Used 2003 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews

Not what I thought

I have had many problems with my passat. First off, the Continental tires went bad fast, and I had a flat within the first week of ownership. Then the rotors warped within the first 4 months. I returned it to dealership to get the rotors fixed 4 times before they actually replaced them. At 50,000 miles I blew a head gasket. And about a month ago I had to get the transmission replaced. Not worth all the money I spent. Nice to look at but not a smart move if you want a car that will last you more than 5 years.

Pretty Good.

As my first real car, I lived in Orange County and bought it @ 66,000 miles Certified. Two car accidents. One cross country trip from California to Boston. One winter later it has 105,000 miles on it! GULP! But it's fared pretty well. I've had a few minor electrical issues, and an engine leak but after the terrible VW Customer service honored everything it was alright. After putting over 105k miles on a 5 year old car it still coasts the highways SO SMOOOOTHLY. I need brakes done shortly, first time since 66,000 miles. Just got my timing belt done and ready for more. Good Car considering everything Ive done to the poor thing.

Nice car but poor service

Car is beautiful both inside and out and I have not had any mechanical problems although I only have 8k miles. Although I really love the car I will not buy a VW again due to the poor service department which seems to permeate all VW dealerships. I can't even get through to get an oil change and then when I do it takes almost two weeks and they are not open on Saturdays which means you will have to take a day off to get your oil change. You have got to be kidding!! My suggestion is to all those Honda owners who are thinking about switching to VW think long and hard about how you feel about customer service. I wish I did!!

Great Car

The 2003 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 besides being very reliable, is a lot of fun to drive, and looks very smart. VW did a beautiful job with the Passat and my next car will be another one.

Overall Problems

I've never owned a vehicle that has had this many recalls. Between the electrical heaters in the seats, the fuel system and now the right rear wheelhouse liner/shield. This is my second Passat, I never thought I would buy another car until this one. The quality put into VW Passats has really gone downhill.

Good Car but doesn't leave room for upgrades

The interior is very nice and comfortable. I love the quality of leather. I inherited the Passat at 70,000 miles. I really wish it were turbo. I am going to put in a K&N CAI to give it more spunk. It does not accelerate quick enough for me. I wish I could do a turbo conversion on it but it would not be worth the cost. It is a difficult car to work on because you would have to remove so much of the front end to get to work. I am not looking forward to the 100,000 timing belt change. It will be very costly. No one likes working on these for fun. I like the tight handling. It needs more power. If I could find a good chip maker I would add one. Turbo is the way to go because you can modify.

how many w8 are on the street?

great power from 60mph~120mph

I get so many compliments!

At the risk of jinxing myself. . . I *love* the car. I have 10K miles on it to date and the only problem was a trouble light that was fixed in a quick (free) visit to the dealer. She'll cruise at 85 all day no problem, eats traffic on the highway around town. So quiet I have to use the cruise to keep from speeding. Had to get used to downshifting more to pass -- can be sluggish in wrong gear. So pretty, people stop me on the pking lot to tell me. Great winter car with heated seats and ASR for ice.

Germans still haven't learned from Japan

Generally acceptable. Just a commute car, though. No thought given to American life on the road. Lacking in convenience features. Uncomfortable rear seating. No cloth option. Very cramped interior for 6'+. Bizarre heating/cooling control. Limited access to interior due to small door angle opening. Excessive trunk liftover height and miniscule trunk entry considering actual cargo space. Not a good value considering price. Typical VW - mostly marketing hype, short on reality.

VW has really done it!

My god how can they sell such a well equipped car for this price. My parent have an Audi A6 and almost cried when they heard how much I paid for my Passat.

Great Car

After driving a BMW 325 for 12 years, I bought a new car, and decided to try the VW Passat GLX manual. I haven't been disappointed. The fit and finish are excellent, the overall operation is fantastic, and the price was right. All of the comfort controls, Climatronic, heated seats work very well, Monsoon stereo system is excellent.

Looks can be deceptive

fun to drive..but just enough problems to keep you occupied for a few days per month.Most of the good reviews on this forum are by people who just bought a new VW car. All the bad reviews are by people who have used it for more than 6months/8000miles. Too many electrical faults, horrible Monsoon sterio, ignition coil problems,inefficient wiper system,trip computer has a mind of its own,works once in a while. Windshield allows too much glare from vahicles coming in the opposite direction.So please dont drive VW in rain or foggy conditions,take a cab. This is a car which brings to the mind the proverb...All that glitters is not gold

2003 PASSAT

LOVE THE DESIGN AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE CAR HANDLES GREAT WITH THE TURBO. SUSPENSION A LITTLE TIGHT, COULD BE A SMOOTHER RIDE.

Defective Ignition Coil

I loved this car-until, it started to fall apart. In 1 year, I have replaced 2 ignition coils (2 diff. times), the glove box and realigned the door. The coils were the biggest pain- b/c the towing fees. VW has ID'd the defective part (in all 1.8T engines)- But has refused to recall it, as it does not represent a safety hazard. A bad German supplier is to blame for the coil. VW is to blame for refusing to recall the part. Dealers refuse to replace all coils, just ones that fail. Note-1.8T cars have 4 coils for each cyl; so I now have 2 new coils, and 2 coils waiting to fail. Dealers are unwilling to sell new coils-as they don't have enough to go around.

Better then a BMW at much more affordabl

After owning a BMW the purchase of a VW Passat I thought would be a come down after buying my first one in 1996, but after 100,000 miles with absolutely no problems save for routine maintenance, I was convinced of this vehicle’s superiority, and I purchased another in 2002, which is better then ever. Again in 2002, I toyed with buying another BMW or the now more affordable Mercedes Benz, but with 6 years of great performance and reliability, I bought another Passat. If you want a car that will perform like any other high-end vehicle, and wish to not injure your pocketbook then the PASSAT is defiantly the car to consider.

Fun to drive, but loads of exasperating maintenanc

Bought my V6 GLX PASSAT FROM THE SECOND OWNER. At 72,000 original miles. I paid $4,000 for it which I thought was a good deal. But to my chagrin it is been a money tornado. I've done nothing but work on this car constantly because of all the little things that go wrong with it. After I first got it it blew a heater hose immediately while in line at a fast food restaurant. After I fix that. It the water pump started leaking so I went ahead and performed the timing belt maintenance that was going to be due any up at about 100,000 miles so I went ahead and did all that. I replaced the valve cover gaskets spark plugs fuel filter. All the vacuum lines under the hood were deteriorating and broke apart the minute you touch them so I had to replace all those if I had to take this car to a dealer it would have cost me a fortune and I probably would have walked away from it but since I do my own car repairs and it's a hobby of mine I'm learning about the Volkswagen was eye-opening experience in itself. The V6 is very tight and you have to perform a what's called a remove the front end pull the front end out to do any kind of work on on the car really it's not that big of a deal but some people you know you could require special tools and stuff. That's the only drawback but you can rent these those tools to do these the job and you know it's it's not a vehicle for a college kid or somebody who needs a consistent vehicle that doesn't have a lot of tiki tack things break down on it other than that the the airbags have never give me a problem braking system is fantastic the steering system and a suspension is fantastic the engine as long as you change the oil and take care of it you it will probably run for as long as you want but there is a lot of plastic on these cars that I don't hold up overtime. I got to say there's no problem with the engine of the transmission in any shape or form or like the big things like the sunroof and things like that but other than that I like the my car to be in tip top shape and looking like it's it's in we'll take care of so little things that go wrong can be real bothersome and believe me this car will be bothersome you either love it or you hate it.

Watch out for sludge

I love my '03 Passat for its handling and performance. With that said, I have recently encountered the sludge issue. It is a issue that they leave out during the sales pitch. You only encounter it when it is time to change your oil. That is when they inform you that you must use synthetic oil because of sludge build up. My car is less that 4 years old and I have had to rebuild my engine. I followed the instructions from VW to use the more expensive oil and it still occurred before 140K miles. VW offered to give me a new engine, only if I supplied 100% of the scheduled oil change receipts. They asked for 26 and I could only produce 20. Therefore no new engine.

W8 the car you'll love to hate

After picking up the most grown up car I've ever owned, I find my self in a Love hate relationship.. I bought it right off lease with 24k on the clock on 4-13-07. The first of the problems was the ac went it the first week right before a trip to the fl. Keys. The roof trim keeps popping up at the rear over the rear window. Window regulator broke, over head interior light stay on, sun roof opens for no reason, trunk lock broke, head light washer non opp, cv boots leaked, trans torque converter replaced, brake booster vac line. The list goes on I just don't have the time or space. By the way as of 8-31-09 this car only has 49,290 miles on the clock.. If you ask me stay clear of VW! All lemons!

Disappointment

Poorly engineered

2003 V-6 Passat: replace alternator, $1000+; replace motor mounts, $ 600+; etc

Love the car

Love the car. It is a dream to drive. We had a 98 Honda Accord and compared to what we were driving , I really love this car. Its so far my favorite in price you can't go wrong.

Never again

My Passat was purchased used w/ 17k miles. It now has 66k miles. The driver power window failed immediately and required 3 dealer visits. The fuel pump failed at 40k in traffic. It eats tires. It eats rear brakes. Maintenance and repair costs are ridiculous. Handles wonderfully, is fast, and has beautiful exterior lines but I consider it unreliable enough to not use for long road trips. I've never been to the dealership when there was not at least one person yelling about a failure or bill. Runs poorly below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Monsoon stereo is awesome.

Stay away

I've had this car for almost 6 years now and while it was fun during the warranty period, lately it has been a real drain on my finances to keep it running. Problem after problem keeps showing up from sensors, coils, thermostat. If you like to be punished then go out and buy one, otherwise stay away. This car is very unreliable and very, very expensive to fix.

A Super Car!

This car is really a kick to drive. I actually look foeward to my commute to and from work since I bought the Passat.

I'm Hooked

Just turned in my 99 Passat for a 2003. I love this car! Why spend the extra money for an Audi? Hondas can't compare. Smooth ride, excellent handling, excellent braking, safety - bar none, looks and feels like a luxury car.

Great so far :)

So far running great..all of 5 days old

Its ok with a W8

Yea I read a lot of the complaints that these cars have but have you ever noticed that the complaints are only about the 1.8T? We have a 03 W8 passat and were the type that takes a car anywhere. Are passat goes through a lot of abuse because where we live has a lot of rough roads and unpredictable weather and it still runs ok. So if you are going to get one these cars get a W8 with 4motion because these cars are very heavy and do need the extra power and the 1.8T may do the job but stresses the engine to much causing parts to wear faster.

Way to go, VW!

We love this car! We bought the 1.8L turbo; it's a rocket! And it's steady in the wind. Has a nice steady feel. Hard to keep it under or at the legal speed limit. We tried Camry and Accord and feel that we made the best choice when we bought the Passat.

Love my VW!!!

The 1.8T 5speed is great. Not too expensive, and a great car. Rides nice, got some power and a great soundsystem. (Monsoon) The only 2 things Im not crazy about are the placement and design of the sideview mirror control, (knob on the door panel)and the front seat center arm rest. Its nice that it slides forward to be adjustable but w/ a manual tranny, it moves too much while shifting. Other than that, I would highly recomend this car.

I miss my Honda Civic

I have four separate rattles. I can hear two rattles in the dash idling at a stop light from the engine vibration even with the stereo on. The transmission has a mind of its own. Shifting is often rough. I averaged only 16 mpg for the first 600 miles.

a perfect

I own a 2001 Volvo V70 Turbo wagon and it's a great car, but for $10,000 less, this VW is even a better car. I couldn't believe how well equiped a $30,000 sedan can be. We even looked at the MB C240 and the Audi A4 and they were comprable but cost 5-10 Gs more! It drives like a true German car, and there is absolutely no torque steer like with my Volvo. It had superior build quality, and German design.

Excellent car!

Had a 98 Golf GL and got the 2003 1.8T GLS with leather option on Sat. It's a nice car to drive. The manual transmission is reponsive. Gas milage is excellent. Features are great. Fresno Green exterior color is subtle.

2003 Passat

This car has pizazz! The comfort and style of this model rivals most luxury cars for a modest price. The car is full of saftey features that are not installed on other vehicles so you feel safe transporting your children. Bottom line........safe, reliable and FUN!!!!!!

problem after problem

I bought this car brand new and each yer I have had to pay out at least 2,000 or more a year for repairs, now my car needs a new engine. My car stayed in the shop for 4 mths at a time I have had to put my car in the shop at least 3 time a year

$4000 in repairs in less than a year!

I bought this at 59,000. Two weeks later it went in the shop. 6 of the 8 ignition coils went bad $620(there was a recall on this so if they need repaired again VW will not pay 4 it). Intake bad, fuel sensor bad, coolant sensor bad. Total that time $1,890.00. Before I bought the car Lithia put $500.00 in what they called basic repairs, 2 weeks ago I put $900 in electrical probs and 2day my valve gaskets blew out of no where (they are new btw) $1,192.00 for those to be replaced. Front light went out and that's $500.00 2 repair bc they have 2 take the front panel off! Oh and the car is now stated to be worth $8,000.00. So in reality I have thus paid $12,982 for a car worth $8 grand

Passat W8

When I began searching for a new vehicle I wasn't even aware that an "upscale" Passat was available. I had made a list of vehicles to test drive - the Audi A6 2.7T, Volvo S60 T5, Acura TL Type S, BMW 3 series and the Lincoln LS. Thankfully some people online informed me that an all-new VW was available with 8 cylinders AND all wheel drive. After one test drive I was sold! I still went out and test drove other vehicles, but none felt as "complete" as the W8. If you are looking for a car that combines performance, safety and a fun-to-drive spirit for under $40k then you owe it to yourself to test drive the VW Passat W8.

excellent vehicle

great handling, powerful, beautiful design, great triptronic transmission but would have liked a manual, 6 speed maybe. Safe with AWD, plenty of airbags, ESP

repair bills 3 inches thick shameful

This car is a joy to drive when the check engine light is not on. It has Great hwy mileage. As for the down side I paid 6700 for the car a year ago in very good shape still looks great but have replace over 3000 dollars worth of crap on the car in 5 different visits to the dealership. I got a stack of papers from the previous owners of every service visit and oil change so i thought i would be ok. I was wrong regardless of how well you take care of this car is just a nightmare in random repair bills.

Great car, couple of issues

Comfortable ride. Good mileage around 30mpg. Love the fresco green color. Two negatives about the car are: 1) delay in acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear, 2) poor visibility out the back window because of the head rests getting in the way.

Don't buy if you drive a lot

I got exactly what I wanted with this car. Comfort and good quality. It's quiet as well, and designed well inside. From the outside it's boring (which is fine with me, but bad if you drive to impress). But the build quality is excellent. The finish resists minor bumps and scratches. I had a minor fender bender and it didn't even scratch the bumper. It has three really bad points, though. First, it has terrible mileage (14 miles/gallon around town, which gets pricey when you also have to use 91 octane fuel ). Second, the fuel tank is small, so I only get 190 miles per tank. Last, the steering wheel takes a lot of effort to turn. That's fine with me, but my wife won't drive it.

Worst reliability I've ever encountered

The car was purchased used with 33,000 miles on it from CarMax. I purchased the extended warranty after reading spotty reliably ratings. Thank goodness I did. This car has been in the shop five times in the past six months. We've got a rental Chevy Cobalt for now. Side note: While the Cobalt is not in the same luxury range as the Passat, I'm extremely surprised at how nice the car is. I'm looking at getting a new Malibu to replace our lemon VW.

Love my VW

This car is truly an amazing vehicle, from the comfort and control to the stability and the safety you feel driving such a powerful vehicle. I purchased my car with 31,000 miles and have since put 9,000 on in less than one year because I simply love driving it!

Best Car, Best Value

This car has been wonderful. I drove the new altima and accord and they both felt cheap compared to the passat. I thought I would have to sacrifice value, but I got heated seats, computer, 2 extra airbags for around $21,000.

Merc 4 VW price

Great car. Drives and handles like a Benz. Gives you a tight and solid feeling around curves and zigzagging.

Funnest car I've owned

Bought it in 04 with 20,000 miles and now have 145,000 miles on it. Had to replace the coils and brake light switch. Had my own mechanic do the work and got reimbursed most$ because of recalls. Fun to drive. Had a water issue but fixed it myself. If I had mechanic fix it would have gotten reimbursed due to recall. Only issue I have is the headlights are wired backwards so the main lights are on all the time. Also have a heated seat issue but beyond that I love the car. Parts are pricey and the dealers don't have a clue. But have not had the issues these posters have had. Anyone who's borrowed my car liked driving it.

Great Car

Its a Great Feeling

LOVE my Passat

Great car with great fuel economy. Whenever I am on the highway I get around 30 mpg. Mine has 95,000 on it right now and is still running great. The exterior is a little boring but greatly improved on in the new Passats. The body is very sturdy, I have backed into my garage door after slamming the gas and it barely has a scratch. Great for a first car or anyone who is on the road a lot.

Best Buy!!!

It's only been a couple of weeks since I passed over the new 2003 Accord in favor of a 2003 1.8T Passat. So far, I have absolutely no regrets. Inital quality and performance are outstanding and it's a joy to look at inside and out. The German look and "feel" are evident throughout this vehicle. The manufacturer recommends premium gas, which does seem to be necessary. Two tank fulls of mid-grade have provided a measureable difference in performance. Oh, well...it's worth the extra few bucks in gas! FYI - My car is Fresco Green, which looks hideous on the VW website, but stellar in person.

Great Car

A little wind noise, but other than that a truly great car to drive and own.

V-6 is worth it

When youre looking for a car that looks and feels good, it is easy to overlook engine performance. This bad boy has some awesome pick up. It truely is a dream to drive. I love my car!!!