My personal experience wih a B6 Passat wagon (11/2007) thus far.

[benedict]

Hi everyone,

A bit of an insight into my 2007 125TDI wagon with sports suspension/wheels option. Pre warning, it's long.

Over the time we have owned the Passat we've had number of things go wrong with the car. Three below have shown up in the past week:-

- My drivers seat electric movements have failed in some directions.

- left side of stereo is crackling in and out (doesn't matter if it is CD or radio) which I really need to drown out the interior rattles coming from my dashboard, due to plastics used, cheap plastics.

- I am getting 3 long beeps when I start my car up but with no fault light.

It has just past the 60,000kms mark. Next service not due until 73,000kms. Below is a list of a few things that have have failed since I've owned it:-

@ 43,000kms car broke down whilst climbing a hill on a hot summers day. A full car with two young babies in the back and left stranded in Sydneys peak our traffic to find own way home (complicated with baby seats!!) completely stuffing the flow of traffic for all heading my direction. Towed home.Turned out that the electric fan control module, two fans (and associated wiring loom) had to be replaced. This was the start of our air conditioning problems which are still present.

@ 57,000kms car broke down IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILST CROSSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC with my daughter perfectly lined up with the bullbar of a 4WD, thankfully they stopped. The passat simply stopped. Never in my 23 years of driving has anything like this ever happened. It was towed to the dealer. Turned out an injector failed so all four were replaced and associated wiring loom.

@ 24,000kms electric hand brake failed leaving us stranded in the carpark of a shopping centre. It took 3 hours before I could release the button, which I think was replaced already. Once again complicated with children as I had to go back to the shops and purchase a baby bottle and formula so the little fella in the back would stop screaming.

Since the electric fan failure the air conditioning cuts out if ambient temp above about 20C. Generally this is when I like to use the air conditioning.

My wife is outright refusing to drive the Passat anymore. She is now driving my Mercedes Benz diesel until I sought something out for her.

My neighbour wondered across the road yesterday afternoon asking me if I was happy with my VW as he was interested in purchasing a new car. What to say?

And what to do? I've been informed there is no lemon law protection in Australia. I'm not sure that it would even qualify, but what I do know is that I will steer right around the VW brand for my next car purchase.

[Lindsay]

I would like to know if there is anybody out there that actually hasn't had any problems with their B6...
I bought mine second hand twelve months ago and I would say it has spent two of those months in one of the two pretty hopeless dealerships in my area. In fact it has been at Burnie VW for a week now to get the immobiliser fixed. It took three visits to a sensor fixed, four weeks to replace the injectors and every single time it has been in they have forgotten to order a new park brake switch even after I tell them every time I book it in!!! I can't take it to an independent mechanic because there aren't any iny area that specialise in VW.
I really love the car, but my patience is running out...

[vwrallycar]

mine has had the odd oil leak at the turbo oil return line, but apart from that it has been perfect. its a my09 125 passat now with 40000kms on it.

[Lindsay]

Good luck, I hope it stays that way!

[Steve]

I would like to know if there is anybody out there that actually hasn't had any problems with their B6...

Aside from wheel alignment from the factory and an annoying rattle that was fixed with a piece of cardboard I haven't had any problem with my R36 in ~40000km and nearly four years...!

[GHW]

only drivers seat bolster replaced under warranty after 2.5 years and 54,000kms in my (now regrettably sold) R36 wagon, never an issue, not once and I can tell you I ain't exactly drivin Miss Daisy !

Damn you VW for dropping the R36 !!!! best value car in Australia bar none.