Used 2012 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews
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In for the long haul
gopadge, 08/29/2014
updated 03/10/2025
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Nav (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
92 of 92 people found this review helpful
08/2016 Initial review: I now have 65,000 miles on this Passat. It has been without a doubt, the most reliable vehicle that I have owned so far. And while the 2.5l is probably not a fun to drive as the 1.8t on current models, the performance is more than enough for daily driving and I appreciate the lower cost of ongoing maintenance and simplicity. I routinely average 32+ mpg on long trips a highway speeds and have averaged 29+ in combined mpg over the past 10,000 miles. The car has plenty of room even in the rear for my 6'3" teen. 08/2016 update: I'll pass 100,000 miles within the month, and the car continues to be reliable, comfortable, and fuel efficient. On a business trip this morning, I averaged 33.7 MPG at an average speed in the mid 70's, having covered just over 300 miles. 8/2018 update: I have just gone over 150,000 miles. So far routine maintenance and tires have been my only expenses. Last summer, between July and December we took the Passat across the country several times, (KS - SC - CA - SC - KS - SC - TX) and it performed beautifully, handling the heat (115F at the Hoover dam), Colorado mountains and SC / TX humidity with no issues. I continue to be amazed at the fuel efficiency for such a large sedan, still averaging 32+mpg at highway speeds. 08/2019 update: I've got 170,000 miles on the Passat, with only one issue so far. The leatherette drivers seat is starting to tear, I guess I'll have to replace that at some point. The car still runs fine, with the economy still in the low 30's on the highway. 03/2020 update: I passed 195,000 miles on the Passat this winter and still have no complaints. The car continues to run strong with no warning lights or issues (outside the torn driver's seat). 9/03/2020 update: Just pasted 205,000 miles. No issues or complaints. Last month I drove from Texas to Alabama and back and a separate trip up to Kansas and back with no issue. 9/06/2021: 217,000 mile, no issues. We just took a 2700 mile trip from Alabama to Maine in 6 days and the Passat ran like a champ! 2023: 250,000 miles, just spent the weekend in Kansas city with no issues or worries. I still haven't put anything more than oil and tires into the Passat. This has been one of the most reliable vehicles we have owned. 2025: Other than the N80 purge valve ($13 on Amazon) and the wheel hubs and bearings ($154 shipped from 1A Auto), the past two years of maintenance has been oil changes and tires. The car now has 280,000 and I would still drive it cross country without a hesitation.
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Couldn't be happier!
silo3, 01/18/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I love this car. After serious comparison shopping, no other car in the class came close in terms of interior size, instrument layout, and aggressive pricing. The car is well appointed, handles and rides nicely, and has a great service agreement. Many reviewers have said is that the styling is boring. Sorry, but I got mine in black/black and it's anything but boring. I'd call it "classic." And it's a design that will stand up over time. In fact the 2012 Passat is an antidote to the excessive curves and swoops of the Japanese makes. Definitely put the 2012 Passat on your list if you're looking for a mid-priced sedan.
2012 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
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- SE Sedan w/Sunroof, NavMSRP: $12,79924 mi away
- SE PZEV SedanMSRP: $9,99525 mi away
- SEMSRP: $12,9958 mi away
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You can't beat buying a Passat off of lease.
jimbogus, 10/24/2015
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
I only buy vehicles that have three or more years of depreciation. I compare VW's to Toyota / Honda in reliability without the price. To purchase a late model competitor like a Camry or Accord you'd not only have to shell out more money but you also get a vehicle with more mileage. I'm very happy with the Passat as it drives with a more firm / sporty nature as compared to other vehicles in its class. Its like an inexpensive Audi A6 but without the price but also minus the luxury. The 2.5L motor is a quality engine with no turbo to worry about and a timing chain that never needs to be replaced. I get 26 MPG average and the vehicle won't need much maintenance over its lifespan plus its got enough HP with good gearing to pass on the highway with ease. All manufacturers have reliability issues here and there just inspect the car well or take it to an independent mechanic for evaluation before you buy. The best feature about the car is the very spacious passenger compartment and large trunk. Go with the 5 cylinder 2.5L and not the turbo diesel ... the TDI has allot more maintenance and quality issues so whatever you save in fuel cost is spent on keeping it on the road.
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My first VW
shandipassat12, 02/16/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
With the new Passat, what grabbed me was the luxurious exterior style...without knowing any better, you'd think it was an Audi A6, which the Passat shares the same frame with. The interior space is unbelievable paired with a HUGE trunk...best in both areas in the "Mid-Size Class." I like technology, well I got everything I need a lower trim on the Passat: Auto headlights, bluetooth, a Premium 8 touch-screen radio with SIRIUS (YAY!), dual climate control. The car is extemely user friendly and the dash layout is flush and simple...not complicated or a million buttons like Honda. The 2.5L engine is SMOOTH!! No hesitation in acceleration, jerking, all around THE BEST CAR I'VE BOUGHT!
2012 Passat SEL Premium
lighthouse2012, 05/11/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
40 of 43 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2012 Passat on April 22nd. 1. Infotainment unit was replaced after 2 visits to the dealership. 2. Infotainment continues to not function properly. 3. Driver side door rattles and squeaks upon opening and closing of door. 4. Steering Wheel is not aligned to center. 5. Strutts replaced due to loud noise upon turning left or right at high and low speeds. 6. The dealership has yet to resolve other issues.
unexpected pleasant surprise
imfarkle, 10/26/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
35 of 38 people found this review helpful
I never expected to do a deal,but i had read alot of good things about the new passat, and went for a test drive.I tested the V6 SEL and i fell in love with it. I've had it for 1 month 1000 miles. I still love it, No problems so far.
My First Volkswagen
trashman00, 12/09/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
I recently leased this car because it caught my eye while working one day. The interior space is awesome!! We are big people all over 6ft. Legroom to spare all around. Fun to drive when shifting to Sport-Mode. Great bang for buck!! All my neighbors seem to love it. My only gripe so far is the car doors make a boing sound when closing them. I don't like that and find it annoying. Overall I'm pleased and I would recommend this car for looks, interior space, and decent performance.
Far Exceeds My Expectations
triumphguy, 11/30/2011
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I wanted to test drive the new Passat because I had read so much about it in the car mags and on line. The Fender sound system and interior space intrigued me, and I was not disappointed. This car is huge inside, and it actually has an upscale feel in SEL Premium trim. I feel like I have a less expensive luxury car instead of a tricked out midlevel sedan.
First VW owner
GrantK, 01/28/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Overall not a bad vehicle, great mileage for a car this size, huge trunk, rear folding seats increase storage. Doors are very light and sound deadening could be better, drives nice and plenty of leg room both front and back. Seat quality is less than average, no drivers seat tilt is a joke, there is zero bolster for thigh support. The "leatherette" seating is ok, not great, front seat heaters are nice. Starting to experience some mechanical issues, suspension rattles, drivers door locking module is failing, doors constantly auto locking after stopping or slowing down, gas cap light causing an EVAP code even after replacing the cap with a factory supplied unit. I was warned by a former VW owner that once you hit 100K things will start failing, hope that isn't the case.
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What a car!
bobthebike, 03/02/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat S PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Having 9K miles, I just don't have anything negative to say. The mileage is utterly unbelievable as I consistently get 35+ mpg. All the electronics work as advertised and are intuitive. It racks down the road smoothly and quietly. I know the 5 cylinder has been around for awhile, but it has been really refined into a first-class powerplant. Lastly, the fit and finish (especially the paint) of this car is believably world-class. Good job VW!
Power Style Pleasure to Drive
goodgame3, 02/08/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
The new Passat is a great family car. The DSG transmission is super smooth and quick gear changes. Merging on the freeway in sport mode always puts a smile on my face. There is more than enought power in this V6 so much so you have to goose it slowly to stop traction control taking power away from those not so sticky stock tires. I am sure they will not last long given the tendancy to slip on take off. Then I can get some really sticky performance tires on those 18 inch rims a couple profiles wider and really make use of the 280 Hp and 258lb of torque. Interior is solid with a great sound system. Seats are firm and supportive and give plenty of adjustment options.
Too bad the refresh does not look as sharp!
Bill Jackameit, 11/23/2015
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
This is an excellent car classy looking has gone 80,000 miles in four years with no issues or repairs whatsoever. Gets just over 30 mpg on trips and runs great on regular gas. I have owned two VW's with turbo engines that were not nearly as reliable. Too bad VW dropped the 5 cylinder and also the great Tungsten Silver color. It is time for a new car and while I have looked at the 2016 refreshed Passat it won't be the replacement the refresh while not bad looking is not as sharp and clean as the original and the 4 cylinder turbo knocks it out of consideration I just don't trust it based on experience with these small VW turbo engines. A nice low mileage 2012 to 2014 Passat 5 cylinder would be a great car for someone on a limited budget. VW should have kept the 5 cylinder its great reliability is worth the lower but still good mpg compared to the new turbo. Also finding out that the trade-in value on the Passat is lower than expected.
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I like this car
mronyx1, 01/21/2013
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Having been a person who has never cared about such things as cars. point A to Point B dry, I'm good. This car is a treat I did buy a 2012 with 8000 miles on it but have no break in worries and it sure is easy to drive. There is a little warming up to the gas peddle, over all this is a smart vehicle and for the price get a few options, you'll be glad you did. Very pleased with the gas mileage.
Punches above its weight
caesara, 11/08/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Decided on Passat as best option among mid-size sedans with a manual option. Others with manuals only did so with uninspiring entry-level trim. Also like the SE/non-sunroof combination as I rarely use sunroofs and they reduce headroom. Looked at upscale sedans with manuals (BWM 5-series, Acura TL), but Passat ticks most of the boxes, and I have other uses for the cash. German engineering with made in the USA is a plus. So far (5 mos, 6k miles), very pleased in a variety of situations (commuting, kid hauling, nights out). No problems with build quality or otherwise. Black on black, with the style of the car, has a classic look that gets complements. Zehr gut!
Exceeds each expectation
Chris, 03/13/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
Bought mine for $9,345 OTD with 101k miles but excellent service records. It's my first car and I can confidently reccomend the Passat (2012 anyway) or Jetta (2011) to teen drivers. The interior feels like a luxury car and is more spacious than some vans. The small little German engineering touches that you pick up on are genious. It's fun to drive (feels and sounds like a V6 but it's an I5); Sport mode is peppy but you'll see about 19 mpg city tops. The cabin is rather quiet and comfy. From what I've heard, if you take care of it, the cliché high cost-of-ownership seen on VWs can be avoided.
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initial review and findings
gphin305, 05/20/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I also own a 2008 Passat 2.0T which I leased for three years and decided to purchase last year since it is such a great car. Just leased our new 2012 SE with roof last week and so far so good. This a totally different car from the B6 model (2006-2010), a good size family type sedan.....more conservative but still high quality and distinctive. Although now made in the U.S>, still has that German solid feel and look. We only have a 150 miles recorded so far and all is fine. No rattles, no wind noise. Will update at 1000 miles.
2012 Passat SE
jrind2, 06/29/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Nav (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
So far after 3 months we love this vehicle - the extra room inside is amazing especially in the back seats.
THE VW PASSAT 2012
ALDO, 04/25/2019
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The VW Passat is one of the best vehicle on the market before and now with the 7 years warranty bumper to bumper I recommend the VW vehicles and specially the Passat used 2012 i own one with 129,400 miles and is in top condition or a new one they are all good with minor problems nothing is perfect is a machine made by us Aldo
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seats and tires
jimmyv123, 07/11/2013
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The leatherette seats are comfortable however I've noticed a seam is starting to open along the left side bolster padding of the driver's seat. It's not an aread that I sit on nor is it a stress area from getting in and out so I have no idea why it would be failing. It probably won't completly open up until after the 36,000 mile warranty expires and I don't think the dealer will repair something that hasn't happed yet. No more leatherette for me. Also, the Hankook tires are less than satisfactory. They are extremely noisy on anything but smooth-as-glass pavement and with 27,000 miles on them with rotation every oil change they are about done.
Updated review now at 60,000 miles
Scott Johnson, 03/13/2015
updated 03/21/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Updated review from 25,000 miles. Electronics are iffy. Back doors constantly engage the locks while driving at low speeds. Tire light switches on almost immediately after reset. Sensors are o.k. Mechanics cannot determine cause. Interior dome light turns itself on randomly. Passenger window opens and closes of its' own mind. Master cylinder went out at 47,000 miles. Insanely expensive to replace and part not in U.S. at the time- had to be imported from Germany! Front brake pads and rotors replaced. Again, insanely expensive. Engine light keeps coming on- no one so far has been able to determine why. Gas cap release/closure mechanism had to be replaced at 32,000 miles. Warning light that gas cap is not seated comes on. Pressure tests run. Say it passes. Once again, no one can determine why the light goes on and off. Bluetooth turns itself off and is stubborn to get it back on line again. Engine/transmission all solid so far. Ride still great so far. Interior has held up amazingly well. Looks new.
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Owned Since May 2012
Brian Reed, 10/03/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This has been the best car I have ever owned. Mechanical: I have the underrated 2.5L 5 cylinder with the 6 speed automatic (not DSG). While this transmission is not particularly quick shifting what it does do and do very well is smoothness. It shifts right when I'd want it to and doesn't wait to downshift when I need it to. The manual mode also holds gears clear up to redline as well as when I am climbing grades. I live in Utah so, there are many, many grades to climb. The Passat handles them all. I have 115,000+ miles on this car in the 6+ years I've had it. I have had zero issues. I change the oil regularly and keep up with the service schedules for everything else. This engine gets awesome MPG too. Throughout its life with me, I consistently see 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway. My highest mpg I've gotten is 44.1 on I-80 from Reno to Wendover. This car has great torque down low too so it squirts off the line. Stick the shifter in Sport mode and all that torque will squeal the tires and match revs as it speeds away. Manual mode is a blast too. It is a controllable Sport mode. Interior: Rattle-free to this day. I am a big guy. I have long legs and like to stretch out as I drive. I do not want the keys to hit me in the leg. In other cars, this driving position clobbers rear seat legroom and limits it to a duffel bag on the seat as the only thing that fits. In this car, I have friends, some of which are 6 foot 6 inches tall, sit behind me there and still have room - knee, foot, whatever. The car is a limo. The seat material has held up great. No tears, no split seams, nothing. The only issues I have with the interior are the lack of rear seat HVAC vents in the center console. That and the metallic coating on the front passenger door latch has started to come off. EVERYTHING else looks like new. This car has been used in grizzly Los Angeles rush hour traffic, 1,000+ mile road trips, dogs, suitcases, packages, BBQ grills, whatever. It still looks new!!! Recommendation: I wish VW still made this car with the 5 cylinder. I love this car and highly recommend it to anyone looking for something reliable, roomy, and economical.
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Reliability Issues
as0723, 12/04/2014
2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan w/Appearance (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
11 of 15 people found this review helpful
Purchased new and in the past 3 years have had a wheel bearing replaced, suspension makes creaking noises, and the vehicle starts very rough and has even not started several times when cold. The last two items listed (suspension and starting issues) have been dismissed by the dealership service and VW as normal. Even when it wouldn't start and I had to have it towed to the dealership, they eventually got it to start, said they couldn't find anything wrong, nothing they can do and even that the vehicle is operating normally. Normal for it to not start? That's not normal to me for a new vehicle, and not what I want out of a new car, I expect it to start every time and provide reliable service.
Great Car
belaircarguy, 10/30/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Traded my 2009 Jetta for a manual (5 speed) Passat SE. Car is well built, good visibility, and quite on the highway. I would say the ride is medium firm, as compared to the Jetta, which was firm. Seats are very comfortable for long trips, with no backaches after a 3-4 hour journey. Huge trunk, and giant backseat with loads of room.
Avoid this car!
Cameron Davis, 09/11/2018
2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I brought a 2012 in 2013. It had 15K miles. It was fun to drive and pretty much trouble free until I got to about 110K miles. Check engine light came on in October of last year. Needed catalytic converter and brakes. It set me back 3500.00 I was hesitant, but didn't want to trade it because it was worth about 5000.00 and I owed about 10,000.00. In January after sitting for about 5 days while I was on vacation every light on the dash came on. ABS, airbag, traction control and tire pressure. The dealership said it may be the power steering rack. May be? They wanted another 4000.00. I said no way. The service adviser at Piazza Volkswagen in Ardmore Pa said, well it has 135K miles". I gave up. I'm now driving a 2018 Honda Accord EX. I will never buy another European car. No BMW, no Mercedes, Audi... Stay away from VW is my advise. I want a car that I can pay off and still drive. The Passat is not that car. No resale value and too expensive to maintain.
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Diesel engine. VW dealerships are scammers
Richard Fleming, 04/28/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Not sure why I couldn't select anything but gas models from the drop-down list here but I have the 2012 TDI SE with automatic. The car was in the dealership so many times for repairs and recalls that the salesman joked about how he saw us there all the time. Very amusing. The windows got noisy when moving them up and down. We had wind noise from the windows that took two trips to the dealership to get corrected. The vehicle came to us from the factory with damage to the interior trim in five places. We had ordered ahead of time and that's the thanks we get? The "leatherette" vinyl looks nice but is very stinky for years from off-gassing. The rubber matts are very smelly, too. Cloth wasn't available with an automatic transmission which is stupid. You're forced to buy a sunroof you don't want and smelly vinyl seats. I can go on but the real scandal is how we started having problems with the emissions system near the end of the warranty. We took the vehicle to Fairfield Volkswagen three times for "repairs". The first one was them turning off the issue in the computer and telling us to wait and see. The same problem happened again (the urea system told us it would shut off the car in X miles). The third time they said they had done this and that. Well, then the warranty expired and the same problem happened again. I took it to another VW shop in Cincinnati and had to fight to get VW to cover the repair under warranty. Well, apparently that "repair" didn't actually repair anything. My spouse, when it acted up again, took it back to Fairfield because we started having tire pressure warnings. They replaced all four tire sensors, claiming they were faulty. They also claimed the entire urea system needed to be replaced. He ended up paying $2400 for these repairs – repairs that had allegedly been done already by the other dealership under warranty. The reason the tire pressure light had come on? There was a nail in the back tire that VW never found and repaired. None of those tire sensors were actually bad. I bet the urea system had already been repaired by the other dealership and Fairfield knew it could scam my spouse because he's too nice a person so they probably either ripped out the replacement system or just charged us for something they didn't even do. So, we have a car with poor resale value thanks to DieselGate and it's a ticking time bomb, knowing VW's legendary reputation for reliability. And we can't rely on the dealerships to even remove a nail from a tire rather than charge us thousands for alleged repairs to things that should have been fixed before and which weren't a problem in the first place. VW doesn't just lie to the world its dealerships have a reputation for lying to customers.
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I Can Afford A Passat?!!
westys_4_ever, 06/13/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Yes. Yes I can! This car is so packed full of value, bought on a lease, anyone could afford it. And they would be right to do so. The details inside the cabin are so thought out, they really didn't cut any corners. All of the cubbies found in the car are lined with grippy rubber to prevent sliding of phones or other hard items. The top of the dash, near the bottom of the windshield has a strip of brushed stainless matching the stuff on the dash and center console. The seats are supportive and comfortable. The driver's seat has power lumbar which feels amazing. I really like the stark white dash numbers at night. They are easier to read at a glance than the blue ones.
WISHING FOR MORE
rjtrepanier80, 11/07/2014
updated 05/09/2016
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
My biggest complaint about my passat is seat comfort. Terribly supportive seats uncomfortable for trips longer than 4 hours and unbearable for anything over 8. The resale is the worst of any vehicle I have ever owned. I love the gas mileage and the tech on the car. It is quiet and I do enjoy the manual, although I wish it had 6th gear but thats my fault for purchasing the 5 speed. So far its been very reliable. I have put on around 15,000 miles and the car was used when I bought it. So its now over 60,000 miles. I pile the miles on. All in all not my favorite car but not my least favored either. Def worth consideration if you find the seats comfortable. Update: I sold this car and was never so glad to be rid of a vehicle. It was a poorly made Americanized version of what once was a great German brand. Never again.
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80,000 Care Free Miles
Brian Reed, 03/02/2016
updated 03/09/2017
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I am the original owner of this 2012 Passat SE 2.5 6A and it is still the best car I have ever owned. Everything it does is effortless. I am a big guy with long legs and sit far away from the steering wheel and yet my friends, also tall, can fit comfortably behind me in the backseat. Long trips or commuting, both are easily handled with this car. Now, to be fair, I have had one repair after the warranty expired. It was a software update for $50. That's it. That is the total amount I have spent on repairs. This car is rock-solid reliable. The 2.5L 5 cylinder is an underrated engine in my opinion. It makes good torque down low and thru the midrange making for good acceleration off the line as well as passing power, when needed. Also, the car climbs grades, long, tall grades like they were flat. That is when I use the manual mode of the transmission, shifting it from 6th gear into 5th and letting the cruise control pull the car over the grade. It started its life in Utah and traversed those passes with ease in snowy or dry conditions without drama. MPG - That always seems to be the knock on this engine but I haven't seen that. The worst MPG I have ever seen from this car is 24. Most of the time, I get 30 combined with 34 - 36 mpg on road trips. The car only needs 87 octane and just hums along. At 75 mph, the tach barely turns at 2,200 rpm. Seriously, this car is the total package - comfortable, power, efficient. *Update - March 2017 This car has been incredible. Completely reliable and I think is getting better with age. Interior shows no signs of wear at all. In fact, when we drive for double dates, our passengers always compliment on how nice the car is inside - roomy and clean. I use it as a part time commuter car now. My commute is in heavy Los Angeles traffic driving the 91 freeway from Riverside County to Orange County everyday. My total commute round trip is about 102 miles. With stop and go traffic and some highway speeds, the car gets 29 mpg. The SiriusXM shortens trips. Radio everywhere. When I want to listen to iTunes, bluetooth is a great option with excellent sound quality both in music as well as for phone calls. Two words - GET ONE You will not be disappointed.
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Like the car but very poor headlights
caseydog3, 11/21/2012
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
12 of 17 people found this review helpful
i bought this car in July and overall I've been pleased with it EXCEPT for one extremely important thing. The headlights are terrible. I traded in a 1999 Nissan altima for this car and never had one problem seeing at night. Not only did the passat not come with foglights, but the low beams aren't the projector type. The combination of the two is very poor. Now I had to go to a specialty shop to inquire about custom headlights just so I feel safe driving at night. I did a test drive during the day with this car and all the others. I never even considered this would be a problem. I called the dealership about it and they don't even make upgrade headlights for the passat in U.S.
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 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!
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!
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!
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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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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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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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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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!)
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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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