I can't imagine this with a 6 speed
Transmission slipping at 3000 rpm is the only problem to date.
Put a new computer chip in, increases hp to approx 190, 200 lbs torque. WOW, when this turbo kicks in (4500rpm) it really pulls hard!!! Handling is first rate, MXV4's stick well except in snow.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th May, 2002
Don't be tempted by the beauty, she is so ugly where it really counts
Passenger-side rear door would not open from inside.
Passenger-side rear window would not open. (electrical problem)
Passenger-side rear window would not open. (mechanical problem)
Mag wheel lug-nut lock stripped.
Front brakes worn at 30,000 miles.
Door lock transmitter batteries dead... replaced and recoded for 150 dollars.
Cooling system leak.
Cup holders broken twice. (very poor design)
Squeaky wheels from brake-dust build-up.
Brakes run very hot!
Lower door molding regularly falls off and needs to be re-attached.
Engine knocks frequently.
Does not climb hills well. (must manually shift gears)
While the car is very attractive, safe (seems to be) and comfortable, the problems with this car and the dealerships have led me to believe that purchasing this car is one of the stupidest things that I have ever done.
We did not even get the car off the dealers lot before the problems began. In what was a clear omen, the rear door would not open from the inside. The dealer quickly fixed the problem.
Once we got the car home, we discovered that he rear window would not open. Also, in a matter of days, the rear door again would not open. This time both from the inside and outside. We took the car back to the dealership and they repaired the car again.
A few days later the door and window again would not open. Back to the dealer we went. We seriosly began to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. Also, about that time we noticed that the wheels squeaked. The dealer told us that this was normal and would subside. Thankfully, they fixed the door and window, but the squeak only continued to get louder.
We, at that point, called VW USA... and quickly discovered the futility of dealing with those dolts. They, amazingly admitted that the squeak was a result of the brake pad dust and that what we were hearing was, in fact, a normal noise. Well, if the noise was so normal I asked, rhetorically, why did people stare at us when we drove by them. Was it the sleek beauty of our car or the nerve-racking squeal.
I could continue to detail the multitude of problems that our car has experienced since we purchased it some three years ago, or tell you that thoughts of insurance fraud and the real possibility of jail time have begun to appear more attractive and cheaper financially then continued ownership of our 1999 Volkswagen Passat.
Please for the sake of your soul, financial solvency and sanity realize that the temptation your feel when you think of buying a Passat is just a normal human reaction to the beauty that the devil himself has placed before you. Woes ye that ignores my warning!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 7th May, 2002
I feel sorry for not reading this experience before, I felt as a human flesh for the beauty and experience many problems alike that it would take long to comment, mine required in the first 18 months more than 10 visits to the dealership talking about 12 weeks, after I found an independent mechanic with much more experience than the dealership things have improved, but the maintenance running cost is awful high.
Jorge Bucio
Pasatt 1.8T 99.
Like German pastry - good to look at but no substance
When I had had the car about 5-months the accelerator stuck for almost a minute. The brakes slowed it somewhat but I couldn't get the car to slow down until it was going well over 90 MPH. VW's comment to me - you were mistaken.
Glove box door broke at 25,000 miles.
The tie rods died in December 99 with 40,000 miles on the car. Cost to repair - over $330. VW told me at that point that having to replace tie rods at 40K miles was not unusual. They subsequently failed to advise me of a recall for - tie rods. The recall came out in January 2000 but I had mysteriously fallen off their mailing list.
The front ball joints need to be replaced at 50,200 miles. VW Customer Care comments to me "... We have no records of other problems of this nature". The VW tech from my dealership told me what was wrong before he saw the car and before I told him anything other than the front end creaked. He said that there is a major problem with the ball joints but that VW will not acknowledge it.
I've had a Honda, an Olds, an Eagle, and a Dodge. If there was a problem, they would advise you of it. VW will not do so.
Ball joints don't go bad at 50,000 miles of highway driving - gravel roads, maybe... freeways, no.
Bad product, bad customer relations.
The package was great originally, smart, stylish, responsive.
The customer service and the quality of the suspension are atrocious for a car in this price range.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 11th May, 2001
Agree with you 100%, my Passat 99 1.8T had expended more time on the dealership than my old 97 Jetta, service is been awful, VW do not take any responsibility.
Jorge Bucio
Monterrey, Mexico.
I have run my passat wagon 1999 for 4 years and 75,00KM. I love how the car ride, but I am a lot disappointed by the low longevity of the front suspension. The value of the suspension parts and repairs performed on the car up to now is around 6,000 $Can. 2/3 of the expenses were paid by VW. And recently, a new loose join noise appeared.
I plan to change my car in the next month of so before the other regular part replacement start (muffler, turbo, ignition, radiator, battery,...?)
I am a bit sad I will have to find another make of wagon as pleasant and exiting to drive!
27th Jan 2008, 12:13
What ECU chip tuning did you use? I'm in the process of purchasing one myself for my 99 Passat 1.8T GLS.