Used 2012 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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Better than basic transport for tall drivers
Paul Erbe, 11/10/2015
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a 2012 Passat S(manual) that must have been coming off lease. Even though this is the base model it has everything you would ever need. Expert reviews ding it for lacking rear-view camera and navigation. Today's smartphones handle navigation just fine and how about looking over your shoulder to back up. I drive almost 90% off the highway and my combined mpg has been 25.66 for my first 2500 miles, seems fine for a car of this size. I do occasionally make a 60-70 mile highway trip and the on board computer has reported those trips getting 40 mpg. I am big and tall (6'5" and 300 lbs) and the front seat leg, head and shoulder room are all more than sufficient. AS a matter of fact I don't need to have the seat in the furthest bask position. I have two son who are also tall(6'5" & 6'1") and they can easily sit behind me in the back seat.
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Awesome and Sexy Automobile
newvwfan, 02/03/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat S PZEV 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
I decided to upgrade my 96 Camry to the 2012 Passat, this turned out to be one of the best decision that I've ever made. This car is fun to drive compare to my Camry. I beg to differ when other reviewers stated the the design is boring, I got the night blue metallic and its nothing from boring. It is slick and sexy. The performance of this car has blew me away in terms of power and acceleration. It handles and rides nicely. The interior looks simple and classy, in addition a TONS of space in the front and back of the car. As a first time VW buyer, I'm pretty confident that I will stick with VW for life! So, if you are considering purchasing this car, you won't be disappointed!
2012 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
Showing 3 of 261 listings
- SEL PZEV SedanMSRP: $3,50093 mi away
- V6 SEL Premium SedanMSRP: $11,98097 mi away
- TDI SE Diesel Sedan w/SunroofMSRP: $1,90098 mi away
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Too new to tell, but..........
dkross737, 11/16/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
34 of 55 people found this review helpful
I've had my TDI SEL just about 2 weeks, so all comments are preliminary. Engine and DSG combo-first rate, mpg 45+ 75/25 Highway/City. Interior well laid out, but some cost cutting (vertical travel on center armrest and forward edge of driver's seat, goose-neck trunk hinges, prop rod vs gas struts for hood) ) noted...car is built to a price. First rate highway car with great road manners, audio, seat comfort, and noise level. Exterior somewhat bland, but that may attract less attention from our State Troopers, and not look dated in 4 years.
Avoid this car if your goal is to buy a reliable v
Scott Young, 02/13/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2012 diesel Passat for the fuel economy and range. During the summer months I get almost 50 mpg hwy and winter is less because of the diesel fuel additives. HOWEVER- I have 135,000 miles on a 2012 and so far have dumped more than $9000 in maintenance and repairs. Every 40K miles the DSG transmission service is $800 and that is the cheap part. At slightly over 100k miles the problems started and they were all emissions related (this car is complicated). First the Add Blue tank heater failed and the entire tank must be replaced ($1000) then the butterfly valve for burning off the particulate failed ($1000), Both cooling fans ($800) and two oxygen sensors ($1000), add to that VW changed from a timing chain to a timing belt in 2011 so at 130K timing belt, water pump rollers/bearings etc. ached service was $2200. My VW dealer was great but VW needs to address reliability on this model (wonder whats going to happen with the emissions scandal ??)
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LOVE my car...HATE what VW did to DESTROY resale!
LPL, 03/10/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have a 2012 TDI SEL and LOVE it!! We drive between Maine and Georgia frequently and stop ONCE for diesel. The car is comfortable and roomy with plenty of creature comforts. BUT, after four years, and being in Maine, we need an AWD vehicle and now this car has zero resale. VW should do more for ruining the value of their cars than they have.
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The worst car I've owned in 15 years
Doug, 02/03/2016
updated 02/03/2022
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
9 of 14 people found this review helpful
I bought my Passat TDI for the fuel economy, reliability and longevity of the diesel engine. Ive never had a more unreliable vehicle than this one including a few couple hundred dollar vehicles when i was a kid. The turbocharger failed. The fuel pump failed. The exhaust flap failed. Then the new turbo was damaged by the dealer. Then the clutch broke. The transmission synchros broke. Then the heater core plugged. Now the oil cooler is plugged. Almost every major component has failed and lead to enormous repair bills.
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2012 VW Passat Quality Issues Are Piling Up!
prospective, 05/30/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat S PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
26 of 44 people found this review helpful
I have had all kinds of minor quality problems with my 2012 Passat... I love the car but VW doesn't do a whole lot to rectify these issues: 1. Seatbelt light and chimes even though my seatbelt is fastened and I'm the only person in the car. VW's lame excuse is that my cell phone is emitting electromagnetic waves that are setting the seatbelt light and chimes off. VW told me not to charge my cell phone in the car and not to get my phone too close to any of the seats. LAME! 2. Front end suspension noise. I has to bring my car in to the dealer twice before they admitted the right front suspension was defective. I had to put the tech guy in my car and roll over speed bumps at low speed before he admitted there was a defect. They have since rectified the problem. 3. Drivers door. The drivers door doesn't close unless you slam it like you are angry. The door should close properly with just the weight of the door. The VW tech told me "You know, everything on a new car doesn't actually work perfectly." Another LAME! 4. Rear trunk lid. Same problem with the rear trunk lid not closing unless you slam it like you are angry. There are scratches on the inside lid latch that show the latch is not aligned properly. Tech response, "All VW's are like this." A third LAME! 5. My brakes squeek in the morning. Eveyday, when leaving my house, my brakes squeek. Tech guy: "Due to the high humidity in the Hawaiian Islands, it's normal for VW brakes to squeek in the morning." Huh, I've leased Hondas for the last 14 years and never had squeeky brakes before. This must be a VW Issue? One more time: LAME!
After 9 months.....
daveeman, 04/15/2013
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
16 of 27 people found this review helpful
I mainly purchased this car for the diesel fuel economy. My driving is mostly around town which gives me 36mpg. HWY is 43. All new cars are exciting at first, especially one with with great reviews as this one. My mind was already made up during the test drive, so I ignored a glaring issue. It is a rough riding car. I can feel (and hear) every crack in the pavement like I'm piloting a go-kart. Each road thump echoes a mild bass throughout the car, causing the need for the stereo to be turned up to mask the road noise. I read that Honda's are known for road noise, but nothing could be this noisy. It corners well, but I'd sacrifice the sport suspension any day for soft & quiet.
Some Irritating Quality Issues!
prospective, 04/16/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat S PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
13 of 22 people found this review helpful
Hey Everybody I just leased a 2012 Passat S Although I absolutely love driving this car, I have noticed some irritating quality issues that VW America needs to be aware of. My Passat is just over a month old and currently has just almost 1,400 miles on it. My irritations are as follows: 1. The seatbelt light and chimes come on even though my seatbelt is fastened and Im the only person in the car. Its very frustrating to hear the chime and see the dashboard light illuminated. Ive pulled over to turn off the car and restart. Ive unbuckeled and rebuckled. Ive stopped to get out of the car and start the whole process over and nothing seems to solve this problem. Its kind of like driving down the highway and having someone ringing your doorbell every 10 seconds. My main concern is that this may be a safety issue? 2. Drivers seat rattles. with only 1,400 miles on this car, Is this a quaility issue? Keep in mind, Im not a heavy set person. It seems like the seat is just not secured properly. Im hoping this is a quality issue and not a safety issue. 3. Trunk lid is not aligned properly. I have to slam the trunk lid closed in order for the trunk lid latch to catch. You should be able to gently push the trunk lid closed in order for the latch to secure itself. I also have the same same problem with the drivers side front door. I have to slam it shut or the open door light illuminates. Both of these are frustrating as my wife thiks Im mad everytime I have to close the door or trunk. These are both very minor quality issues but the liitle issues are starting to add up. And, Im getting tired of hearing my wife say to me Whats wrong everytime we get in the car together. 4. Suspension noise from front and rear corners seems to be getting worse as the days go by. This is especially prevalent at low speeds when rolling over speed bumps or climbing the curb to pull into the driveway of my house. If this were a 1995 Ford Tauras with 120,000 miles on it, Id be more understanding. But this is a brand new 2012 VW Passat and I expect better from a German car company which touts German Engineering as its tag line. Once again, I love driving this car The handling, power (I have a 5 speed manual transmission), body style, bluetooth connectivity and generous back seat legroom make this car a beautiful ride. I just hope VW America understands and responds to my concerns to correct these minor but irritating quality issues. Luckily, this is only a 24 month lease, so if VW America choses not to respond to my quality claims, Its a short term relationship and I can return to a car company like Honda who has a history of solid quality control. My concern is that after leasing Hondas over the last 10 years, Im not used to having to deal with these types pesky quality issues. I understand this 2012 Passat was built in America (which is a big reason why I chose to lease this vehicle), but it seems to have some quality issues that still need to be ironed out. Ill be interested to see how VW America responds to these issues Will they ignore me? Let me know these are normal inconveniences that I need to tolerate, or will VW America correct these issues to make sure I stay a loyal VW owner for years to come? Im big on long term relationships. I dont know the answer to my questions but Ill make sure to update everyone on how this turns out!
Solid, Reliable Car
Justin, 06/17/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat S PZEV 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have now owned my Passat for nearly 5 years now. I have to say that this car has been very reliable. I have had no maintanance issues, there have been a couple recalls but for very minor things that I would have never noticed had I never received anything in the mail. I truly recommend this car for someone who wants something that is reliable, roomy, and affordable.
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Awesome Passat 2.5
twmfam3, 09/16/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Nav (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great room great fit and finish great engine, transmission, steering and braking. I push this car hard when I'm on the Interstate, 80 plus mph for hours this car can run with the best and step out and lead with no problem. Change the oil 2x per year runs like a top. Great back seat room, great front passenger and driver comfort. Very well executed sedan.
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Awesome Disc brakes saved my car from crashing
aviamar, 07/11/2013
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am proud of the brakes on my 2012 VW Passat. It not only saved me from any injuries but also from causing any damage to the car. I was driving down at 45mph towards a traffic signal. Slowed down a bit but picked up my speed back to 45 as soon as i saw it turn green from a distance. There was a vehicle, in front of me, which had started moving too. I then took the eyes of the road and before I realized the vehicle in front had come to a unexpected halt. I was at a distance of 25-30 ft, I guess, before I hit the brakes hard. I was almost certain that I was going to crash (used to driving cars in India) But the ABS kicked in and made a perfect stop. Passat - totally worth the money.
Best car I’ve ever owned
Russ, 01/22/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Had many Honda’s and other foreign cars but this is the most comfortable ride. And the interior is great looking.
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Love this car!
scott314, 08/29/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Nav (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
After 13,000 miles in six months I truly enjoy my Passat. The V-6 is remarkably powerful and makes driving a lot of fun. It has a pleasant growl when accelerating briskly but is very quiet otherwise. I have had two minor problems - the iPod cord quit working but was replaced under warranty, and the dealer even replaced the wiper blades under warranty which I found impressive. My biggest regret is that the V-6 is not available with a manual transmission. The automatic works fine, but ... Other than that, it rides and handles well, it's roomy, it's quick, it gets good mileage and I get lots of compliments on the appearance. (And the Fender stereo is amazing!)
Sporty family vehicle!
Dale123, 09/12/2015
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am overall pleased with our 2012 Passat we purchased from Birmingham Luxury Motors in Hueytown, AL. The car handles great, has plenty of power and holds THREE car seats comfortably. This is the first Volkswagen I've owned and I'm very happy of my purchase. I'm 6' 5" and I have ample amount of room and the trunk space is a huge commodity.
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Love the car, hate the repairs.
Shelby, 01/25/2019
updated 07/27/2020
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Passat se in February of 2017. I absolutely love the car but I’m in the shop with it every other week. After a week of owning the car a got a “low oil pressure, turn off engine” light. Thank goodness I took out an extra warranty through the dealership I bought it from, because one of my sensors were shot therefore it was fixed for free, after having to go to the dealership 4 times in one week because they replaced the wrong sensor the first time.:) Not long after my Bluetooth stopped working, my shifter lights kind of work, and my windshield leaks. But BESIDES THAT every winter that I’ve had the car (3 winters now) I got the “low oil pressure” light. It’s a never ending problem with this car. I’ve put so much money into it in the past few years, it’s ridiculous. Oh I almost forgot two weeks ago my drivers side door handle broke, did you know that Volkswagens have electric door hinges, who would have thought! ($500 later)
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Reliable fun to drive car
Oleksii Ustymchuk, 02/26/2019
updated 03/15/2021
2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for 2 years, bought it salvage and fixed it myself. The engine is awesome, turbos make engines unreliable, I am so happy it does not have a turbo. Easy to fix most stuff that breaks, fuses are very easy to find, all engine bolts are accessible, no hidden bolts or plastic covers over components. The car has good power for the engine it has, transmission is very good, shifts smoothly but you can feel it so its awesome. I do hate the dual climate control, very distractive and annoying to use while driving. The driver and passengers sit in the same car and if one wants less ac they can turn it down at the ac vent, the dual climate control is ridiculous system and I will soon be removing it and intalling aftermarket single simple control. The car now already has 75,000 miles and nothing major broke on it, except the dum vacuum pump seals started leaking badly, so I deleted the vacuum pump with aluminum block off plate and put the brake booster hose to the intake. At 65,000 head gasket stared leaking oil on the timing chain side and I had to replace head, intake, cam cover and valve cover gaskets. I did it myself and it took 3 days with ordering timing chain locking tool because it got misaligned during disassembly. Dont buy head gasket from dealer $130 made in mexico, buy autozone $55 made in USA. Other than that what this car needs is some towing hooks and roof racks other than that I love this car.
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German luxury on a budget
drjkalyan, 08/26/2014
updated 02/28/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is my first new car and I love it. It looks impressive with taut lines and geometrical shapes that accent the angular look of the new VWs. The car is decidedly large for the American market and can be a problem only in some crowded cities. Inside the cabin the interiors are excellent quality and material with symmetrical layout - maybe a bit boring. It has the best in-class rear seat legroom and boot space. It has adequate equipment as standard. Ride is a bit choppy on rough roads but is very well absorbing on usual city roads. Power is just about adequate and delivery is a tad linear. Engaging the sports mode creates more engine noise than speed. I love the tank-like build quality!
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Never loved a car more!
manomes, 10/14/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my VW Passat SE in April, and have had no regrets. This is my first VW purchase after years of owning only Toyota and Honda products. I have not experienced any of the problems that some other reviewers here cited. I have nothing but good things to say about this car. Everyone (really, everyone) that hs ridden in my car has had positive comments about the comfort and styling. I would, and have, recommend the Passat to anyone wanting a well-build, mid-sized car. I love, love, love my car!
VW SEL Premium 2.5L 5Cyl Great car
Benmu, 05/04/2019
updated 05/06/2020
2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought this car at 135000 miles, never owned a German brand and was doubtful if this car will hold up due to the reputation of German cars and the car being six years old. One and a half years down the line the car is very amazing, very minor repairs done and normal maintenance of the car. I love the Fender audio system big reason I got the car too, the bass is amazing. The interior is decent, the handling is good and the 5 cyl engine is runs great and is good on gas. Its a very reliable car, would buy this car again in a heartbeat.
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This is a sweet car !!!
almegastar, 06/14/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
I owned 38 vehicles since I started to drive, this is the ultimate car, It has attributes I 've been longing for , it has snappiness, comfort, 5 star safety, economy ( low 40 MPG), not to mentioned German engineering quality @ mid- $20K. I waited for this car ( Black on Black) for 4 1/2 months , but its worth the wait. Volkswagen USA , you will sell this like these cars like Hot cake !!!
Missed Opportunity - Poor Quality
dfwtdi, 12/02/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
52 of 100 people found this review helpful
Let start by saying VW designed this car for people like me at they got my attention. I went out and bought one. In favorite features I will list what I love but: In my 2012 Passat TDI I get a pretty loud fuel sloshing noise from the back. The dealership confirmed the sound exists in other 2012 Passat TDIs as well. This sound is at it's loudest when the diesel tank is about 1/2 to 3/4 full; it makes loud thuds (diesel sloshing sounds). The VW service manager is very helpful but he says that is a design flaw and VW does not have a solution for it right now. He says may be if enough people complain they will come up with a solution. Besides this I have at least three different rattles fixed.
Passat TDI Where have you been???
laskot87, 04/24/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
6 of 12 people found this review helpful
I just bought my first VW. The Passat TDI SE w/ Sunroof. WOW!!!! this car glides... suspension is a little stiff but it rides on rails. Looks wicked sharp!!! originally wanted black on black but as hard as these have been to find i went with Midnight Blue and was not disappointed! I live in the northeast and there was only one of these in Maine!!! i got mine from Prime auto in Saco Maine.... Head in there and ask for Kyle he was awesome...(tell him i sent you) service was great, price was great. No it's not an american engineered car, but american people are hard at work building them!!!
vw got it right
txtdivw, 09/07/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Nav (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
7 of 15 people found this review helpful
All I can say at this point is every works perfectly. This has not always been the case with previous VWs. Fuel mileage excellent!
TERRIBLE
kylebeckstrom, 07/31/2020
2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
I couldn't be more disappointed. I only got 150k miles before it crapped out. I took excellent care of the car VW just sucks
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Fun to drive mid-sized sedan - Update: RUN!!!!
scj2, 01/01/2015
updated 11/20/2019
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Nav (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I've owned the 2012 SE Passat V6 for over 1 month and have enjoyed it. Purchased as a CPO vehicle, it has great acceleration and a smooth ride. Plenty of leg room in the front and back seats. Car rides well, has excellent power for passing and navigation works well. I wrote the above in December 2014 (I think) and am writing this now in November 2019. I have had the car since 24k miles ( it now has 114k miles), and I have had it regularly maintained. In this time frame, I have had to: - replace the megatronic transmission @ 90k miles - replaced with used 45k mile transmission at independent shop as 1 dealer quoted $6500 for a new one!!! That this the cost of a replacement "beater" car. - replace the front shocks/struts @ 60k miles - replace the heater core @ 114k miles. And the A/C compressor is going bad and I will need to replace it in the near future. I also continue to get the check engine light come on for the catalytic converter but think it may be the 02 sensors going out. It is only after purchasing this car that I learned that VWs do not age well and become an endless source of repairs. Evidently, Fahrvergnügen is German for the painful process of extracting funds from your bank account for the upkeep of unreliable VW baged automobiles.
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2yrs and counting
brndnmartin87@gmail.com, 01/22/2016
updated 07/25/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
After 2yrs of driving my 2012 passat tdi i have no complaints, i love the fuel milage 31/50 Its not a luxury car, it does have some road noise which got quit a bit better when i replaced the factory hankook tires with michelin primacy tires. Over all I'm quit pleased. My wife drives it mostly and loves it!
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A Couple of Tweaks Needed
robbykay, 12/21/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
9 of 24 people found this review helpful
This car is great. Very enjoyable to drive and loaded with all kinds of goodies. Excellent value. The Fender sound system is beautiful. Handling is nice and tight. Great car, so far. I've only had it for 1.5 weeks, so hopefully no surprises. Tweaks needed: The touch screen interface is pretty slow. It usually takes a few seconds before there's any reaction. When highway driving, that can be an big issue. Also, the trunk is difficult to close. I'm a 5'11', 200 lb guy, and when I give the open lid a tug, not only does it not close, it re-opens completely. I have to give it some effort for it to close on the first try.
Edmunds has a great tool for finding a vehicle
QATL, 06/20/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
4 of 10 people found this review helpful
I purchased the 2012 VW Passat. The VW Passat has a great value at this time however I do regret that I have to wait for the airbags to get repaired. The vehicle was recalled for the airbag safety. This is my first time owning anything other than a Toyota, Camry. I was in the Toyota family for 25 years. I have only owned it for two weeks so we shall see if the VW family can live up to my expectations of a quality vehicle.
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First 2,000 miles in my new 2012 Passat TDI SEL
jimmy2012tdi, 09/29/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
97 of 277 people found this review helpful
I just picked a new black/black 2012 Passat TDI SEL last week, and am extremely impressed with the vehicle. I traded in a BMW 550I (V8) that I had for 3 years and drove 75,000 miles (20 mpg). I am overly impressed with the VW, even moving down a notch from a $70K BMW. I have driven the TDI almost 2,000 miles in the first week and have an average of 42 mpg! 75% highway, 35% Chicago city traffic. At 65 on cruise the car averages about 50 mpg! Very comfortable seats, quite, great sound system, easy to use Navigation. This is by far the best car in its class and should be in very high demand. Car handles very well, still lets you feel the road with out being too soft. Perfect car...great job VW.
Car ok ,I satisfaction .
Wesley Ciaston, 12/08/2015
updated 12/24/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 11 people found this review helpful
Recommended.
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Too many issues have made me regret this purchase
mercuriciodide, 08/03/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
17 of 53 people found this review helpful
The light cover wouldn't stay on on the driver's side door, so I had to take it in later for repair. They claimed it was repaired but the next time I brought it in for another issue, they replaced the entire door panel without asking. The new door panel was lower quality than the old one and flexes a whole lot, especially in winter, making considerable noise and giving the car a very cheap feel which is very frustrating since it cost $30,000. When I brought up the flexing door panel problem the service manager said he would bring up the issue to a visiting VW exec, get a resolution, and call. After months of waiting, I heard nothing. When I brought it in, another manager refused to fix it.
My FAVORITE CAR :)
Natalie, 05/12/2016
updated 05/26/2017
2012 Volkswagen Passat S PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Just purchased this 2012 car with 38K miles. It only had 1 previous owner and that had taken meticulous care of this vehicle. I have never enjoyed commuting in traffic for 60-90 minutes one way every day, however, this car makes me look for reasons to drive it, very smooth ride, amazingly quiet and comfortable and the bluetooth makes all your cares disappear. Absolutely my best purchase in a car EVER! So pleased.
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VW Passat TDI SE Review
M. Carey, 08/23/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Turbo Diesel fuel mpg is excellent: 45+ hwy, 33 - 39 city. Interior room is very spacious. Controls are friendly, simple, intuitive. Turbo diesel acceleration is sporty. Touchscreen is good but no navigation system. Most features are smart and helpful. Car requires little maintenance, so far. Overall, an excellent vehicle/purchase.
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Fabulous Passat
Paul Woolner, 11/06/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great value for a family economy car.
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Power!
Hunter, 11/30/2017
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I came from driving a 2003 BMW 330i and I don't drive that often other than weekends and to the train station on week days. But when I do get a chance to "actually" drive the car it is very quick to 60 (I got it in 5.7 with performance tires) but when driving at high speeds the car steering gets light. Accelerating hard off the line the car has lots of wheel spin but I fix that with sport tires. have not had any reliability issues. The car still drives great and I plan on keeping it for another 2 years!
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Great car and value for the money!
PNWDriver, 01/03/2018
updated 07/10/2020
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We bought this car used in February of 2017 and waited to write a review after seeing how the car held up. So far the car is NOT a disappointment. We have a family of 5 and have taken 3 trips over 1000 miles RT. 2 of our kids are under 12 years of age, so all the kids fit great in the back seat with TONS of leg room. The trunk is so big we have extra room for stuff that normally has to be placed next to our feet on long trips. I specifically looked for a 2.5 5cyl model to avoid a turbo failure. Take off with the 2.5 is OK even when it's fully loaded; acceleration seems to improve after the second gear. On our recent trip we got 530 miles on a tank of gas fully loaded with passengers and luggage. The only complaint we can make on this car are the front seat cushion bottoms. On a long trip they don't seem to have adequate support so we have to add an extra layer of cushion for long hauls. The lumbar on the front seats are great and the back seats seem fine so long as you sit on a pillow for the middle. Being 6'3" I love that I can put my seat all the way back and not hit the knees of my rear passenger! Fit and finish seems top notch and while the exterior styling isn't earth shattering it looks good in graphite and silver color. The interior, IMHO, is best in class. We also considered this car because it's a top safety pick. I would recommend this car without hesitation. In fact, we're thinking of passing this one down to our son for his first car and buying another used 2.5, maybe an SEL. 7/10/20 REVIEW UPDATE: Still have this car love it at 72,000 miles. One annoying issue I currently cannot find/fix is the creaking squeak that comes from the drivers seat occasionally. Mechanically, the car has been good and has never left us stranded. However, we had to replace the leaking water pump at 60,000 miles and pay for a software update after replacing a secondary air injection part which was covered under the emission warranty. Very strong engine and good fuel economy for the size of car and performance. We'll probably keep it and pass it on to one of our kids.
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Passat 2012
PBruhn, 07/09/2018
updated 07/19/2022
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had this car almost a year now, runs well. I drive alot and recently I got 505 miles before I had to refuel which is a bonus. The only thing missing is a sunroof however the way the windshield is I get decent sun. Going on year 2 and a few months ago the power steering was leaking and all had to be replaced. 3 years love took a couple trips outstate. I have had the car for several years now, just replaced the master cylinder for the clutch at a 172000, was pricey as everything is now.
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My Sweet New High Mileage Girl
wayneq, 04/27/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
10 of 34 people found this review helpful
After shopping the top-rated mid-sized sedans to transport my growing family and drive on rather long bi-monthly business trips, I settled on the Passat TDI SE. Since my driving does not often take me where there is a lot of stop and go traffic, I opted for the six speed manual transmission. Both times I test drove the car, it made a reverberating impression on my sense of quality and design like no other car in its class could. Its lines are elegant and sublime. It looks and drives like a much more expensive car than it is. I've had her for less than a month but it feels like a marriage made in heaven so far. (Update to follow)
American version of Ford Taurus
agn_gazer, 01/03/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
16 of 63 people found this review helpful
Driving and exterior feels more like an old Ford Taurus with an upgraded interior.Reliability and safety ratings are unknown at this time.Toyota Camry SE(2012 model) feels more sporty with a better handling. Camry also comes with a usable cruise control, better ground clearance, usable middle backseat, and better fuel economy.It also has more cup holders, fan openings in the back of the center console (for rear seat passengers), and no hump in the floor. Poor factory installed tires (Hankook Optimo 426). VWs small side-mirrors offer limited side-visibility. OK front visibility. Ride is comfortable but too bouncy for my taste. Definitely does not feel sporty with 2.5l engine and suspension.
after almost 4 years of ownership ~ 70K miles
botanybob, 09/06/2013
updated 03/19/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
The recall for all diesels did not change anything with this car. It already had the add blue for NOx emissions. We drive the manual (stick shift) model and do a mix of country and city driving. On a recent long road trip we were still getting 52 mpg. We had one tank go for 780 miles before the low fuel light came on. In addition, the car is very comfortable, handles beautifully, has plenty of power, and holds four people plus a large trunkful of supplies easily and with room to spare.
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Luxury meet some value
Trey Eanes, 01/13/2017
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have been very happy with my purchase. I like the way the car handles and feel most of the interior technology is up to par with newer cars. I have had to adjust my driving habits as I get used to the sub par throttle response and wish there was a back up camera. Overall though it a sharp car that seems to be very well built. I'm happy.
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transmission
harvey ketner, 02/06/2017
updated 02/21/2025
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
purchased this passat diesal in 2011 titled as 2012 with only 46 miles on it. serviced by dealership as required for 4 years after 2 years had to replace battery not under warranty at 30,000 miles had to replace all 4 tires with a better grade the 3rd year had to replace blu additive pump not under warranty 2years ago in 2015 we got notice from volkswagon per emmissions problem does not comply with epa states laws 2016 are bag recall notice not complying and defective as of this date feb.6 2017 no notice to repair or replace for safety reasons was told not to drive as can deploy or explode causing injury or death per defective air bags very poor follow up per dealership about this vehicle transmission shifting problem from stop on hill to take off at least a 3 to 5 second delay many times have had accellerator over half depressed still no response this could be a dangerous situation was told by dealership that this was due to allowing fuel economy per starting off in second gear then jump back to first gear for take off this is a 6 speed transmission so far am unhappy with volkswagons settlement with these problems car value lost over 5,000 dollars per year in my opinion this is unacceptable per rating volkswagon has gotten on supposedly clean diesal engines another small problem which dealership and owners manual does not inform owners of a small tank in trunk holding diesal exhaust fluid (blu additive) if run empty vehicle will shut down . HARVEY KETNER update8-8-19 ]3 recalls - emission-2 sensors- headlight caps . mileage this date 087900. sold the 1996jetta. 2-09-2020 95000 on v.w. cooler weather using no a c . getting 42 mpg hwy. been changing oil - and filter 6000 miles. air bags was replaced under warranty.
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VW still has rust issues and high maintenance cost
Jason, 10/15/2017
updated 04/16/2020
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Rides great and great gas mileage. However, high maintenance cost and quarter panel rusting at 5 years old. Started from behind the panel. I researched this and it is due to a manufacture defect of moisture being in the paint booth when they painted the vehicle...so be careful...sounds like poor quality control for paint. They claim to have a 12 year corrosion warranty but when I brought to the dealer they wouldn't honor it. Due to rust and high cost of ownership, I will not buy another VW.
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2012 Passat S Automatic w/Appearance Pkg
jt4210, 05/06/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
9 of 42 people found this review helpful
I own a 2012 Passat S class, before owning this car I drove a 2000 Honda Civic EX that I had the misfortune for acquiring in 2008. My Passat is equiped with a 5 cylinder 2.5 liter engine. This is an incredible car to drive! When you shift this car into D it drives like a Benz E-Class, when you shift it into S in drives like an Audi S4! The car is beautiful inside and out! When you sit down in the back seat of this car you get the same feeling like when you climb into a Suburban or a Yukon. All three feel like stepping into a house.
Fabulous Passat
Paul Woolner, 11/06/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great value for a family economy car.
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Sporty and reliable
Sportyboi, 06/12/2017
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've only owned my 2012 for the past year and I've never had an issue with it. I bought it with 25,000. miles and I've driven it all over Florida. Fun car to drive and great on gas.
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My favorite car
Jean-Claude Péladeau, 01/04/2022
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought a Volkwagen Passat 2012 2 years ago now. I am in love with that car and want to keep it forever... Before i never think i'll buy a Volkswagen and i've been charmed by the style of the car when i went to buy in a used car place. Very classy looking and everytime i drive this car, i feel the comfort, the silent and just enough performance for what i need. The 2,5 liter with manual transmission are making this car a great experience to drive. I putted 4 Toyo winter tires last fall and its a great mix. The trunk is very large and all the passengers are comfortable, also in the back. The sound system is performing very good also. I drive especially in the city and its a very resonnable consommation of gas. The Volkswagen car dealer Campbell Cameron in LaSalle gives also a great service. Sorry for the mistakes, my first langage is french.
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Very Impressed
BACKROADHUSTLER, 05/26/2021
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
2012 passat sel tdi ( am) bought the car with 75,000 miles it had a rattle noise under hood turned out to be the flywheel that was coming apart dealership did replace it for free but so folks know it's a 2500.00 fix so got lucky there and other than regular service, tires, shocks. It's been a good car I can't complain the car was a California car for 74,000 miles so when it came to me in Iowa the seal on the shock wasn't to happy with the change in temperatures so hence the reason for rear shocks and tires. Now at 90,000 miles still very good fuel mileage @ 600 miles per tank plenty of power. And now after owning the car for a few months if I had to complain it would be on the driver's seat that doesn't recline much at all not compared to the pass seat other than that tons of room and a truck that has tons more room the transmission is sweet and live the option for being able to shift it 3 different ways also heard vw won't be selling the tdi in the USA anymore and that's a bummer because this thing is awesome. And rides smooth as well. Also live the DVD player in dash and sound system is really nice. Thanks vw I'm proud to drive down the road in this passat nice job.
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Get the vr6
dmg193, 10/20/2020
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I grew up as a vw junkie, and I’ve owned in chronological order, mk4 jetta 2.0, b5 s4, mazda protege5(beater), mk4 gli vr6 24v, bmw 128i, b6 a4 3.0 ultrasport, mk4 jetta 1.8t, and now this. I got it about a year ago. It has a grown up vibe to it. I appreciate This car for it’s general competence accross the board, it feels upscale and comfy just enough to be considered entry luxury. The engine and transmission in this thing are a major strong point. The 3.6 is bulletprooof, regular oil changes and just runs. The dsg is working like a champ at 210k kms, just do the 60k changes. It’s not a sports car, it’s a bit wafty and it feels very soft in high speed corners. I’m sure one could fix this with upgraded suspension or a rear sway bar if they have the means. The steering doesn’t have that driver to road connection, but i guess it’s not what it was intended for. Another gripe would be that it feels big so you have to adjust your driving style a little if you live in the city, but maybe that’s just me since I’m used to smaller cars. Speaking of which, theres so much space inside and I really appreciate that. My favourite car was probably the jetta vr6 for how balls out it was, and it felt genuinely fun to drive with a bilstein cup kit. But this passat is good in that at 27 years old, it gets the job done reliably, it’s safe, it doesn’t taunt me to drive it like the stig, it feels somewhat luxurious, and the vr6 is strong. Overall a great car for what they can be had for now.
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