Used 2001 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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More Fun Than It Looks!
bp1020, 04/16/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased new and have had no problems. Great handling car, especially with replacement tires. Fun to drive with comfortable interior. Leather seats have held up well. Plenty of interior room for family of 4. I make regular road trips of 3 to 4 hours and with the fully adjustable seats have no problem staying comfortable (at 6'2"). The 4-cyl. turbo provides more than enough power and great gas mileage. I would purchase another Passat without question.
VW FANATIC
abdul nasir, 11/12/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
ANYONE INTERESTED IN MID SIZE SEDAN PASSAT IS YOUR BEST CHOICE.
2001 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
Showing 3 of 4 listings
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $5,500599 mi away
- GLS 1.8T Sedan (Midyear)MSRP: $6,4951,174 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $3,9901,446 mi away
See all 4 listings
Oil Pump problems!!
NikkiB, 05/29/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS model in July of 2002. In the three years that I have owned it, I had to replace the coils around 45,000 miles, and the oil pump at 60,000 miles. I just took my passat in for the oil pressure light coming on AGAIN, and found out that it will be $2000 to fix due to oil sludge. This is a VERY common problem occuring in the 2001 Passats. Please ask about this problem before you consider buying one...it is a very expensive problem to fix, and will continue to occur regardless of any repairs. I am trading my car in ASAP. It's a beautiful car, but it's not worth all of the problems!!! Very unreliable.
More than just Electronic problems
unsatisfied customer, 09/15/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
While I enjoyed my vehicle in the beginning, the car has dissappointed me in terms of reliability. It was a fun car to drive, but a combination of nagging problems and an uncaring dealership in hayward has compounded the problem. My initial problems covered by my lousy 2 year 24K warranty were: busted trunk latch, 2 busted headlights. Now, after my warranty has expired, my radio is completely dead. Close to 300bucks. 50bucks for the dealer to tell me it was broke. I can feel my power steering going out, my brakes will make a funny sound when I turn and brake, and engine will make rattling sounds that I've never heard before. Wish me luck.
Complete Package, Zoom, Boom and Wow
Chowdhury, 11/20/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Really fun to Drive. I bought the car at 43000 miles. I have already put in close to 3000 miles. Still feels like I am driving brand new car.
Not worth it.
John, 08/12/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have owned my used Passat for less than a year. I bought it with 70k miles, and it currently has 85k. In that time I spent $4000 maintaining this car. Engine leaks from everywhere, bad coils, and some preventative maintenance changing the timing belt and water pump. There are still issues with it I simply can't afford to fix. I really wanted to love this car. I really wanted a reliable car. This wasn't the right choice.
Sludge-----beware!!!!
Cynthia in Virginia, 06/14/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought a VW passat at 50000 miles as a cert. vehicle. 2 days later in the shop for engine light. Week after that same problem. Finally fixed, but now after only owning the veh. for 1 yr. the engine blew on vacation. Both Carmax extended warranty & VW are refusing to pay for this as they say we did not maintain vehicle....We have proof of oil changes and maint! Obviously there was sludge in the engine when we bought the vehicle. VW quoted $10K to repair as they sent us a parts list that included everything even near the engine, including TIE ROD ENDS...I love my Passat, prior to this it was very comfortable and fun to drive, but who wants to be stranded on the road 500 mi. from home?
Passat
shannyb, 12/09/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great car. I have had a couple minor problems with the glove box latch and the trunk latch not working, but both were easily repaired at no cost to me by the dealer.
Stay Away
Duane Kimball, 12/07/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have had this car 3 years. Bought it new. The steering column has frozen twice and had to be replaced. The tires were bald after 23,000 miles. The rotors went at 40,000 miles and the rear calipers froze at the same time. VW's warranty had expired and they didn't even offer sympathy. This car is unreliable.
VW New Passat GLS V6
jbaril, 11/09/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
good car; far more interesting and attractive than Accord, Camry, Hyundai. Probably just as good as Audi A4, but less expensive.
55,000 Happy Miles!
passate, 12/17/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love my Passat. When I was shopping for a vehicle, I thought that I wanted a Honda Accord because of reliability. But the passat had only one problem... a burned turn signal bulb... That's it! really impressed with this car! The german solid feel and the expensive look is a great feeling! After two years and 55k miles I'm still enjoy driving the car... This is a drivers car...
This car was a dissapointment
SILVERADO1, 12/28/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had this car for 2 1/2 years and 13 visits to the dealer. Everything that can go wrong with a car has gone wrong. From interior trimming coming apart, the built garage door opener breaking in pieces, electric locks replaced, throttle body replaced, electronic dash console, faulty seatbelts, 2 recalls, power window failed at last minute before trade in. This car was a nightmare, couldn't wait to get rid of it.
Best car in its class
skorth, 04/25/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my 2001.5 Passat for nearly two years and have not experienced any problems besides the ignition coils. I knew these were an issue before buying the car but that didn't deter me. The coils went out at about 20,000 miles. They were quickly replaced at the VW dealership with no problems. The car now has nearly 44,000 miles on it and it is still running great. This car is really fun to drive and looks better than any comparable Japanese car in the same class.
Great car
GregBlatty, 04/18/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great car very reliable and fun to drive
Money pit
learnedmylesson, 02/09/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my first "new" car. Had been driving a 93 Buick LeSabre with 100k+ miles that never gave me a problem. Bought the wagon in May '07 for $10,900 w/ 62k miles and spent $4,815.04 in 2008 on repairs ($391 so far in '09). I've lost track of all the issues I've had. Every time I go to the mechanic I ask "what am I doing wrong" the answer is always "it's not you it's the car, it's a VW." To name a few: Catalytic converter, 3 recalls, front pipe leak, and after a day of heavy rain the electrical unit died.
THE WORST LEMON EVER
DOWNONVW, 08/17/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car 4 years old and I can't remember the exact amount of miles then, it has about 110,000 now. Everything that could go wrong went wrong luckily I had an extended warranty. I always loved VWs but this car has turned me off to them completely. From now on I'm sticking with Toyotas or Subarus.
What a nightmare
SoCalGirl, 01/01/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car brand new and it started giving me problems before the 6 month mark. At one point the dealership had my car for 3 weeks. Is currently at dealer again and will cost $780 this time for a chip. Electronics choose not to work from time to time and close to impossible to maintain on your own.
I might be unlucky...
UnluckyWithPassat, 01/06/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I might be unlucky with this car... My Passat became a whole trouble starting right after the first oil change: for those two and a half years that I owned it, I fixed about 10 different defects under warranty and from my pocket. Plus not yet fixed but persisting problem with rough idle and vibration. So, I decided to get rid from it untill the problems get worse because for $26000 I could have anticipated something more reliable...
Best Money Can Buy
yulsa, 10/07/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Having owned 2 older VW in the past I can say, that the new ones a greatly improved machines. They comprise a perfect combination of style, performance, reliability and value. You have the agility and fun of a German autobahn cruiser without having to pay through the nose for maintenance and repairs. Reliability is excellent!
A Sleeper that Does Everything Well
Solar1, 12/26/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have put 15,000 miles on my 2001 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T with no major problems and I REALLY, REALLY enjoy driving it. My car has an Autotech rear sway bar and a GIAC chip (www.giacusa.com) which makes it quite fun to drive. it's sure footed, roomy, quiet, has a STRONG midrange and has responsive, well-weighted steering. The interior trim quality needs improving and yes, the headlights burn out quickly but these are not critical flaws. I just drove from Boston to LA and it was AWESOME. This is a great touring car and it really surprised me in the twists! It's no Honda Accord but I think that's a good thing - for a little more attention to maintenance, you can have a car with a lot more character. It is a nice sleeper.
Sweet Car!
boiselifer, 04/21/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Love this Car! Was looking at a Honda Accord or Passat and very glad we went with the Passat. Just as dependable as a Honda but with that great European style!!
Best Value In Its Class
slax, 12/27/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I researched cars for months and everything consistantly pointed me back to the Passat. For the money, I dare anyone to try and find a car that gives you more value, safety and performance. This car is essentially an Audi with a VW badge. I drove the V6 model also, but the 1.8T has plenty of pep, better milage and saves you a couple grand to boot.
Great Car
Jim Gaiser, 06/18/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great Car--Fun, Safe, and good for a family.
Worst Car I've owned. personally.
palm, 08/19/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car after wrecking my BMW. The electronic rumors are true about VW's. So many sensors breaking and problems with the car. Had to take out fuse for the horn because it would honk uncontrollably. O2 sensor went out soon after I bought it. Broke down on the highway only after 6 months of owning it because the electronic systems all failed. Plain interior but not a bad looking car. I could have just got unlucky and bought a bad one though.
2001.5 GLS V-6
Summit, 02/02/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought this vehicle new in 2002. Within three weeks, two taillights had gone out (bulbs). At 45,000mi the rear brake calipers had to be replaced as they were warped. Warranty did not cover it. On long trips, both my wife and I find the seats very uncomfortable, causing backache! Two speakers were blown with the Monsoon system. Great styling, no doubt. However, concerns about reliability haunt me. As this is my wife's car, I am used to the rock solid reliability of myToyotas. The Passat is a great road car though. Would I buy one again? Nope.
Nicest car I've owned
EchoBlu, 02/04/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Although we bought this car used, it's still in fantastic shape and a dream to own. Very powerful (love that Turbo!) yet I feel perfectly comfortable and safe. Ton of features -leather heated seats, moonroof, power everything, floormats that lock into place-I love that! Very pleased with the purchase.
German engine-rng, Grt Dsgn, Headturner
xandre, 05/26/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I traded Audi A4 for a Passat. Other than losing the name-plate and sportier handling (esp. stability at high speeds and on curvy roads) that Audi A4 offers, I'm very satisfied with my Vee-Dub. Its reliable, and built like the upscale luxury sedans. Materials quality is great. I got rear- ended once but the bumper bounced back out leaving no scratch. But the panel and other stuff inside the trunk were slightly damaged. I replaced everything anyway (including the bumper) since insurance paid. When I decide to change, Ill most probably go for another Passat with more HP. I havent tried 4Motion yet, may be I should.
Love it
mel primmer, 01/09/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
1st German car I have had, will never go back!
Never Again
WAO, 08/30/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
at 30,000 coils went. They replaced one and waited for the others to fail for a recall which ever came first. 6 Headlight bulds in 3 years at 62000 miles Oil Pump at 72000 Engine needs to be replaced Never Again for a VW of any kind....
Passat
Doc Padre, 01/28/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive, but small things are breaking constantly. Primarily cosmetic. Trim has come off three times, two inside and one outside. Warranty is covering, but a nuisance.
Avoid VW 4cyl. Turbo Engine
Michael, 10/04/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Engine poor. Once motor reached 100 miles, motor needed constant repair. Have spent over $3k on major engine repair. The wagon was intended for family with two children, but has proven to be very unreliable. Wife, toddler and infant have been towed several times from side of freeway. Mechanically, the engine is poor and unreliable, asked master mechanic "Would you drive this car?", he answered, "Me? No. The motor is no good, we see 'em all the time".
Fun to Drive, Very Luxurious
Yak, 02/09/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My 2001 Volkswagen Passat is a great car. It is fun, reliable, comfortable, and really feels like a luxury car. I get many compliments when I give people rides, or pick clients up from the airport with it.
DON'T BUY OIL PUMP PROBLEMS
ciarlone24, 10/21/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Four oil pumps, One turbocharger, one intercooler, 4 ignition coils, This car sucks!
Better than anything in it's class.
DSM, 10/10/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car simply blows away anything in it's class in terms of quality and drivability. It is an absoulte dream to own. Sure, it is a bit of a premium compared to other cars, but it is worth every penny. And as for "higher end cars" near it's class, still no comparison. The Passat is a classy car that is fun to drive. I have had no real problems with my Passat, and I have no intentions of parting with it anytime soon. And when I do, chances are it will be another Passat.
2001 GLS Manual
euphoria68, 02/18/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just purchased this car about half a year ago and I love it. It's fun to drive and has better accelaration than old BMW 528. Great gas mileage once you get the hang of the trip computer. This car has most of all small features that others cars don't offer (Honda, etc)
EXCELLENT
SVK, 03/05/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO BUY OR RIDE
My Passat
phista4169, 04/11/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has everything I have ever wanted except for a moonroof. this car is great, from being able to fit four guys my size in it with no problems and to how quick it is, It may not win any races, but it gets there with plenty of frills including windows that automatically go down and up.
Love this car
Brentkate, 02/13/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have owned three Volkswagens and loved all of them. The Passat wagon is fun to drive, great on long trips and comfortable for our family of four day to day, not to mention it looks great. It has been in the shop several for various things such as the brake sensors going out, replacing tie-rod ends and cracked oil pan. It developed the typical oil leaks around 80,000 miles and sometimes we still get a whif of oil smell well after it was repaired. It is great to drive and easy to maintain. Find a mechanic who knows Passats inside and out, they have helped us anticipate several things before they became costly. There have been some issues, but I would by another one tomorrow
Beats my Mazda 6
KJBell, 03/13/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car used as a VW Certified vehicle for my wife. Since, I own a new 2003 Mazda 6s, I was amazed at how well this car compares and excels vs. the Mazda. Once you get used to some of the quirky German engineering controls for wipers and onboard computer, all the controls become intuitive. This car is as fun to drive as any I have driven and when compared to my Mazda 6s, exceeds in just about every category. I especially like the cool blue glow of the instruments.The 4Motion is great in the snow and ice of New England winter's.
would buy again
js, 01/28/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Only complaint is quality of the leather. Looks great everywhere except driver's seat, weathers too quickly, but gets used 90% more than others.
This is a nice car
Mike Mc, 02/16/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Pretty reliable and the V6 with manual is a fun combo!
Fun to drive ... expensive to maintain.
big guy, 03/04/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I leased this Passat based on its size and safety. I love the way it drives but don't love the maintenance costs. I had to replace the stock tires at 18k mi. and replaced the front and rear brake rotors at around 21k miles. Now have 40k miles and rear rotors are warped again (I don't drive aggressively and use the car to commute 15 miles back and forth to work). Replaced 2 headlamps, 3 tail lamps, and the latch broke on glove box at 23k miles that dealer wouldn't cover under warranty. Initially loved the car but the shine is off the apple after spending more on maintenance than previous 3 cars combined.
What a Great Drive!!!
Jen Blake, 06/22/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have had our Passat for 4 months now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It drives wonderfully- brakes quickly when needed and provides a smooth, quiet ride. We are looking forward to our firs long road trip in this car!
Best car I have ever owned
Susan, 02/24/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has been a very reliable car. No problems. Only needed required maintenance. Brakes last beyond 50,000 miles. Great gas mileage and great in the snow. Has a lot of pick up for a V4 engine... no need for a higher end, gas guzzler for pick up.
Jury's Still Out
Sandown, 03/17/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car, used, as a certified car from a VW dealership. It had 51k miles on it, but was very clean. The brakes were brand new (metallic pads). Now, 6,000 miles later, the rotors are starting to warp. We just got back from a trip into the mountains, and the upper rpm power is not very impressive. The 22.5 mpg average fuel consumption is a little lower than expected for an auto in mixed driving, especially with the price of premium. I live in Phoenix, and I bought the car in December. Now that it is getting warmer (low 90s), the AC pull-down time is longer than expected.
VW Passat GLX
akillebrew, 11/11/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Exceptional choice, fun to drive, well built, just look at the number of copies for style.
Practical but Troublesome
ShrinerMonkey, 06/03/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Passat's excellent driving dynamics and a premium cabin cannot make up for its horrible reliability and incredibly poor dealer service. Even with regular maintenance which is extremely expensive because of synthetic and proprietary fluid requirements and expensive parts, this car has still had numerous part failures in only 60,000 pampered miles of driving. I love European cars but they are too expensive to own.
A Practical Sportster
Merckx2, 04/24/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Passat is unbelievable value for the money. It's incredibly fun to drive- very comfortable,too. The longer I own it,the more I like it,and I loved it the day I bought it. The exterior design is very pleasing. The domed roof is just now being copied (Altima);it is the handsomest sedan on the road right now. There is just something very engaging about it.
No compromises!!!
LJWalters, 03/23/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fantastic all-around vehicle! The car looks great, it's fast enough to be fun to drive (though it might be underpowered compared to competitors) and it's very luxurious, which helps enjoying the car on a day-to-day basis. I've had the car for over 3 years now, lease is almost up and I'm even thinking of buying the car b/c it's so great for my family & fun for me.
Huge Repair Bills
Frustrated, 06/06/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car was fine until at 36,000 miles I had to spend $1,000 on the front end. It now has 58,000 miles on it, and I have spent over $7,000 in repairs in the past 2 years. I am a safe and careful driver, and have done proper maintenance. The front end just keeps falling apart. The CV joints, CV boots, axles, tie rods, and control arms all had to be replaced on both sides. It has had oil leaks and brake problems too. I am extremely disappointed. I wanted to drive this car for 12 years, not five.