Volkswagen Passat Reliability Comparisons
You won't find Volkswagen Passat reliability information like this anywhere else. Actual repair frequencies, not just vague dots. So you can tell how much the Volkswagen Passat truly differs from competing car models in reliability.
These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to much more closely track Volkswagen Passat reliability as the cars age. Others tell you how reliable the Volkswagen Passat was a year ago, when the cars were a year younger and had 12,000 fewer miles on them. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Volkswagen Passat has been recently.
See what people are saying about Volkswagen Passat reliabilityMore about the
Volkswagen Passat
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Volkswagen Passat Reliability through March 31, 2013
An asterisk (*) marks results based on small sample sizes.
General NotesHow do we select "competing car models"? Users of TrueDelta's car price comparison tool most often compare these cars to the Volkswagen Passat.Models and statistics marked with an asterisk (*) have very low sample sizes. These results, visible only to logged-in members, provide only a rough estimate of car reliability.
Any result under 20 repair trips per 100 cars is likely a result of the small sample size, and should be expected to increase to 20 or so in future updates.
New models often start out with high repair rates, and then improve as the manufacturer identifies and addresses common problems. MethodologyOnly successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
What People Are Saying about Reliability and the Volkswagen Passat
blog comments powered by DisqusWhat Our Members Are Saying about Volkswagen Passat Reliability and Durability
| Reliability and Durability of the Volkswagen Passat: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2010 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
The Passat is a very solid and well-built car; our previous Passat was very reliable (if maintained properly). |
| 2007 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
my last Passat lasted 190,000 miles never garaged it and the paint was still glossy after 11 years. |
| 2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I have 98000 miles I have had to replace the turbo bypass valve 100bucks and thats it... just change the oil and air filter every 5 to 7k miles always use mobil 1. |
| 2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
In two years i never had any real problems with it. |
| 2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
History of reliability on all product models. |
| 2005 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 134hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Very solidly built car. |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I bought two Passats at the same time. Both proved equally reliable without any major repairs. |
| Reliability and Durability of the Volkswagen Passat: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2009 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD |
many breakdowns |
| 2008 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
High maintenence costs when the car ages. |
| 2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Minor problems so far such as driver information computer information screen showing inaccurate readings, example reading for average miles per gallon bouncing around from 78 to 08. |
| 2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This was a used model, several years old, and had not held up well. Lots of rubber coated plastic bits were deteriorating, discoloration was common. |
| 2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Not as reliable and trouble-free as its Japanese competitors. |
| 2005 | 4dr Wagon 190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Though garaged when not in use and with less than 60k miles, exhaust hangers had rotted through such that the exhaust pipe literally fell off the car while driving down the road. Additionally, neither rear window motor remains in working order. |
| 2005 | 4dr Wagon 190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Buggy with a bad reliability record. |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
VW have spotty reliability |
| 2004 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The 1992 VW we owned we could never be sure it would get us to our destination with out some thing happening to it. Things would fall off of it just sitting in the garage. The alarm system would go off as we drove down the street. It lost two hub caps. |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Issues with coil packs, MAF. All parts and fluids are expensive. |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan 190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The Passat has a lot of weird little things that go wrong with it, not enough to not buy it but a minor annoyance. |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan 270-horsepower 4.0L W8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The W8 is a unique beast in that it was a limited run Passat/Engine combo and it needs to be serviced by the dealer. Quality has never been job one with Volkswagen and having to have it serviced at the dealership raises your total cost of ownership. |
| 2003 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I disliked that every time I had to bring the car in for maintainance (less than 5000 mi)there was always something else to repair. Brakes on the rear lasted 7500 miles and front 15000 mi, and rotors had to replaced each time as well. |
| 2002 | 4dr Wagon 190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Parts seem to need constant replacement. |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan 190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
CV boots & front axle needed replacement after only @ 35000 miles, trunk lid no longer raises automatically, seat memory erratic |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
very maintenance intensive, not an unreliable car but one that requires driver involvement and attention timing belt should be done around 60-70k, water pump uses a plastic impeller that is known to fail, replacement parts are metal though |
| 2002 | 4dr Sedan 190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
While my own Passat has been fairly reliable, as a whole they have a reputation for electrical faults. |
