1999 Volkswagen Passat tdi 110 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Diesel pump replaced soon after buying the car. This was very expensive as the pump timing has to be reset on Volkswagen diagnostic machine. Six out of eight front suspension link arms needed replaced at 75 thousand miles (very common). Blower motor needed replaced. Central locking has failed on three of the doors at different times. Two exterior door handles replaced. Rear door catch mechanism failed on a frosty morning. Frame on driver's seat replaced, no I'm not overweight. Engine management light has come on and off as long as I've had the car. Door weather seals at windows have all bubbled due to corrosion. Bonnet catch broke in motorway services after topping up screen wash.

Being a mechanic I've carried out most repairs myself. I can hardly believe that so many things have failed on this car. I would have been the first to recommend a VW to anyone, but now I no longer beleive the motoring press. I repair VW's all the time with similar faults. These cars feel and look expensive, but the materials they are built with are substandard. Avoid at all costs.

If you read the motoring press, you won't find too many complimentary remarks about the reliability of more recent VW's, particularly the Golf and Passat models, and the list of known faults has been well documented.

Check www.reliabilityindex.co.uk and you'll see nearly half of all Passats have had some kind of suspension problem, more than 15% have had electrical faults, and more than 10% have had fuel system faults. According to the overall reliability index, the Passat is less reliable not only than the Japanese competition, but also the Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Mondeo and Peugeot 406. Strange for a manufacturer which people still seem to think represents engineering excellence, and which commands residual values to match, although if it's any consolation, the more expensive Audi A4 fares even worse. The JD Power survey wasn't much more complimentary.

My brother bought a 2yr old "VW Approved Used" Passat TDI PD 130 from a main dealer two years ago, and although it's a great drive, reliability wise it's been a nightmare. Two water leaks into the passenger footwell, leaking air conditioning, a mysterious tappet noise, failed central locking, split turbo pipework, and its recently developed a clutch judder which will cost the best part of £1,000 to put right (the parts alone are £600!). The car has a full VW service history, and has not yet done 50,000 miles! The repair costs in year 2, without the clutch, have totalled almost £700. I know someone with a 1986 Ferrari 328 GTB who doesn't spend that much on maintenance!

On the evidence of these surveys and my brother's experience, I wouldn't touch a modern VW.

I took the new Passat for a test drive, and there was a nasty rattle from the engine and the seat lumber adjustment broke as I adjusted it. As before the package is very seductive, but I would have my doubts about long term reliability.

I own a 2000 W reg passat, Has full serive history and has now done 162000 miles. The car was previously a VW owned car and 120000 are motorway miles. The car has never had any major problems its still on the same clutch and gearbox. I have only replaced the alternar, air flow meter and boot joints. I am very pleased with the car. It does however have a central locking fault where as when you press the button inside to lock the doors the passenger door locks and unlocks. The driver door seal is leaking air and the aircirculation button on the climate control has stopped working. I have had the car chipped to 140bhp and 250 lbs of torque what a difference, I had played with loads of other VW diesels 130bhp passats etc and wipe the floor with them. I raced a Golf GTi 1.8T y plate from 0 to 120mph and both cars were identical. The car does 0-60 in 9.1 seconds and will hit 135mph and still averages 50mpg. By far the best car I have had. will replace in 2006 for a BMW 330d, bu am still keeping the passat for my wife its good for at least another 100K.