VW Passat - Problems Alert!

[GTO]

Guys,

VWs Passat is turning out to be one of the most problematic cars sold in India. Of the several ownership reviews received by us, only 4 cars (or 13.xx%) have NOT had a major problem. The following common issues have been reported frequently:

- DSG Gearbox failure
- Blown Turbo charger
- Excessive oil consumption : To the tune of a liter every 1,500 - 2,000 kms.
- Refusing to start. No noise, no cranking...nothing.
- Fuel pump failure.
- E-Parking brake failure : intermittently, it simply doesn't disengage!

VWs reliability record is outrageous for a premium car costing over 25 lakhs! This is so reminiscent of the erstwhile C180.

I just wanted to put a headsup for anyone considering the Passat. DON'T!

[bigman]

Thats a bit surprising, I know a few people who use recent Passats as taxis (UK) and they claim they are solid reliable cars. One chap I know had in excess of 150,000 miles on the clock, he changes the oils etc himself every few months and besides the cambelt and tensioner change the car is 100% factory stock. He uses the long life oil as opposed to the standard oil.

Have VW changed things for the Indian market ? Are they manufactured in India with local sourcing of parts ?

If you think the Passat is bad wait till all the new Audi owners get the usual multitronic problems and RS50K repair bills.

[samirsarkar]

Originally Posted by bigman

Thats a bit surprising, I know a few people who use recent Passats as taxis (UK) and they claim they are solid reliable cars. One chap I know had in excess of 150,000 miles on the clock, he changes the oils etc himself every 6 months and besides the cambelt and tensioner change the car is 100% factory stock.

I tend to disagree and the taxi driver in the UK might be a one-off case. Volkswagen Passats have had major reliability issues in the US as well which is why buyers tend to stay away from this sedan. Volkswagen hasn't been able to keep the same quality levels they used to be known for.

[vid6639]

Nope cars are almost CBU I think. I read the OD long term review. Their Passat's DSG failed in 4500kms. While shifting from MT to AT it fried up. VW said it was because they shifted too quickly at a high rpm from MT to AT and the DSG couldn't cope up with it.

They got it replaced under warrnty but seriously a gearbox failure at 4500kms is unheard of for a car costing 30L here.

[Sahil]

GTO- How many reviews is this information based on?

I was almost closing in on the Jetta DSG but I think i'll hold my purchase for the time being.

Thanks for sharing this info...Hope VW wakes up and smells the coffee, their low-end brand Skoda is overtaking their higher end label on reliablity!

[GTO]

Originally Posted by bigman

Thats a bit surprising, I know a few people who use recent Passats as taxis (UK) and they claim they are solid reliable cars.

Originally Posted by samirsarkar

I tend to disagree and the taxi driver in the UK might be a one-off case. Volkswagen Passats have had major reliability issues in the US as well which is why buyers tend to stay away from this sedan.

The Passat has amongst the worst reliability ratings worldwide. Look them up (as also other forums). VW is suffering with poor quality of late.

Originally Posted by vid6639

Their Passat's DSG failed in 4500kms.

That's got to be embarassing!

Originally Posted by Sahil

GTO- How many reviews is this information based on?

30ish.

their low-end brand Skoda is overtaking their higher end label on reliablity!

Not really. The Octavia diesel has awesome reliability reports, but the Lauras quality stays inconsistent. Many problem areas. Not surprising since the Octy 1.9 TDi is built so simple. Search within our forums itself to read up owner experiences on the Laura.

[Raja]

Originally Posted by vid6639

VW said it was because they shifted too quickly at a high rpm from MT to AT and the DSG couldn't cope up with it.

I think that would worry me when I order my Bugatti Veyron , as that uses the same gearbox design (although heavily beefed up). Can Veyron customers expect a problem in the future as well?

The gearbox is heavily used in all the VAG marques. Is there a recorded history of DSG problems?

[Mpower]

Jeez, this is terrible news (and just in time too). Just yesterday I was talking to my dad and he said he really liked the Passat's design. I told him other than the turbo lag its a fine car.

[4x4addict]

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone living in the west who has an interest in cars. In the US too, VW they have a bad rap when it comes to quality. Every one who I know who owns a passat or a Jetta/Golf has had some issues or the other. Majority of the issues are with the electronic/electical components, etc. They have very cool ads targeted at the yuppies and they sell a lot of cars to younger people who go more for style and wouldn't be caught dead in a Camry or Accord.

There was a time when German engineering was way ahead of the Japanese. Many of the cool thing and safety features came only on the German luxury sedans. These days you can get the same level of refinement and technology in a Toyota camry or Honda accord so why waste money to pay a premium for *German Engineering".

If you have a budget of 25 lakhs for a car, I hope that you dont' have to worry about the saving of diesel over petrol. If you look at Total cost of ownership and resale value, an Accord is the way to go in my opinion. Apologies to the die hard believers of *German Engineering*..

[bigman]

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone living in the west who has an interest in cars. In the US too, VW they have a bad rap when it comes to quality. Every one who I know who owns a passat or a Jetta/Golf has had some issues or the other. Majority of the issues are with the electronic/electical components, etc. They have very cool ads targeted at the yuppies and they sell a lot of cars to younger people who go more for style and wouldn't be caught dead in a Camry or Accord.

In the past I have owned two VW Golfs and never had a major problem with them. I only ever had one real problem when I took it to a dealer for a cambelt change. A nut had been overtightened and when they opened it the camshaft developed a crack. However as the car had always been dealer serviced it was an inherent fault and VW agreed to write off the cost of the part and labour which was in excess of £250. That was a while back so maybe things have changed since then and the cars are now more unreliable.

[abhinav.gupta88]

Yes , there have been many problems reported with the DSG and the PD engine

My friend has both the laura A/t and the Octavia L&K.

The reliability as quoted by him is much better in the octavia than the Laura.

[aaggoswami]

This is news to me. For a premium car cost as high as 23-25 lakhs, these should not be the problems. Gearbox issue is the one that can purely be avioded. E-parking, lets say, some electornic messed up, but gearbox ? That downright ugly. In the US markets, the cost of running cost graph for VW reaches possibly the highest or one of the highest levels. Here is where the Japanese step in.

However,
1) Are there any recalls or something like that for the gearbox failures ?
2) Any recall for turbo charger, fuel pump ( Accord had this ) ?

Refusing to start can be electonic error, but should not be there in the first place. Oil consumption is nightmarish for this car. Definitely some engine ( mainly related to block and its components ) problem.

Now is there any such issure reported for other VW cars ?
VW is constantly gaining ground internationally, but that group ( all : VW, Audi and Skoda ) have takes us for granted and all of them ( Audi the less, but we have another thread ) are having problem.

[MalluDude]

Is VW using the tried and tested old Indian method of 'R&D at the customer's expense'?? So ,a year down the line might see a vastly improved machine. BTW, last month's ACI reported excessive oil usage in their vehicle, but they attributed it to the driving, I think...but no complaints about the vehicle.

[sbasak]

Thats a bit surprising, I know a few people who use recent Passats as taxis (UK) and they claim they are solid reliable cars. One chap I know had in excess of 150,000 miles on the clock,

Where as most Toyotas & Nissans plying as taxis go strong even after 400,000+ miles!

As you can see here, many UK buyers are not happy about Passat's reliability

Volkswagen Passat Saloon Reader Reviews - What Car?

[penpavan]

VW cannot be so indifferent to all the complaints and issues raised on their car. And that too before they launched it here. Wondering, if the issues were genuine, which they seem to be, what has VW done already? I am keen to know what is their reply to customers with the problems. They simply cannot get away with such bad remarks all over. They must have something convincing to say.

BTW, is it only with Passat? What about Jetta?