Used 2002 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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Recommended
I have owned the car since new. It has performed well over that time with only routine maintenance required. I would buy another one (assuming it was taken care of) in a minute.
Why I will never by another VW again
I didn't review this site before purchasing my 2002 1.8t Passat Wagon (really sorry I didn't because this review will sound like many of the others).The car does look sweet,turbo was pretty awesome,& the car is stacked w/ features (sunroof, pw, pl, tiptronic, cruise, lots of space). We purchased the car with under 80000 miles. Less than 1 month into owning it the a/c compressor/clutch quit, the glove box handle fell off, a bracket under car came off, the heat quit working, the tiptronic would not switch from manual to automatic, instrument panel was 50% dim, transmission started to make a grinding noise when decelerating, 2 vent slats for the a/c fell out & paint started to peel frm inside
- GLX 4Motion WagonMSRP: $12,80044 mi away
- GLS 1.8T SedanMSRP: $6,995123 mi away
- GLX SedanMSRP: $6,495152 mi away
VW Passat 1.8T Sedan
We have loved the styling of our Passat and it drives like a dream. However, we have made numerous repairs to the vehicle and it is very expensive to fix. In fact, we had serious initial problems that were covered by warranty, but VW was unable to obtain the needed parts for nearly an entire month (this was late in 2001). We had a terrible experience dealing with VW Customer Care. Not at all what we expected from a German car company. It's a beautiful car and a great ride, but I'm not rich enough to own it.
Run away!
Well, this was an experiment in "Premium German Engineering" that will never be repeated in my life. This is the absolute worst of the 20 cars I have owned in my lifetime. Cannot even remember all the broken things in only 8 months- catalytic converters, brakes, oil leaks, coolant leaks, broken power seats, inferior leather seats. And scheduled maintenance! What a joke- $2k for brake work, $2300 for cats, $1500 for timing belt + getting rid of PLASTIC water pump. Run away, do not even consider one of these used. If you have to have a VW, but it new and sell it before it's 4 years old. Period.
This GLX still looks and drives like new
The Passat B5 GLX model, in Wagon form, is a perfectly-sized, pragmatically-safe, multi-task-capable vehicle sure to satisfy most anyone in need of a vehicle that has a variety of kid, pet, and/or material hauling. Or a perfect size even if you're not hauling anything. It's not too big; not too small. Just right. You can drive it all day long in complete comfort, knowing you are protected with plenty of airbags. This is an extremely safe, vault-like constructed vehicle. Smooth transmission delivery. Powerful V-6 engine. 24 mpg average gas mileage. Completely competent heat and AC. My only negative critique is the level of attention a Passat owner must assign to maintenance interval servicing; all typical of VW's in general. For example, drive axle shaft and transmission shaft oil seals will leak (as all oil seals eventually do) will leak with age, if not through accumulated miles, and must be replaced to prevent loss of gear oil and/or transmission fluid. It is worthwhile (important) to find a fair-priced VW dealer service provider OR better yet, a less-expensive competent independent VW service provider who "has your back" and has the experienced eye to inspect and diagnose with wisdom and efficiency. German cars are not cars to be neglected when it comes to preventive maintenance, with problems addressed promptly and correctly. It's just the way Germans design and build autos. Toyotas and Hondas can tolerate some neglect/abuse and delay with PM servicing, but not German cars. In return, though, you get to drive a car that delivers a much more rewarding experience. There you have it. I also own/drive a 2007 Cayman. Gotta love German engineering. They're not the least expensive to own, but I value the better driving experience, albeit with more frequent maint. service interval costs, over and above a typical Accord or Camry. But, to me, life's too short not to have a more rewarding daily driver. Of course, it doesn't hurt for me to be a Mech. Engineer capable of diagnosing and fixing most anything. I paid $6,200 for a near-mint 43K mile GLX two years ago. It's is a car that will last me forever. No need to consider any newer model. Buy the best condition/serviced car you can find/afford. Hey, everyone. Well, it’s Feb.2019 now and while I’ve only added about 3500 miles to the car since I last reported, the car now exhibits the common oil seepage problem at the cam shaft cover and valve cover areas. It’s the age of the gaskets/seals causing the leakage, not the miles. Also, the transmission exhibited a bit of “gear hunting” at very light throttle when in tallest gear. I’m thinking a transmission fluid service (drain & refill) would quite possibly help eliminate this slight nuisance. Upon good throttle acceleration, though, transmission shifts crisply and decisively. Also, I think the heater core is in need of a cleaning flush...because the heat is not as hot as it used to be. I suspect water/coolant flow through the heater core is not what it’s supposed to be. So, come Summer, I’ve definitely got some servicing to perform. :/ Btw, all three of these issues have been popular on these cars with needing to be addressed. Update: It’s Feb. 2020 and I self-performed a transmission fluid & filter replacement, using Liqui-Moly synthetic trans. fluid. What surprised me is that the drained trans. fluid came out looking amber clear (surprisingly clean), even though (and I’m certain about this) this fluid is original to the transmission that has almost 50K miles on it. In fact, the fluid looked so clean that I debated whether to proceed to replace it. But, I went ahead, anyway. Well, I’m glad I did because all of the transmission “hunting” behavior went away. It took a couple of days driving, but now the transmission operates flawlessly. Clearly, the fluid needed to be replaced, even though it looked acceptable. Btw, I strongly recommend all Liqui-Moly products for your vehicle. Excellent quality. I have yet to replace cam cover oil seals, valve cover gaskets, but will perform this Spring. Oil leaks at a small rate, in the meantime. A nuisance, but not a big deal.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
good car, needs more guts and 5 speed
This is a great car that is just a little to slow. It'd be nice to get a 5 speed w/ the 4 motion. Another 40 hp would be nice also. Don't know if I'd pay $4,500 more for the W8.
Love it
I have been looking for a while for a luxury vehicle in the Mercedes E class range. I am not a big fan of BMWs, but anything else goes. I happened to go to a VW dealership on a whim and saw the W8. Once I drove it, I knew I found what I was looking for. It could be a little bigger in size, but the engine power, style, handling, all scream 'look out Mercedes (and Audi, BWM, etc). This is my first VW, and if they continue down this path, I'll be buying many more. And you can't beat the price...
Poor Customer Service
My '02 Passat not only breaks down regularly, demonstrating poor quality, the customer service and responsiveness of the company was extremely disappointing. They refuse to acknowledge the issue in any way. My car has had over twenty repairs in eighteen visits to the shop in only three years and only 16,000 miles. I will never deal with VW again.
Sad to give up too!
First comment, I will never buy another Volkswagen. Had the emergency brakes went out a year ago and now my blinkers went out. At 56,000 miles the dealership flushed engine, said all okay to drive, my car died highway 100 miles out of town and had to be towed back and a new engine was put in, was very costly. I only put on 20,000 miles at first year and the dealer said it was my fault not getting regular oil changes. With no rental car provided (not covered by warranty). I also had front cv joints with axle, emission sensors and have been driving with "check engine" light on for 2 years and battery replaced! My sunroof is leaking I can not afford it. Driver side door lock is not work
Great Car
I have close to 80K on this car and have had no big problems. It drives great and is so much fun. I am definately going to look into another VW as my next car or SUV!
Great family car
With potent V6 and 5 speed tiptronic transmission, it's a great compromise between my wife (hates 5 speed manual) and me. Switching from Subaru Forester, I'm very impressed by this wagon's smooth, quietness and comfort. It has plenty of space in the back seats and good cago space.
?
Within 1st year had to have all breaks & rotors etc replaced. Faulty from factory instal. 2nd year water leaking into back psgr floor - faulty pollen filter housing. 3rd year water leaking again from roof - clogged sunroof drains + mechanic noticed pollen filter housing not correctly fixed from year before. Had to have rug & padding replaced 3 times.
long distance cruiser
We bought this car after 911 primarily because we wanted to avoid airport hassles when traveling to Albuquerque and Ashland OR;ten to fourteen hour journeys by car. This car has more than filled the bill! Fast, comfortable and totally unstressed with loads of room for fishing rods, skis;you name it. At seven years it has had very few problems (CV boots, headlights) and still feels as good as the day I picked it up. Nothing in the new car market looks this good so I'll keep it 'till it falls apart; no sign of that yet. Only down side is fuel consumption-big torquey diesel engine would make the perfect car.
Never Again
This is car has been a nightmare. I've blown 3 headlights, 4 foglights, the turn signals have never worked consistantly, sometimes they just don't work and now after the 3rd time on the drivers side it just stopped working. The back window makes this loud noise when its used, so my solution has been to just stop using it after the dealership can't seem to fix this as well as the other problems. The first year I had the car, it was in the shop 16 times. Call me anal, but I like the lights to work when I need them. The cd player has been replaced, the climate control just shuts off, then will eventually come back on.
Fun car to drive
The experience at the dealer wasn't so great, but this car is definitely worth the money and trouble. The car looks like a luxury car, but the price is not. It produces great power (190 horse power), and it has a great look that makes some heads turn. I have had my eyes set on this car since the first time I saw it on the road.
So far, so good
Thougth we were gonna get another Trailblazer, but test drove the Passat because of the Edmunds review. Wow. No comparison. The handling, pickup, and braking are far superior to the 'Blazer. As for room, there is plenty. This is a solid car. We got most of the bells and whistles on ours and are very happy thus far. Careful though, it can be a little too fun to drive as is evidenced by that little citation from a jealous traffic officer!
Fun to drive but.....
I thought I was stepping it up a notch by trading in my 10 year old Honda Accord. The Passat is an incredibly fun car to drive and has the most amazing sound system (Monsoon), but it sure does have a lot of quirky issues. Of the 26 months I have owned the car, it has spent the better part of 3 months in the shop. Volkswagon as a company is very frustrating to deal with. I did not have any luck getting them to replace a part under warrenty, that had a known issue, until it threw the correct code to their computer,despite it being undrivable. Buyer beware, I wish I had kept the Accord.
A Rabbit in Wolfsburg Clothing
My wife and I own several German vehicles. When it comes to transporting our baby and her gear or assaulting the slopes to snowboard or trekking to the left coast to surf our W8 does it solidly and confidently. And by the way, this thing launches and screams to redline!!!
Best Wagon
I looked at many small wagons (needed the space for outdoor gear, kids stuff, and trips to the home center) but couldn't find another that compared in ride, performance, and looks. I would rather have a peppy 5-speed than a truck-like SUV and the Passat V-6 fits the bill.
This car is rubbish
Bought used in 2003 w/ 32,000 miles. First day off the lot vacuum hose broke. Like many others who reviewed engine sludge problems. Had to replace timing belt at 75,000. Car has been in for work 12 times in 36 months even with manufacturers suggested maintenance. Don't ever buy a passat!
it rocks!
Best car purchase I've ever made. Fit & finish are excellent. Buttery smooth power and acceleration. Quiet, firm ride - very German.
Happy Driver!!!
This car is what a family sedan needs to be. It can be efficient and safe as a family sedan. It can also be a sports car that accelerates faster than most. (Did we mention this car has front wheel drive)The tiptronic transmission is a lot of fun and can easily mistaken for a real manual transmission. The steering on this car is excellent! The suspension has no lean in cornering.It is an excellent combination of comfort/luxury/sport.
Fun and safe car
The GLX is the most fun you can have in this car class while still having room for adults in the back seat.
Sad to give it up
We bought our Passat new and overall loved the car. We traded it in today on a more reliable vehicle. It was hard to part with the car, and we are sad that buying another Passat was not an option due to reliability and maintenance costs. This was a very safe and fun to drive car, but we should have cut our losses at five years. The MIL (check engine light) was on too often and often resulted in a $500+ repair. We did keep up with normal maintenance and full synthetic oil, but it still hurt to make repairs in excess of $1k when the value of the car wasn't much more.
An awesome ride
I love my Passat. It's the second Volkswagen that I have owned. It is so comfortable, has excellent handling - it feels really good on turns and while cruising the freeway. The inside is perfect. Everything is within reach. The wood trim is so cool. The car definitely feels German inside and out. Just wish it got better mileage.
terrible rotors!
Nice looking car alright ride! Had this car for 2 yrs. had to replace the rotors 4 times! Dealer can/could not find no reason why rotors are becoming warped every 5-10,000 mile is rediculous! Had a 95 Passat GLX that was not this hard brakes, if this is new technology I don't want no part of it! Also terrible in snow!
nice car, but lots of problems
You'll buy it because it looks great, but then never buy another one again because things just keep breaking.
Just do it
43,000 miles in 18 months and not a single problem. Very comfortable on long trips, and never had it to the dealer for anything other than an oil change.
excellant car
this car has been our best new car to date .
Not that great of a car
I am sick of spending so much time in there service department. More powerful engine is needed, To many electrical problems. Better service department is needed. Build the cars with less flaws, So far my car took in water from the engine 4 times, the back brakes went after 4000 miles...the check engine light goes on every other month...and the list keeps going.... Build better cars, and to VW take more pride in your work!!!!!
Electrical problems galore
In the year and 3 months that I have owned the 2002 Passat wagon, I have encountered numerous electrical problems. First, the entire security system went out after only 7,000 miles. After 9,000 miles the entire rear light assembly stopped working. After 12,000 the front headlight and rear cigarette lighter went out. After 17,000 the other headlight went out. Overall, this is an enjoyable car to drive but the reliability is a real issue. If you don't mind constant trips back to the dealership, buy one. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague.
Don't Buy a VW Passat!!
Just in case anyone out there still needs convicing that VW and their Passats stink when it comes to reliablity,... I had the window partly rolled down the other day and closed the door. After which the entire window fell into the door after breaking off the cheap plastic clips inside the door. Nice! VW wanted over $400, but took it to a window place and they got it down for $250. Have had the car not start which cost $600 to replace some crazy electronic part. Front axle just broke, numerous lights have stopped working and now I need a timing belt and water pump. I'm praying to sell it before having to do more work on this piece of junk. Too bad since it's such a good looking car:(
Oil burner
I fell in love with the awesome look and style of this car. (Fatal Mistake). From the day I drove off from the dealership, I've grown to dislike this vehicle. Above 45 mph it shook, and vibrated. After 970 miles it burned 1 quart of oil. The dealership advised me that was within the proper range of oil consumption. I was told that it comsumes oil rather than burns oil..go figure. I have a Nissan Sentra with 210,000 miles and has never burned a drop of oil. Needless to say this is my last VW product. It is a beautiful car, but the beauty in this car is truly only skin deep. I leave it in the garage and drive my nissan, saves on oil. Hope to unload the Passat soon...
New car seems used
Car came covered in rail rust, orange spots dealer then removed by scratching entire finish. Had broken floor mat clip and fuse box cover.2 wks later- radio died. 3 wks to replace. Rotors were warped-dealer said that can happen as new cars sit in lot! Tire blew Labor DAy 2002, to this day dealer has never called w/tire, tire mfr replaced free when they heard how badly we were treated. Car vibrated over 40, dealer didn't believe us, 3 visits & wasn't fixed. Dash & roof now alternately hum. Zero customer service from VW. Sign me up for that class action suit
Go for it
Purchased a demo w/ 4,500mi. Very please with ride and comfort. Everything very tight. Radio reception leaves something to be desired but with a CD in the Monsoon sound system is great. Also stereo system just did not wrk one day. Took to dealer who pulled plug and replugged. No trouble since. Some areas of "chrome" molding are foggy. Don't know why. Acceleration a little delayed but when it kicks in watch out.
Fantastic car!
This is the best all-around car I've ever owned. VW has gotten the formula just right for this level of vehicle. I shopped for quality, but as a very tall driver (6'7"), I needed headroom, too. Nothing surpasses the Beetle in that area, but has plenty. I found the Jetta too small. The 30-valve V6 is fantastic. I found the 1.8T to require some retraining to deal with the power surge and slight turbo whine. The V6 gave me a much smoother car without the care and feeding required for a turbo. The Passat's concern for safety is impressive, with airbags everywhere. Overall, Volkswagen's attention to details in this vehicle is tremendous.
My VW nightmare
Buy a VW and all your nightmares will happen to you. In a matter of 4 months of buying a new 2002 VW GLS I had my Monsoon sterio system not working,inition coils failing(it took 2 weeks to get that fixed) and had to be replaced, fog lights stopped working and had to contend myself with inefficient wipers and defroster. I dont know whats more in store for me. Iam thing of looking to the lemon laws for help.
Still on Honeymoon!
This is my second Passat. My 98 saved my life when I was run off the road into trees. The car was totaled but I walked away without a scratch! I looked at all the new choises out there but could not help coming back to the Passat. It's better than the 98 in so many little ways that just add up to the best bang for the buck. This is only the 2nd car I have owned that I look forward to driving every day and I still glance back at it every time I park it. I now work at Sears automotive as a CSA and see and drive almost every car you can imagine. Nothing even comes close to this cars overall quality/price comparison.
surprised
i wasn't sure if i liked the feel of the car before i bought i,t having previously driven a saab, but it's really grown on me. it's fun to drive and handles quite well- very very smooth on the freeway and tight on twisty roads. and very quiet. gas mileage in the city isn't so great, even with a light foot. hopefully this might improve with time. (only have 500 miles so far) not much storage space in the front despite the little middle console-my cd's are on the floor.
Passat, Excellent Car
The Passat is the most luxurious comfortable car i've ever driven. It handles like a luxury auto, my only complaint is the gas mileage is not impressive
Buyers Beware!!
I bought my 2002 vw used in 2005 from a dealer with and purchased a 5 yrs/100000 miles extended warranty and it was a "certified used vehicle". At 72000 miles (2007), the engine was replaced and at 75000 miles (2007) the transmission failed becasue a bolt which hold the transmission to the engine was missing!?? Dealer said the warranty has expired on Jan.2007? Came to find out that the extended warranty that vw offered covers not 5 years from the date of the purchase, but 5 years from the model year 2002- 2007!?
Bad News... my passat sucks.
I've had my Passat for 1 yr and its been to the dealer more times than my old crappy car. Engine light on, engine spudders/shakes, daytime running light went out on me twice. Hmmmm, what else. I lost all power in the car - the power windows/locks didn't work. This is all within the first 5 months I've had it. Then a month ago, the daytime running lights & headlight went out again. Now, its in the shop again because of engine problems. This time its going to stay in the shop for 2-3 weeks to repair the ignition coils (so they say). The most annoying thing is that the car creeks like crazy! My suggestion - pay the extra money and get yourself a BMW!
Before you buy one...
Don't buy this car! Not unless you enjoy throwing money out the window. My 2002 Volkswagen Passat was good for the first few months. Then it broke down on me in Indiana (coils). The A/C system stinks. It has broken three times. The check engine light comes on all the time. No joke, it comes on every few hundred miles. I take it in, pay a butt load of money for something stupid, then a few miles later it comes on again. This is the most unreliable car I have ever owned. When working it rides nice and looks nice, but I would give anything to have my 1997 Honda Civic back. Buy a Toyota or a Honda, buy ANYTHING, just not a Passat. Most positive reviews you will see only have a few miles on the car. I have 65,000. its junk.
Awesome Car
Absolutely love this car. Tightest, quietest, most comfortable car I've ever owned. Would buy another in a heart beat. Priced to compete w/comparable US models, this one beats them hands down!
Not built any better than other cars.
If you are willing to spend lots of time at the dealership after your purchase for repairs, then this is the car for you. I haven't had the car a year yet and as I speak the car is sitting in my garage undrivable because it barely runs, and the engine malfunction light is flashing. Also, about 6 months after I bought the car, all of the chrome side molding pieces turned an ugly white hazy color. Also, the manual seat adjustments are horrible and hard to use and the console storage is essentially useless. I also have a really nice rattle in the dashboard, a tell tale sign of lousy build quality.
Redefines sport touring sedan
This is a great sport touring sedan. It is very nimble and has excellent "street habits". I would strongly recommend to anyone. The AWD system is superb. Tiptronic does the job quite well. If you are looking for a 4 dr sedan to provide "double duty" - family sedan and performance car - then this is it!
IT'S NOT A BMW OR A BENZ
The Passat is a wonderful car and despite the review's title, I do like mine. In my opinion, it falls far short of either the BMW or the Benz in most categories but, it doesn't cost over $45,000 either. This more than makes up for any of the car's shortfalls. German engineering at a bargain price.
An absolute steal!
Currently leasing this car at dealer price of 31K. Was used as a demo, but what 2002 W8 wasn't? Beautiful ride, excellent stability, decent power. Absolutley the best car I've ever driven, however I may be biast since I've been a VW owner for 5 years.
worst car ever
I will never buy a VW again. Ever since I bought it I had nothing but problems. After a month or so glove department latch broke and from there everything just went down hill. I spent over $6,000 just maintaining this car. Overall the worst car I have ever owned.
2002 Passat W8 Wagon
Was looking for a peppy version of the Audi A6 and was intreiged by the look-alike W8. The car rides and feels like an Audi but the W8 has little more zip than the A6. Otherwise, I love the Bells and Whistles that are standard equipment that are in the car.