Used 1996 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Consumer Reviews
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GLX Passat Wagon
Meghan M., 10/13/2010
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I am quite familiar with a lot of the issues I have been reading. One thing I have noticed with this car is that proper maintenance and proper fluids such as G12 coolant, premium gasoline, and synthetic oil are necessary for longevity. I have rebuilt the engine and replaced all of the gaskets, timing chain and tensioner, water pump, and cv shaft. I am approaching about 160k miles and I am still in love! Though, my boyfriend and I are VW enthusiasts and do many of the repairs ourselves and it is definitely important to find a VW mechanic and NOT a dealership. I will say, if someone is looking into this car, be prepared for a good amount of maintenance.
Ripper in disguise!
vwlover007, 09/15/2014
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
1996 Passat B4v Wagon with 5 Speed Manual & VR6 6 Cylinder. Don't believe all these cry babies who trash a complete & awesome model car because of door handle/ lock and window regulator issues with this model..... This B4 Passat wagon is perhaps the most under car that VW ever made. This car in VR6 5 Speed form is fast ! and fun! it rips nicely and handles well too.! & The car has lots of cargo room. It looks nice!. Is very comfortable to drive. It has good AC & a nice glass two way sunroof. This car cruises nicely without effort and above 3500 rpm is a ripper! a hammer ready to throw down if need be ;) My car has excellent ABS Brakes and the front calipers and rotors are Beef SWEET!
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See all 0 listingsSad, sad day
VW , sad sad day, 06/25/2002
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The first few years(45K), not too bad, had to replace the odometer assembly because it just stopped working. Then the cruise control died,($500-vacuum pump) then the evaporator on the AC died($2000), the coil pack went($400) haywire, the ignition had problems, door lock mechanism seems to have its own ideas as when to work or not, and rotors have a tough time in the wonderful Michigan weather. Ironic part about all this is that most of it was not covered by warranty. Be aware, consumers when a company only gives you 2/24K basic warranty. What else can I say!!! heck I am going back to my honda and eating sushi.
Want Aggravation, buy a VW
RSamide, 09/19/2002
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car is roomy, stable, and comfortable to drive. It is not reliable. It is expensive to maintain. We constantly have warning lights indicating problems the engine, brakes, or ABS. We have replaced the ignition switch twice, the secondary thermostat, the cruise control switch, the dashboard bulbs, the coil, recharged the AC, replaced hatch hardware, on and on and on. I will celebrate the day we sell this car and return to a reliable Honda or Subaru.
Nice looking, but DON'T BUY
DA, 06/15/2005
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Since buying our Passat GLX wagon in early-2004, we've had nothing but problems. The front doors don't close in the winter, the driver's door won't open at all, the transmission skips, the check engine light is ALWAYS on, the temperature light stays on through the summer months, it leaks oil...I'll stop there. This is a GREAT looking car with good gas mileage, but I will never buy another Passat wagon.
Fun to drive, expensive to maintain
Dave GLX'ed, 04/19/2004
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this car for my wife in early 1998 w/ 30K miles. The car handles very well and gets good mileage. However, it's dark side is the reliability and maintenance costs. At 45K the instrument cluster stopped working. The check engine light is always coming on. Numerous visits to the garage to extinguish. Heater core disengrated, taking the water pump out with it. Now the rack and pinion is going, not sure if I should continue or put the car out to pasture. I am still a VW fan (my 87 Golf is at 310K and still going strong), however VW really over complicated the automobile when they designed this vehicle. Also the Service manual is terrible.
Terrible Car!
Mika, 12/22/2006
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my second Volkswagen Passat. My first one was a '91 Passat which I loved. I decided to upgrade for the VR6. With 176 horsepower on tap on a much heavier car it wasn't going to win any races. This car has been a dismal experience, as the O2 sensors (in engine bay and under the fuel tank) have gone out, as well as the thermostat and automatic transmission. After thousands of dollars in repairs and countless man hours of doing the work myself, I have finally gotten rid of the beast.
Incredibly unreliable
nrs05, 12/10/2015
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Car drove great when running just like everyone says, tons of components (small, medium and large) fail just like everyone says. Instrument cluster failed, O2 sensor failed, all door and window mechanisms failed, wheel bearing failed, stereo failed, computer problems preventing inspection requiring resets that nobody (even the dealer) could manage to pull off, etc. etc. These cars have no re-sale value for a very good reason.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
96 Passat GLX
knoschese, 05/29/2002
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A solid performer from day one. Great acceleration, braking, stability. Extremely comfortable; easy to find "perfect" driving position for any driver. Kudos: Engine, handling, ergonomics, trunk capacity & storage space. Gripes: Very expensive, easily damaged, and hard-to-locate 215/50/15 tires; exterior door handles (I've had to replace two of them). I'd happily buy it all over again.
Love VWs
jrpuppies, 06/23/2002
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is our second VW--the first was a Jetta GLX. We love these cars for their superior engineering, design and handling. They are reliable and need little repair. Just maintain them as recomended and they will run forever. The Jetta we had was totaled in an accident and we were awarded $9000-- that was great it had 106000 miles on it and was running like a top.
No problem
giannib, 08/07/2003
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We purchased our wagon new and haven't had any reliability problems and haven't done anything other than normal maintenance in 66K mi. Maybe mine was built in the middle of the week...
If Mazda made a 626 wagon . . .
oldsport, 03/07/2004
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I would be driving that. Wolfsburg could learn a thing or two from Japan about quality. Right off the bat, I had to replace a rear wheel bearing, and then I was burning O2 sensors every 6k miles. Then I found a good independent mechanic. The cruise control gaive up the ghost at 60k, and the radio is about to fall out of the dashboard. I bought this car used from a VW dealer, and discovered at 70k miles that the rear axle was bent. We've got the mechanicals sorted out, though, I'm getting about 26-27 mpg, and Autozone has oil filters for $15.
Art hauler
judydoody, 03/08/2003
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I use this wagon as my only car - skiing in the winter, and summers doing art fairs. I haul a 10 x 10 tent and walls, and all the stuff to display my art as well as my partner, luggage, cooler, pictures for display in the tent, 2 directors chairs and a ladder. It performs superbly without the hassle of a SUV.
Fun, roomy...TOO MANY SMALL PROBLEMS
Jessej, 09/23/2004
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have the same experience as so many others here... really love the brand, love the car... HATE the constantly breaking $200-$500 repairs on small things. Since the beginning I have had a rattle in the stickshift/transmission, O2 sensors replaced often, check engine light goes on all the time, ignition switch replaced, 2 door handles just stoped working, 3 window regulators replaced, clutch pedal broke off, tires are very non-standard size (restricts your choices and increases cost), ABS is gone. The door handles and windows are the most annoying... c'mon, those should not break so often over only 70k miles!! Really want to buy another, just cant.
Passat - another word for
Southern Tier of NY, 01/19/2003
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
And I thought I had the only bad Passat! The Check Engine light comes on about once per month, with multiples of $100 consequences. Last month it was O2 sensor connector and it's ON AGAIN! Transmission leak fixed, but it's still losing fluid somewhere. Gas mileage nowhere near published w/ VR6. Wire came loose from drivers door handle, causing all power windows to roll down in pouring rain. Security system has not armed in some time - probably another broken wire. Don't let the battery get low, the computer will get reset. Previous car was 1985 GTI, traded in at 189,000 miles on this piece of junk. Been kicking myself ever since.
I like my Passat VW Wagen
Gary Fisher, 01/09/2003
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I like the car and have had good results generally. The cost of repairs in year 2002 has been over $1500 in replacement parts and service and the cost of repairing a seal in the air conditioning system was $1400, which I have not repaired. The cost of repairs for the miles driven is significantly higher than my wifes four Honda cars. I like the car, but not the cost of repairs.
sweet wagon
mhix01, 06/04/2003
1996 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought our manual transmission GLX wagon new in 1996. The VR6 gets up and goes (with enough RPM's) and it handles GREAT!! The rear hatch seems to eat anything we try to put back there. We've replaced the clutch, one of the half-shafts and the front wheel bearings. ABS comes and goes (but the brakes still work). Fun car to drive. Not so great reliability (but not horrible either).