Used 2001 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Great Long Term Relationship
just over three years with the car and couldn't be more pleased with the overall experience. A little more excitement would be nice but absolutely nothing has gone wrong - not a hiccup. Fresh Poetenza 950s have made a difference over OE Michelins. Sylvania Silverstar bulbs also. Other than these and Mobil 1, ain't done nothing else.
this car is great
The customer service at the dealer was horrendous, the sales manger crunched on a candy bar as he half- assed explained my warranty and the such, but ut was such an awesome car in that I had to get the car. I bought itused and I have never had any problems with it. It only has 30k miles on it and it has just hit its stride. It is great car and it habdles excellently.. The interior has clean lines and is simply elegant, not flashy- similiar to interior of a BMW.
- GLS 1.8T Sedan (Midyear)MSRP: $6,495294 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $3,9901,014 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $5,5001,473 mi away
A Drivers Perspective
DRIVERS WANTED. Well they got one here and THIS IS MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT with my 2001.5 Passat. It has a more than occasional acceleration hesitation problem and may hesitate then lurch forward uncomfortably when moving from a stop or slow start. Especially noticeable when leaving intersections to merge in with traffic. Not sure if this is a design flaw in the transmission or what. VW Mechanics are clueless to the cause/fix. DRIVERS SHOULD HAVE THE ACCELERATION POWER AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED vice BEING LEFT OUT THERE HANGING. I have also had problems with oil leaks on the cam seals approx. every 45000 miles, and electronic problems. Overall a solid car to own.
Love it
1st German car I have had, will never go back!
Never Again
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....
What a Great Drive!!!
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!
Love/Hate
I love driving this car. After having Japanese cars for years, this is so much more fun to drive. However, reliability has become a problem. First there was the issue with the coils, then replacing the rear wheel well, now the oil pump. Although VW eventually came through with replacing the coils, they have weaseled their way out of paying for the oil pump. Also a few small, but annoying failures-driver's side visor snapped off, the turn signal switch failed, one of the vanity lights failed.
Gorgeous Car!!!! I hope it lasts
I bought a silver '01 tiptronic with leather interior (the only way to go in my opinion) and it is like no other car I have driven...or seen for that matter. It looks like a much more expensive German car (I got my beauty for 16K) and it drives like no Japanese car you will drive. The looks are unmatched. Who wants to drive an Accord?! EVERYONE has one!!! Drive a VW. You won't regret it.
Passat review
The original warranty was for 2 years or 24000 miles.The extended warranty was for 10 years or 100000 miles. I had engine trouble couvered by the extended warranty. The fuel injectors were changed per a service bulletin as was a gas cap grounding problem. I had to change the battery Dec 2003. In June of 2004 the battery again had to be changed. Though covered by the dealer it really wasted my time. Changing the original battery cost me 215.00 because the dealership said they had to reprogram certain electronic features.I later found out that my model does not need reprogramming when the battery is removed. Over all this car is fun to drive but it suffers from to many mechanical problems.
Passat
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.
DON'T BUY OIL PUMP PROBLEMS
Four oil pumps, One turbocharger, one intercooler, 4 ignition coils, This car sucks!
A Practical Sportster
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.
Pretty, fun
Got this 2001.5 model (2001 base with updated looks of 2002) = driving older car that looks like newer. Overall quality of the car was pretty good, no dingelingding during driving, doors closed with a good, Mercedes like smack. Engine was so-so: The turbo kicked in a bit late, which created interesting situations as 4 way Stops: You step on the gas, nothing happens, so you step more into it, and all of the sudden the care takes off (rubber donuts, squeeking wheels, the whole show). Once moving, car was fun to drive. The mirror-adjustment joystick's position is inadequate when you're 6"+ tall: your knee will rip that thing right off while getting in. Had quite a few electrical issues though.
Great Car for the wet or snow
My B5 2001 Passat now has 85,000 miles on it and still feels like new. We bought the car after finding the A4 to be too small and the A6 too big. This A4 based car is the perfect compromise. The interior is great looking and built to last. The leather has no creases or cracking, even after 85,000 miles of driving. There are no interior rattles at all. While the 4motion is fantastic for a wet and snowy climate, I'd pass on it if I lived somewhere I didn't absolutely need it as the fuel mileage hit is pretty big.
Don't buy this car
I just traded my Volkswagen Passat in for a Honda Accord. After 3 years and thousands of dollars, I rather have a car that runs than one that looks good. I have had a wide range of problems, from expensive repairs such as having the entire engine rebuilt due to oil sludge issues, having my radiator disintegrate at 67000 miles, replacing the instrument panel which runs most of the electrical system, cv boots busted, vacuum hose replaced, and a number of blown sensors and small repairs such as glove box and window controls breaking. This car was towed in 3 times in 6 months. I feel bad for whoever buys it next.
very nice car
Whenever I read a review of a Passat, it usually states that it was just like a Saab but didn't break down. After being left stranded more times than I can count with Saab, I drove the Passat and fell in love. This has been a flawless car - and it's never left me stranded.
would buy again
Only complaint is quality of the leather. Looks great everywhere except driver's seat, weathers too quickly, but gets used 90% more than others.
best car
WE had a 2002 Acura TL back in 02 and just got this 01 passat in 2010. and it has more options and features then most 2010 luxury vehicles been driving the crap out of it, hard driving, long distance everything not one light has came on (check engine) or anything. its the glx v6 with automatic a/c and have no complaints me and my wife love this car and woudn't trade it for anythimg else, only complaint gas mileage (around city) and cup holders, but eveything else works great even with 145,000 miles you would never guess it had that many it drives like its brand new. anyway all I can say is we love and plan on keeping it tell it dies
This is a disappoinment
I bought this vehicle as new. Great style, works fine in two years until last year when suddenly the oil light came on 4000 miles after last oil change, took to the dealership and they told me the engine is burning oil in 1 qt. per 1000 mile, which I suspect even higher, the warranty forfeited because I didn't keep all the oil change record. the maintenance is fairly expensive overall, I took the car to the same dealership recently for battery change and it cost $400. I already regret buying it and am telling my friends not to buy it.
Fun to drive ... expensive to maintain.
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.
Fell apart at 75,000 Miles
I absolutely loved my 2001.5 Passat until last weekend when it essentially self-destructed at 76,000 miles. Although I've maintained it religiously, a water pump leak ultimately caused the timing belt to slip off while driving on the freeway, bending the heads and piercing the radiator. The repairs will costing about $5,000. My mechanic says it's a design flaw and could happen again.
Some bad things some good things
Ok, it has been a good car but there have been some problems. First, in the last three months we have heard a rattling sound in the car....Over head cam tensioner needs replacing...., the running day lights have gone out twice...cheap bulbs burn out. The turning lights switch burnt out...needed replacing. Overall a good vehicle but beware it does not get mileage in stop and go. I live in NYC and my city mileage is like 170 miles on a full tank (12 gals). Better for surburban or rural open roads type atmosphere. Would probably have bought an SUV...
This is a nice car
Pretty reliable and the V6 with manual is a fun combo!
Frustration, Frustration!
I enjoyed driving this car for about the first 48000 miles. Then problems began to occur with an "oil sludge" problem. I am told this is a significant problem with the 2001 Passat. Most recently my Passat was at the dealership for about $1000.00 in parts and service and was driven only 7 miles before the same indicator light again appeared. I have already purchased another car due to the problems and unreliability of the Passat but at this point I am unable to even sell this one until this problem is taken care of.
Great Car, I love it!
Overall, I've been absolutely thrilled with this car. I've driven 60K miles in just over two years, and the only problem was losing an oxygen sensor ~50K. Handling in adverse conditions has been confident and sure, and it drives just as comfortably at 25mph as it does at 95mph. I've been impressed with the cargo capacity with the back seats down. And the gas mileage has been great. I often get better than 30mpg on long freeway trips.
2001.5 Passat - WOW!
Overall, the Passat has been the smoothest car I have ever driven. My parents have been Mercedes buyers forever, and frankly, I always had my heart set on the Benz. However, after driving the Passat, I realize I can get the similar quality German engineering for an affordable price.
Drains?
I love my gold 2001 Passat. It is so beautiful and I always end up smiling while I'm driving it. It drives great, looks great, and holds its value. However, it seems to have problems with the drains. First, the air conditioning got moldy in it because there is no drain for it. Then, the sunroof started leaking. Now, the floor in the back gets a nice puddle in it if it rains and I drive. Other than these problems, it has been very dependable. For a first car I really couldn't ask for anything better. At least, after reading the reviews with sludge problems, I hope so...
Can't beat the German engineering
This car now has about 35000 miles on it, and there isn't a single squeek, rattle, or annoying vibration sound to be heard anywhere. A rock solid machine, in the finest German tradition. The 1.8T rocks and yet gives me like 29 MPG while doing freeway speeds of 70+ MPH. The clutch has a nice full "throw" to it, and the braking is excellent. Only design flaw I can find is that the drink holder is hard to move to the closed position after it's been opened. And more importantly, it covers the opened ashtray when deployed. This makes it difficult to plug in my cell phone recharger into the lighter receptacle. Big Ger...the Aerospace Guy
Love this Car!
I am as tough on cars -- I have 4 dogs -- and I am not diligent about maintenance. I have put 170,000 abusive miles on my Passat in six years and have driven it to death. Except for oil issues in last two years -- I have not had much trouble. I replaced the oil pump twice and the water pump once -- that's been it, besides brakes and tires. VW dealer prices are stiff, so I use a reliable local guy for repairs. The Passat's tyling and drivebility are great. All of its interior features continue to work perfectly. The trunk space is great and the back seat collapses for extra room. I think this is a great car and would buy another, even though oil issues prevail. I have learned that timely maintenance is key.
my car
a wonderful car, drives very smooth and is extremely reliable. looks like a spaceship at night with state of the art purple and red interior lighting. a pure pleasure to drive
Love This Car!
This car is so much fun to drive. I find it difficult to stay under 80 mph on the freeway. It handles great! It also is very luxurious inside. It has a very comfortable ride. I had a '99 Passat before and the changes they made are great. Especially the cup holders. The Monsoon stereo sounds amazing. I love this car. I'm extremely happy and satisfied with my purchase.
Best Car I have had!
This is easily the best car I have had and continue to have. It is extremely reliable considering I do push the car hard and never service it more than once a year/ It now has over 285000 miles on the clock and still runs perfect. I also have a Audi A4 (2007) and daughter has a BMW 530 (2006), its definitely a better car than these and a bargain on fuel consumption, maintenance and insurance. The only problem I have is the velvour interior attracts dust and looks out of date now and the build design is boring. But if your not worried about its looks then this is probably the best car in the world. Note its popular with cabbies hence must be reliable and cheap to run.
Reliable Solid 2001 v6 5M 120K miles
Solid Build Quality Quiet, decent performance. Feels secure at highway speed compared to my Sienna 10 Major expense CV Boot (axle replaced), ABS controller, timing belt.
All around best vehicle
I bought my Passat brand new 7.5 years ago (51K miles) and I have never had an issue with the car! Love the interior (except cup holder) and exterior.
Used, but new to me...
Purchased my 2001.5 Passat V6 4Motion on April Fools day and so far I am impressed. The vehicle has 69,000 miles on it and runs perfectly. When sitting in the vehicle I can't help but think I'm in a BMW (ahhh the memories). Interior styling as well as exterior make me feel like I'm in a much more expensive car, not that the original sticker price was by any means cheap. Coming from a truck that I've driven for the past two years this car can do nothing but spoil me and impress.
Okay Car
I bought my car used and have had nothing but problems from the first month after buying it. It's a fun car, it is just so expensive to keep the car running properly.
Passat: An Enthusiast's (Family) Car
Great car to drive. Very comfortable and powerful on the highway. V6 is the way to go. The leather seats are the most comfortable I've ever had. Handling is better than several sports cars I've had. Monsoon sound system is a real blast -- best I've owned. Not too much bad things to say about this car.
Wonderful, Dependable and Fun to Drive
Not only is his car fun to drive and hugs the road, but is reliable, easy to check the engine, has a thorough vehicle manual and an ample trunk for a car that looks compact on the outside. I also feel my son and baby- to-be will be safe in this car. I like all the little comforts and whenever I test drive another car, I miss the German ergonomics. You can't beat German engineering for the price.
Awesome
I love my VW Passat. When I was shopping for a vehicle, I originally thought that I wanted a Honda Accord. However, when I visited Edmunds.com and read the reviews for the Honda, it said to also check out the VW Passat. I'm glad I did! I read its review and then test drove it! I've never been happier. It rides smooth and I haven't had any problems. Also, it comes with a lot of standard safety features that are not standard on an Accord, like the side curtain airbags. I'm really impressed with this car! The only drawback is that it is a little more expensive for servicing than an Accord.
The Mercedes-Benz or BMW for the poor
These car is the best car ther is. I previously owned a ´93 passat glx and loved it.When I bought mine two months later the 2001.5 came out. I did´t care because is the same car. Actually the old 2001 looks sportier. I put xenon lights, aluminum dash board, and german plate. Looks amazing. Problems the driver´s door lock quit on me. Cost $250.The engine light came out, but it was the recall coils , so fixed at no cost. Bottom line, buy this european sports sedan.
Like the old body style better
Love the car. My only issue is the interior knobs don't wear as well as they should. I've had to fix several of them. I don't like the old antenna style. The rubber boot fell off years ago and they want to drop the headliner to replace.
OK, but disappointed
I do mostly city driving in my 2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T. There is a lack of power while in 1st gear. Getting into 2nd gear still has a lot of resistence. In the 29,000 miles that I have had this car, the tires went bald, the driver door latch stopped working and I had to hold the door closed while I drove it to the dealer, the driver's head light died, there have been rattles, the ride quality diminished (takes bumps harshly), the auto up driver window hasn't worked once since day one, and it is true what they say about VW service...short and rude. I pity those who have bought the $70,000 Phaeton and have to put up with VW's dealer attitudes. I'll go back to Lexus soon.
Best car in its class
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.
Best car I have ever owned
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.
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO BUY OR RIDE
Beware of Passats - not reliable
When I first got my car, I loved it. It is a C6 4Motion. It is tons of fun to drive. However, within a year, the shop tried to fix the gas gauge pump three times. This issue was finally resolved; however, now have fluid level evaporation for the oil, power stearing and coolant. There are no lights that indicate that the levels are below the minimum level. If i lose all my coolant, I am in trouble. My car is only 4 years old with 36,000 miles. It shouldn't have these problems. In addition there is a noise under the car they can't resolve. Now my window has it a mind of its own. Never buy VW. Go with something more reliable like a Honda.
A Terrific Car
I bought this car new, and it has been flawless for 46,000-plus miles. The V- 6 is smooth and powerful enough, and I get 30 mpg on the highway with the 5- speed manual. I have had nothing done to the car besides scheduled maintenance (5000 mile oil changes with Mobil 1.)
12 Times in Shop in 1 year
It is a shame that this car has rubbed me the wrong way because I really like the Passats, espeically the new 2006 model. I have had the engine cleaned 3 times because of oil sludge, I have changed it with sythetic oil religiously. The majority of the time, VW has waived any cost, but it is a hasele to take it in every week. Simply changing the battery or air filter requires a trip to the shop. I had both the daytime wiring harnesses replaced and the daytime light replaced twice in one year. I also had work done on the CV joint, brakes, and the check engine light came on twice. I love the car, but it would take some convincing to buy another.
Disappointed
This otherwise enjoyable and luxurious family sedan is proving unreliable in the long-term. My repairs in the past nice months include: new vacuum hoses; rear brake rotors; power steering rack; and inner/outer tie rods. To add insult to injury, VW dealers charge outrageous rates for routine service: $575 for 40,000 mile service; $60 for oil change; $140 for a brake fluid flush! Sadly, with the mounting repair and service costs, it's time to ditch this pariah for something much more reliable.
Passat 1.8T, best combo of fun and room
After driving my Passat for a year and a half and putting over 26k miles on it, I am still amazed by how the car does so many thing so well. Its wonderfully comfortable (I'm 6'4") and not tiring even on 500 mile trips to Maryland from New England. I use Michelin Pilot Alpin snow tires in the winter and am able to go through almost anything. No surprises in a hail storm with 2 inches of slippery hail on the roadways. I love this car. The engine sounds great and pulls from idle. In traffic I can put it in 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear and it will pull itself uphill without me pressing on the gas pedal.