Used 2004 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Consumer Reviews
Used Passat for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Great longevity
Lc, 07/30/2015
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
36 of 36 people found this review helpful
I have the 2004 model. After 11 years and a great ( indy VW) mechanic and regular maint. and oil changes, I've had minimal costly repairs. Maybe, I'm in the minority but I'm holding on to it, with just 115,000. My last VW went past 200,000.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Trad d In the Car 2016- Emissions Tests Problems
nancy wiggins, 11/18/2015
updated 05/25/2017
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
Love the handling& has enough power to make mountain trips a breeze. Replacement parts are too expensive for me. Low height is easy entry & a great feature but front bumper & oil pan (replaced 4 times-speed bumps)are too low. Very costly continuous repair on poor US roads.(NC&SC). Bought it to serve as a company car to haul executives as well as a personal car. Works well on both counts.Got the German made luxury edition and have enjoyed the features. The emissions system is a problem.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2004 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
3 of 21 listings
- GLS TDI Diesel SedanMSRP: $4,795207 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $2,990340 mi away
- GLS 1.8T SedanMSRP: $5,488586 mi away
See all 21 listings
Almost 17 years and still going strong (update)
jsnoWVen, 11/05/2017
updated 11/16/2020
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLX Fwd 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new in 2004. Other than a few minor recall items, it has never been back to the dealership; I have an honest, reliable mechanic who has done the maintenance and repairs for me. I have faithfully performed all scheduled maintenance on the car with the exception of the timing belt, which I replaced early on the advice of the mechanic. This car has been 100% dependable, is a joy to drive, and looks good, too. I fully expect to be driving this car well into the future. Update: I have now owned and driven this car for over 15 years. There have been no major problems with the car, just the usual wear-and-tear repairs that come with a daily driver. The mileage has dropped a little in the past few years, but still within the EPA ratings for the car. I bought this car to replace a VW Golf that was 18 years old and had over 200k miles on it. At this time, my husband said I shouldn't expect the Passat Wagon to last as long as the Golf. He has since changed his tune, and we both fully expect this car to exceed the Golf's lifespan with us. Update, 11/2020: With the advent of working from home for the last eight months, the Passat Wagon sits in the garage more than ever. It still starts quickly on the first crank and is a pleasure to drive. During the summer, the compressor for the a/c failed (it was a replacement compressor) and was replaced gratis by the vendor. Other than that, the Passat Wagon has had nothing but oil changes and scheduled maintenance for the last couple of years. The leather seats are worn, and have a few cracks. But this car spent every work day out in the Alabama sun, so that kind of wear is not a surprise.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Please do not make a mistake of buying a VW
mandydj, 12/18/2010
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
Worst car experience ever. Bought a 2004 passat wagon 1/1/2010. Had 60K miles. Every month or two, I had to put it in the shop. Brakes, belts, engine coils, thermostat, both front axels, airflow sensor, a/c unit, etc... all had to be replaced over the 10 months I owned it. Thank goodness I was able to get rid of it before the other well known things go wrong. I got rid of it at 74K miles... heard about the turbos in these cars going out, timing belt, etc.... never again.
I will NEVER buy another VW!
snowylmh, 12/09/2010
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Bought my car as a certified used in 2008. Of all the vehicles I've ever owned... this one has left me stranded on the side of the road the most. It doesn't even matter if it's not a major issue, it costs a TON to fix. It cost me $960 to put in a fuel pump! Six days after I gave birth to my son, it left us both stranded on the side of the road when leaving his dr appt due to the ignition coils... a recall that happened years before I bought it certified used-- but they didn't bother to replace it before selling it to me. I have spent far more than this vehicle is worth on the constant repairs. Can't wait to sell it! Never will buy another VW. Specialized everything... total hassle!