Sleek looking, handles well in snowy conditions. When it's running smoothly, it is a GREAT car--but that's usually 40% of the time!

Volkswagen fails to offer consumers coupons, promotional offers, etc. to make one really feel proud to drive a VW. They do NOT take care of their customers.

I got my VW Passat 2002 in 10/01. Since then I have had both headlight bulbs replaced (within one month of each other), a catalytic converter replaced, and now I am on my FIFTH ignition coil replacement. At the present time, my car is once AGAIN in the shop and I am driving another rental car! This should NOT be happening to a vehicle that is a little over a year old. When the engine light initially began blinking I had only had the car for 4 months. That was for the FIRST ignition coil replacement. Since last Feb. 2002, my car has been in the shop at least once every 6-8 weeks for repair. I am truly disappointed in Volkswagen and wish they would just admit to a product recall. The last time I had my car serviced--NINE other Passats were in the shop that morning for the same problem -- ignition coil replacements. Can the Lemon Law rule be applied on this from the time of the first incident?

Similar Products Used:

Nissan Maxima

Nice design

unreliable (faulty coils) weak VW customer care

The Passat is a good looking, badly engineered car. I have had it for six months and it has already been in for a coil replacement. It seems to be a recurring problem that VW will not acknowledge. I waited several weeks for the backordered parts. It took me very little time to locate several other Passat owners who have had one coil replacement on their 2002 Passat and had to return for more coil replacements. VW customer service has not been helpful thus far. I do not feel safe in this car- and I am now awaiting the next breakdown

Similar Products Used:

Maxima

Solid, german built, safe A blast to drive ULEV status You don't see your exact same car at every other intersection

Small fuel tank

Having driven Mercedes and Toyotas in the past, I was not quite sure what to expect from a VW. I absolutely LOVE this car as much as my Mercedes. The ride is far more responsive and controlled that the Japanese cars I've driven (camry and Accord). The turbo engine took a few days to "learn" how to drive but now, especially with the Tiptronic transmission engaged, this little engine pulls very strong up to top speed. The interior is also far superior to the VW's competitors. Finally, safety. ALL SAFETY ITEMS ARE STANDARD!! Not so, for example, with the Toyota Camry.

Similar Products Used:

Mercedes 350 SDL Toyota Camry

Nice Design

Poor gas mileage Unreliable Continual eclectric problems Poor customer service - dealership

Since purchasing this vehicle in 9/01, I have had problems with the headlights burning out, had to replace the ignition coils, and now the radio does not work. I have been without my car for about 28 days - not including the upcoming radio repair. I do not recommend this car!

Good looking car

too many to mention

Since 9,000 miles - what a horrible experience! ignition coils twice, headlights, gas gauges and now some immobilizer! My car's been out for more than 30 days. I wish I would have seen this site prior to the purchase - should have purchased the Lexus I wanted. What a NIGHTMARE. Looks great-if you don't need to drive it you'll be OK.

Similar Products Used:

Toyota - my niece is still driving it after180K miles

Looks good and classy-seems like a heavy duty car, inside and out.

Not to reliable it seems. Is a gas hog. I get about 200 miles to the tank.

Have a 2002 Passat that I have had for 5 months. I purchased this car with 11 miles on it and by about 20 miles the problems began. This is a 1.8T. The engine light has been going on and off since I purchased this car. It has eaten gas like crazy. I took it into the shop and it needs a new electrical control unit, which is basiclt the brain of the car. I was told this is a significant repair and not to common. Im not sure what to believe. My car will be in the shop now for about a week. I am not happy at all. Any other people need a new ECU???

Looks fairly decent on the outside. Great sound system, wait... I added that later (Diamond audio M551, Alpine CDA-7984, JBL sub and amp.) Interior looks nice, steering wheel is a bit strange, and aside from the headliner falling down front to back. The engine ITSELF is pretty reliable, and offers decent power

Transmission slips, jerks, whines. Needs to be fixed THIS WEEK (COST TBA :/) AC locked up, ruined other things. Stranded me. 1500+ dollars Heater core is bad (800+ dollar fix) Suspension is a bit too mushy. Steering wheel is ugly. A curse to mankind and all who gaze upon it. Avoid like the black death...

Where should I start. I had taken this car out on a test drive with my parents a few years ago. My father thought this "was the chance" to get my mom a volkswagen as she had wanted. I gently suggested we check out another car. We drove it home that day. I had noticed the transmission was a little rough, delayed shifting. It's about three years later, and I'm sure that this car's purpose on earth is to make life hard for its owners. Within 6 months of ownership the moonroof had broken. I now need a stick to close it. We find out the heater core is useless when winter arrives (800 dollar fix, yet to be done) Transmission shifting not so good... More recently-- A/C locked up, destroyed sepentine belt, and ac compressor. 1600 dollar fix. And now the transmission is grindy, does not accelerate in fourth gear, delays shifts. Jerks (the type that gives you whiplash) All in all, this car is a curse to mankind. It may have been nice in its younger days... But considering we got it with less than sixty thousand miles, it's perormance isn't exactly the best statement for Volkswagen's long term quality.

Similar Products Used:

Four wheeled vehicles? Oldsmobile Aurora, Toyota Landcruiser. ::FOR SALE:: 1993 Volkswagen passat This is the car for you!

The car is very nice to look at, when it is not in the shop.

Radio Electrical Ignition Coils Service

Their seems to be a SERIOUS ISSUE with the IGNITION COILS in the PASSAT's. If I were you and you were looking for a realiable car do not buy a Passat. The vehicle is now 1 year old and has been in the shop twice. I should say towed into the shop. Lucky me, they have rented me a beatiful ESCORT. Don't do it! You will regret it on the side of the road.

Similar Products Used:

Honda

- Very fun to drive!

- Crappy dealer network - Multiple paint issues - Multiple electronic issues - Interior plastic chipping, very cheap!

This car is one problem after another... Headlights burn out every 2 months or so. I had to replace a clutch sensor. Most annoyng is the paint bubling off. I have already had the front end painted once. Now the paint is coming off again! The dealer is so bad that I didn't even use the free service they offered for the first $24,000 miles.

Classy Styling, interesting colors, and quality feel, but none of that matters if the thing doesn't run.

The first ignition coil on my 4 cylinder Passat went out at 2K miles causing major power loss and engine light flashing. The second at 8K, the third at 10K (one week after dealer recommended service). Just lost power on the freeway at 12K and now should qualify for California's Lemon Law turn-in. I asked VW up to the corporate level to replace all 4 coils after the 2nd one went out as it was clearly "a bad batch", and they said no--the diagnostics say they are fine. On the third repair they admitted the coils were defective and all four would be replaced, but they were on back order and they would call me. A week later they said never mind they weren't going to replace them after all. Since this last service I have had to take my '94 Honda Civic instead of my NEW PASSAT TIME BOMB on some trips on which it would be inconvenient or dangerous to break down. Very sad. Back to Honda.

Pathetic and shoddy that car marketed as exceptionally safe and ideal for families was repeatedly returned to me after service KNOWING I would break down again.

Similar Products Used:

Honda Civic, Honda Prelude.