagen Passat.
Please for the sake of your soul, financial solvency and sanity realize that the temptation your feel when you think of buying a Passat is just a normal human reaction to the beauty that the devil himself has placed before you. Woes ye that ignores my warning!
I feel sorry for not reading this experience before, I felt as a human flesh for the beauty and experience many problems alike that it would take long to comment, mine required in the first 18 months more than 10 visits to the dealership talking about 12 weeks, after I found an independent mechanic with much more experience than the dealership things have improved, but the maintenance running cost is awful high.
Jorge Bucio
Pasatt 1.8T 99.
Aside from the dash rattle, my 2002 Passat GLS V6 is flawless. I only have 12,000 miles on it though, so I hope my luck continues. Normally VW's are long lasting strong performers.
The Germans make the best PERFORMING cars in their class overall, but the Japanese still win in INITIAL QUALITY.
See my review for details on the 2002 Passat GLS V6.
Best of Luck.
I am still suffering from lust of my 1999 VW Passat. Even though I have just spent $850 dollars on repairs and was without my car for 11 days straight I don't want to give it up.
Rear cup holder broken about a week after delivery.
Tiptronic (manual) failed at 20,000 miles. It took over a week for the failed part to arrive from Germany.
Brakes squeal intermittently for the past 10,000 miles.
Misfiring at 56,000 miles due too bad ignition coil and bad ignition module. Dealership didn't know what to do about it. They called us after they fixed the coil and then the replaced coil went out while the service manager was driving it through the car wash. Then they finally figured out the real problem was the module. After 11 days, I finally have my car back and it has been fine since.
VW Customer service was no help with the costs of repairs and rude to me on the phone. I asked for copies of the case files so I could keep them and they balked at the request saying I could get a lawyer to request them, but they would not send them to me. I asked for the records because the information given to them by the dealership was inaccurate and I believe the reason they did not offer assistance.
I will say that it did perform well in a collision and my son and I were safe. A small truck ran a stop sign on a small side-street in our town. I slammed on the brakes and was almost at a complete stop when the right front of my car hit the truck behind the passenger's side door. The truck swerved to miss a light pole and flipped over and slid about 30 yards on its windshield. Everyone was OK, but my bumper was gone, the hood was bent and there was slight damage on the right front quarter panel. The total repair cost was $2500. (Paid by the other guy)
My husband wants to get rid of it ASAP before it costs us more money.
Regarding dead batteries in your VW doorlock transmitters:
The lithium batteries used in the doorlock transmitter are about 2 bucks at Radio Shack. The transmitter is opened by prying at the little notch. After the battery is changed, the transmitter has to be recoded. For this reason, the manual tells you to have the dealer change the battery. However, my owner's manual also has the recoding instructions, and the whole procedure takes only about a minute. Note that regardless of what the instructions say, the SERVICE key (the one with the picture of a wrench) should be the one in the ignition while recoding.
The price stated above for battery replacement is about what VW quoted me for an whole additional transmitter and cutting a new security key, so something is fishy here.
I can only echo many of the negative comments by others on this page.
My '99 Passat performs well, but the maintenance and repair costs are overwhelming.
At 20,000 miles the main electrical cables began corroding. After a struggle with dealer they covered partial cost of replacing the cables and added a metallic cover to the housing to prevent further moisture entry and corrosion.
Front Brake Pads wear frequently and are very expensive to replace.
After every oil change my dealer harassed me by phone to give them a "perfect score" in surveys to VW North America.
Now at 110,000 miles despite religiously sticking to the maintenance schedule on the vehicle my salesman told me would easily give me 200,000 vehicle has developed an engine oil pressure problem
Dealer says it will cost $800 to $1,000 dollars for their "perfect" service dept. to figure out what is wrong.
This car is a dream to drive, but the repair costs turn this "reasonable" sedan into a luxury vehicle. You might as well buy a Lexus or Acura because by the time you total the massive repair costs you will have paid that much.
I'm sorry to say that I can only echo the woes of my fellow Passat owners. I purchased my 99 Passat GLS V6 with less than 4K miles in Feb 2000. For the most part the car has been a dream, however, I too have begun to feel the impact of costly repair bills with currently only 46K miles to date.
I remember the back cupholder breaking several times and the dealer promptly repair... I concluded it was just poor design.
I have replaced the driver side mirror because it broke completely off. I also replaced the driver sun visor because it broke completely off.
The water pump was recently replaced and luckily covered under warranty.
My biggest problem to date is my fuel injuectors. A month after replacing the water pump, the engine light comes due to faulty fuel injectors. I was told it was due to the a specific gas I was using (BP). I have gas receipts going back 3 years showing I purchased the required premium gas for my car and didn't understand why the fuel injectors were bad. Of coursed, VW of America is telling me they cannot assist with repair ($486) due to the my car being over its original warranty (2 years/24K miles) and also due to outside influence, which was the gas I used. The gas company is saying it is the car. Needless to say, I'm stuck with the repair bill and what I'm beginning to think is a poorly built car.
I'm sorry to say that I can only echo the woes of my fellow Passat owners. I purchased my 99 Passat GLS V6 with less than 4K miles in Feb 2000. For the most part the car has been a dream, however, I too have begun to feel the impact of costly repair bills with currently only 46K miles to date.
I remember the back cup holder breaking several times and the dealer promptly repair... I concluded it was just poor design.
I have replaced the driver side mirror because it broke completely off. I also replaced the driver sun visor because it broke completely off.
The water pump was recently replaced and luckily covered under warranty.
My biggest problem to date is my fuel injectors. A month after replacing the water pump, the engine light comes due to faulty fuel injectors. I was told it was due to the a specific gas I was using (BP). I have gas receipts going back 3 years showing I purchased the required premium gas for my car and didn't understand why the fuel injectors were bad. Of coursed, VW of America is telling me they cannot assist with repair ($486) due to the my car being over its original warranty (2 years/24K miles) and also due to outside influence, which was the gas I used. The gas company is saying it is the car. Needless to say, I'm stuck with the repair bill and what I'm beginning to think is a poorly built car.
2000 Passat 1.8T performed very well over 60k miles
One of the window lift motors failed shortly after buying the new car. It was fixed for free. And that was the only problem I ever had so far. I easily get 30 mpg (mostly freeway, some stop & go) and with the Neuspeed Chip this car moves!
My 1999 Passat has sustained thousands of dollars in engine system failures from 58k- 60k, i.e. Just past warranty coverage.
To wit: Throttle body- $560; On Board Diagnostic Module- $900 (dealer allowed warranty) ; Engine wire harness-$1100 (dealer allowed warranty) ; And finally the "piece de resistance", Oil Pump failure while being serviced by dealer for alignment-my cost (yes, mine) - $800 oil pump & $3300 new cylinder head. Something is wrong here.
I wish I would have known about this site and my 1998 VW Passat's previous information. I bought used at 63285 miles. The warranty was 75,000 but non-transferrable (I found out later). Chronological order of problems/repair dates and cost to follow (Included are mine and previous owner from actual work orders) :
05/20/1998 = Install window tint 109.00
09/24/1998 = Sunroof opening at will warranty
10/19/1998 = Sunroof moving on own no problem found
10/19/1998 = Ck engine light on Replace plugs warranty
11/13/1998 = Sun roof open/close by self replace switch " "
05/11/1999 = L Front window tint coming off replace
Sunroof opening replace switch
RR window does not work replace window motor
Regulator assembly broke replace
15000 odom. Brake chk replace pads
05/11/1999 = Total cost 109.11
10/12/1999 = RR window not working replace pin & regulator
21860 odom. Squeaking brakes no solution
Broken solenoid wire replace
10/12/1999 = Total cost warranty
12/28/2000 = Tire rotation 24.95
Brakes squeaking clean brake rotors
12/28/2000 = Drivers foot rest fell off replace trim
Drivers seat belt will not recoil
Place and program new remote
12/28/2000 = Total cost 282.33
02/23/2001 = Rock through liner 129.95
04/04/2001 = Replace battery 194.95
12/07/2002 = Drivers window switch broke replace
Loosing power steering fluid replace clamps
Air vent not working replace
Sunroof grinding greased
12/07/2002 = Total cost 256.19
12/14/2002 = A/C Vent not working replace
Wheel blow out replace
Tie Rod bushings blown replace
front end alignment
12/14/2002 = Total cost 573.47
07/30/2003 = Brake Pads 60142 odom. replace
Vac line replaced
WK recall completed
Lube sunroof
07/30/2003 = Total cost 562.62
12/18/2003 = Losing power steering fluid replace hose
Axle boot broken replaced
12/18/2003 = Total cost 334.96
01/09/2004 = CV/Control arm broke due to excessive
force on installation of axle boot at V/W repair facility by technician. (Purportedly did not charge labor, only parts)
01/09/2004 = Total cost 653.45
07/15/2004 = C/V Axle still broke 326.97
Recently had to replace four tires and am not including that cost. Also Battery replacement 64.99
12/23/2003 = Re tint right front window 21.00.
Total cost incurred thus far 3622.94
These do not include regular oil changes, filters, etc. nor the inspection or registration fees.
You are an intelligent, informed consumer and can make up your own mind regarding my particular vehicle problems and cost. I can honestly say I have learned my lesson.
L.A. Beaugh.
99 Passat V6 Alloy Package. Love the car/hate the bills. I haven't gone 1 full year without a problem: wire harness replaced, injectors, electrical problems with locks, CV joints, gaskets... you name it. Tomorrow, I am about to trade it in to some poor sucker for a brand new vehicle with a 5 yr/60k warranty... I feel like I am losing a hot girlfriend that mistreated me all these years, but I was too in love to care.
Good riddance! I am sticking to dependability, not looks.
My '98 Passat has less than 70k miles. I have had experiences similar to those enumerated on this board; the car has been breathtakingly expensive to maintain. It seems like every few months, some struts or shocks or something give out and I'm out another $800 or so. The Passat isn't even any fun to drive any more; in fact it is an ordeal. Something has gone wrong with the acceleration; in first gear (it is a 5 speed manual transmission), it takes forever to get to about 15 mph. Fifteen year old Chevy Luminas blow me off the line. The dealership has taken more than $900 of my money, and can't seem to diagnose the problem. Possibly related to this, the mileage is horrible--maybe 16 mpg city. My previous car was a Honda Accord; my next car will be a Honda or a Toyota, and so will every car I own thereafter.
My 1999 Vw Passat has been very good! I am replacing the front window clips, but I really can't complain it has a 142,500 miles on it. It burns some oil and the Ac is marginal, but it is a good solid car.
How can anyone call this car beautiful??
It's no howler, but beautiful? Come on.
Interesting thought... if you folks have so much trouble with the dealers and you've bought a used car, go some where else! There are lots of smaller garages around that deal in VW repairs. I don't get going back for more after you have been shafted once.