1999 Volkswagen Passat T Sport 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

What a load of junk and a waste of money

Faults:

At 16000 miles, the water pump was wrecked which cooked the turbo.

At 17500 miles: near the Swiss border the same happened again. After 1 1/2 days at a French Volkswagen dealership, and a very large bill.

18000 miles: Starting to use copius amounts of water again. I was able to limp home to sunny Scotland. As soon as I got home I told the dealership the full story. They could only apoligise and refund me the money which I had already paid out. The car was in the garage for 1 week, then I got a phone call from them to say it could be picked up. When I parked up in the forecourt of the Garage to pick up the car to find that it has a flat o/s/f puncture.

General Comments:

I don't think I will be buying another Volkswagen!!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 7th August, 2001

20th Jan 2003, 06:16

From 1997-1999 VW waterpumps were made with plastic impellers, these were replaced with metal ones in all late 1999 models, I guess this was the reason and should of been spotted by VW.

1999 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8L turbo from North America

Summary:

Like German pastry - good to look at but no substance

Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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

17th Jun 2001, 10:02

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.

10th Nov 2002, 20:35

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!

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1999 Volkswagen Passat GL 2.0 DOHC 16v from Ukraine

Summary:

The worst car I have had in my entire life

Faults:

Every single thing in this car went wrong. I spent $5000 to repair this car.

General Comments:

It's the most uncomfortable car ever made by the Germans.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd May, 2001

10th Sep 2005, 01:59

I agree, the owner must have had a lemon or a car that was probably pushed and ruined before he bought it.

I have a 1999 passat glx and I am so in love with it, I can't tell you... really sturdy, luxurious and well put together car, gives good mileage too. I get 24 miles a gallon (V6). But then again, I drive like a granny.

1st May 2008, 00:11

I have a 1999 passat turbo, 4 cylinder. I've had numerous problems with the door latch cables slipping apart. The turbo is on it's way out, I've got a bad oil leak and I've had a hand full of electrical problems. The car is comfortable but there are so many issues. I've taken care of it and it only has about 74 K on it. Really disappointed with how well it has held up - I was expecting better.

6th Oct 2008, 16:17

I was thinking of getting a 1999 passat gls... should I or should I not?