Used 2012 Volkswagen Passat Diesel Consumer Reviews
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My third diesel, 2012 Passat TDI SEL Premium.
rfb70, 06/18/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
28 of 29 people found this review helpful
My wife and I have driven it approx. 3,400 miles and have no rattles, squeeks or any other problems. We use it almost all open road and average 43 mpg. We drove from Pa. to Fl. and back, 2400 miles, got to try almost every gadget in the car. The Bluetooth was very easy to set up to our cell phone, also the seat memory settings and the remote key memory. The radio and nav. took quite a bit of reading up on, but operate very well after using them on the trip. I did'nt baby the car, drove with the traffic, about 75 mph with the air on and still averaged 43 mpg.
Passat! Love it!
sigjuliussen, 12/03/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
I'm 6'4" and over 300 lbs and the car fits great. Can stretch out my legs all the way. Drove 400 miles round trip to my cabin and with studs and snowy Alaska mountain conditions the car still go 41 mpg. 3 fill ups so far with all Anchorage city driving and twice it got over 30 mpg, and one time with lots of snowy cold days and still got 27.5 mpg. Can't wait ti see what it gets with summer tires and no snow (I have a few months to god lol) Car handles great in the snow and drives like a dream.
2012 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
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Best car we've ever owned
longstreet, 04/20/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
52 of 56 people found this review helpful
We traded our beloved 2007 Jeep Commander gas hog for the TDI Passat hoping to average 35 to 38 mpg's. (As an engineer, I could not bring myself to buy a hybrid). So far, after 8000 miles, we are averaging 44 mpg with a few tanks over 50. The torquey TDI almost never downshifts (max torque is at 1750 rpm) even in the hills and mountains of Western PA. In addition, and unlike the Ford Fusion we test drove, the bluetooth, electronics, voice dialing, etc. all work! The first time, and every time. The car has plenty of power, and will chirp the tires from a standing start if you are a bit too heavy on the gas. Handling is very European, with predictable steering and confident roadhandling
Couldn't Pass Up this Passat SE TDI!
partymarty, 07/16/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I have owned this car for four months and am just about to take her in for the (free) 10K service. I owned a 2011 Jetta TDI, and fell in love with the Passat when I saw her in the showroom while my Jetta was being serviced. The folks at my local VW dealership worked their fannies off to make this deal happen, as I am fanatic about shifting my own gears and will not ever own an automatic. There was only one 6-speed manual car available several hundred miles away, and the dealer had it trailered to me at no additional charge. So far, this vehicle has been an absolute pleasure to drive, and it actually exceeds the published mileage figures by about 2 mpg.
2012 Passat TDI (DSG)
proboss, 12/04/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
44 of 48 people found this review helpful
This is my 3rd TDI. I've owned a 2003 Jetta TDI (5 spd), 2010 Jetta Sportwagen TDI (DSG). Neither of the newer models could reach the 47MPG that the 2003 Jetta got. That said the 2010 was a great car (39 MPG), but I've been waiting for the Passat TDI for the size and comfort. Both of which are 5's in my book. I've had the Passat now for 2 weeks and about 1000 miles. Averaging 41.5 MPG with mostly commuting at 70-75 MPH. Very nice car with one exception. At higher speeds the car seems to wander slightly as if you were driving through gusty winds requiring small steering inputs. A bit annoying i might add. I have a call into the dealer asking for help. I suspect it's the tires. we'll see...
Great Highway Sipper - First VW & First TDI
ricknlaser, 08/01/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
I researched and negotiated a great deal over the internet with a local dealer. Got the color and interior that I wanted in the SEL (Opera Red with Black interior). Took over a month to get from the factory but has been well worth the wait. So far I have 2700 miles and have only filled (16 gal) the tank 3 times (first one on the dealer!). Great driving and handling. I have a 90 mile per day commute in busy highway with a reasonable amount of slow down and speed up type driving. So far - averaging 46 mpg in my 3 fill ups. It is really FUN to drive! Better than any Hybrid I test drove.
Great car, lousy service
dplok1, 07/12/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
It disappoints me to write a negative review since this is a great car, but, the electrical problems, dealer service, and VW of America's poor service are genuine issues. For the first 5K miles this car was outstanding. After that it began having unusual issues -- seat belt warnings for no reason, losing Infotainment presets, cruise control switching off, instrument cluster resetting to factory settings, etc. Several trips to the dealer resulted in repeated "We just can't find the problem". Eventually, the instrument cluster began returning to zero everytime the car was turned off so I no longer know it's actual mileage. VW claims it was designed to do this. Still not working.
Better Than Expected
tourqer, 06/05/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have just over 1800 miles on a new tdi sel and have become more satisfied with it the more I drive it. How a car this big with this much power gets 45 MPG still amazes me. The interior is top notch and feels like your in a much more expensive car. The only complaint is that the driving experiance VW is known for has been dulled to some extent. This car is more of a long distance cruiser that has very good handling as opposed to the sporty sedan of old. All and all this car is a winner in my book and worth a look.
Impressive car on multiple fronts
kscommuter, 12/01/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Purchased this car in December of 2011 and have put 49K miles on it. It gets over 40 to 41 mpg and I typically drive 79 mph on my 180 mile daily commute (all highway miles). It will get upper 40's mpg if we lower the average speed to 65 to 70 mph. The ride and handling are very good. The car is nicely equipped for a base model, with a very solid feel and generous cabin and trunk spaces. The diesel engine is very responsive in combination with the manual transmission. The 10,000 mile service intervals for the oil change and basic service are great. I opt to use the shop my husband works at for this basic car maintenance versus paying a VW dealership the overpriced fee of $400.00+.
New TDI SE - MPG King!!!
mkholmes, 04/04/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
Just purchased my black on black 6 speed manual SE on 3/31/12. Was lucky enough for my local dealership (Chattanooga, TN) to have one in stock. Was just off the truck and the white wrap had to be removed in order for my wife and I to test drive. After a minute in the car my wife said this was it so we made the purchase. Have only run one tank of fuel through it so far but have to say that you can set the cruise at 65 mph and get 53 mpg all day long on the highway. The TDI has plenty of power for almost anyone and build quality is impressive. Seats are very comfortable and the interior space is unbelievable. Radio works great and the bluetooth functions perfectly with my IPhone.
Fun MPG hauler
fenders, 05/25/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
With an imminent 45 mile commute after years of public transport, sold my 300hp awd manual Subaru wagon to look for a comfortable, fuel-efficient auto-transmission cruiser that could haul baby stuff on weekends but still be fun to drive during the week. Really wanted a GTI but the cargo area was too small. Compared the Passat to other midsize sedans and it just had the right feature set and driving vibe for me. Didn't expect to end up with a diesel; it's growing on me! I agree with another reviewer that you're rewarded by staying in the TDI torque sweet-spot. Getting advertised mileage in 1000 miles of mixed driving so far, hope to see even higher.
Engine tried to fall out.
vwdumpsterfire, 04/14/2014
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
17 of 20 people found this review helpful
I love the gas mileage my Passat gets, in fact I have averaged 48.2 MPG over 71,000 miles. Everything I have ever gained in gas savings has been completely erased by repair bills. The engine mount bolts fell out and the engine fell forward into the radiator hoses. Apparently the nuts and bolts for the DPF and EGR filter were missing as well, lucky me! I contacted VW and asked them how long they expected their engines to remain in the vehicle along with other miscellaneous nuts and bolts. In short the answer was, "just long enough to get you through the warranty!" In short I was told that none of this could possibly be VW's fault (since I was out of warranty) and good luck!
2012 TDI
catom, 05/09/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Passat 3 months ago and have driven it 5200 miles. I had to search for 2 weeks to find a White car with black interior but I located it in Fairfiel, CA. The salesmen, Zain, had the car as he promised and the whole process went smoothly. I have had a high of 44MPG and a low of 38MPG with a combination of city and freeway driving. It performs great once you learn to use the torque of the engine and not floor it. The radio is great and the bluethooth works every time. I've had no problems to date , it;s been a fun car to drive with loads of room.
Exploding sunroof?
aaronnandi, 01/30/2014
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Up until now I have loved my Passat. Unfortunately the events of the last week have changed my view. I was driving down the freeway with three children in the back seat and the sunroof completely exploded and rained down small sharp glass pieces all over my head and face. The Dealership will not stand by the warranty and is trying to charge me for this repair! I called VW directly and they are taking the same stance. This is absolutely a manufacturing defect as I have found reports all over the internet of other cars having the same issue. Great car, but next time I will not give my business to a company that doesn't take care of it's customers and honor their warranties.
A nice large, fuel effecient cruiser
chuck150, 10/10/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
29 of 38 people found this review helpful
I traded in my 2005 Phaeton for the Passat TDI. I did so with a little trepidation. I've had the car for 3 weeks and my anxiety has passed. I did a round trip from PGH to NYC on one tank of fuel with the cruise set at 70mph! The TDI averaged around 48 mpg for the trip. The interior is spacious, quiet and comfortable. Much like the Phaeton. It also hunkers down on the highway and provides a competent German ride quality. It also handles long sweepers and off ramps with confidence. The DSG works smoothly with the TDI. The exterior has a chiseled, masculine shape. IMHO, it looks very good. If you're looking for a spacious, fuel efficient cruiser, you must check out the Passat TDI.
Very happy with my Passat
johnwild, 12/23/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The last VW I owned was a Rabbit Diesel, I loved that noisy, smelly car and it got great mileage. Since then I have had a couple of Mercedes Diesels, I also loved them but the mileage was nothing to brag about I bought my Passat 4 months ago and now have almost 8,000 miles on it. I recently took a 2400 mile round trip and got an easy 45 mph at highway speeds. Now at almost 8,000 miles I get amazing mileage. If I keep my speed around 50mph I get almost 60 mpg!! I'm loving this car, even though the oil companies are ripping us off on Diesel. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one or send a friend to VW to buy one either. Great Car........5 stars!
Canadian Passat TDI Trendline +
smilenacadian, 11/07/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
VW, did a lot of things right this time around. I have a love hate relationship with this car however. I find the cost of maintaining the Passat over the top. U.S. consumers I understand have free maintenance for the first part of the ownership. At almost 90,000 kms The warranty is history. The exhaust flap had to be replace at 70,000 kms. After which the exahust shield had to be replaced at 72,000 kms or there about. I guess another drawback is there dealer network. From Burlington Ontario to Newfoundland. There is only two out of the 6 dealers I went to that are there for the customer. Five stars to Steel VW in Dartmouth Nova Scotia and 5 stars to Belleville VW in Belleville Ontario.
Made in the USA
plodnik, 02/06/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
17 of 23 people found this review helpful
After having this car for several weeks, all I can say is I'm completely pleased. Hat's off to the VW engineers on putting all the right features into an American made VW and to the people in TN for putting it all together! I've averaged 37.6 MPG on mix of highway/street driving. The diesel torque combined with the well mannered turbo are more than sufficient for a fun ride. Who needs hybrids! Interior is cavernous for the rear passengers. Only complaint I can lodge is that the distance between the brack and gas pedal is narrow.
Awesome car, with BAD customer service!!
ashafi, 01/19/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
30 of 44 people found this review helpful
This is my first VW, and it's awesome, it caught my eye and I couldn't resist it and had to get it. However, I had so many issues, from bad dealership experience to bad customer service from VW corporate office of America. I completed the paperwork with Momentum VW of Fairfield, CA, initially everything went smooth, but the car wasn't in stock and was promised to be delivered in 1-2 days, which took more than a week, but in wrong color, plus very poor customer service, no followup. Contacted VW USA, but regional mgr, Daryl didn't help at all, in fact didn't even return my calls. I ended up canceling my order with this dealer and went to a different dealership, compromised on the options!!!
Worst car and customer service in the world
totsntators, 07/29/2014
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
18 of 26 people found this review helpful
EPIC FAIL: 44K miles in and my engine completely dies on a busy interstate while i'm 5 months pregnant. apparently a bolt holding the injector pumps in place broke, dislodged the pumps and killed the engine. breakage was traced back to fuel system replacement done 3 months ago. i filed a formal complaint with dealership and GM of dealership reacted by aggressively demanding his rental car back and threatening to call the cops on me if i don't return it immediately (we were loaned the car until our repairs were done). customer care heard about all the incidents but took no action or accountability for what happened. worst car ever owned and will never buy VW ever again. buyers beware!
Just got my Passat TDI SE
cracovia, 10/01/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
23 of 34 people found this review helpful
Two days ago I picked my 2012 Passat TDI SE. Did not fancy more options than those that came with the standard options package. Did not care much for a motorized glass sunroof that one has to take if one wants a 6 speed GSD transmission, but accepted it after trying how it works on a demo car. The car is phenomenal. On the way to work (20 miles one way) twice in the row I got an average of 45 mpg. hitting in some places 50.8 (what the gage said anyway). The inetrior is as roomy as my old 2003 Infiniti I35 that I was parting with. Got as many or more features. Quiet, soft but sensible ride, good road adhesion and styling. If f you have to chose between this car and Camry or Accord buy TDI.
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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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.
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!
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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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.
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.
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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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)
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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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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Very Impressed
BACKROADHUSTLER, 05/26/2021
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
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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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- Value