Passat B7 reliability

[dopey]

My 118TSI Golf didn't chew oil, nor did my 2.0 TDI Golf. The 125TDI Passat does chew a little but I've only had to use about 500ml in the last 18k kms which is nothing.

[Buzy_Robot]

Why doesn't your friend go to another VW dealer or a VW specialist? Either way, his car is covered by warranty.

Besides, it doesn't mean everyone who bought a 118TSI will have the same problem. You're using ONE example to dramatically change your opinion of the Passat?!

I'm not sure how using what you've heard or read can really lead you to an objective opinion about the Passat.

If I had listened to all the scaremongering, my Passat should have broken into pieces in less than a year and spent more time at the dealer than with me! Some annoying rattles aside, it's been a pleasure and a privilege to own and drive this vehicle.

Having owned a 2010 Mazda6 and extensively driven company cars like a 2010 VE Calais and 2010 Subaru Liberty, I can tell you that all of them (including my Passat) have proven reliable with comparable servicing costs. The Liberty did have four official recalls in its first nine months on the market, but Subaru were remarkably prompt at addressing the issues.

I understand where you're coming from in terms of wanting bulletproof reliability, but why avoid the Passat based on anecdotal evidence when the reality is that most new cars are fine, but any new car can develop some faults regardless of manufacturer.

It's how the manufacturer and dealer respond to an issue which can make or break the ownership experience and not necessarily the car itself.

Had a dramatic changes in my perception towards to Passat reliability.

I just spoke to one of my colleague, who got the B7 118TSI in July last year when it first came out. After 6 months of ownership, he started to notice the shudder in the DSG as it starts. This is an old but common problem that I have heard many times. The problem he is facing is that the dealer could not fix it, and he was told that it was normal! He said it never happened in the first 6 months, so how can that be normal? The other complain he has is the TSI engine eats oil like crazy! He has to top it up every 3-4 months and it really adds to the running cost.

I do realize the 125TDI uses a different type DSG (6 speed wet type), I never have problem with my Superb (touch wood!), and I never had to top up the oil, so I hope the problem is not applicable to the 125TDI, which is the one I am planning to get. I was under the impression that the 7 speed dry type has more reliability issue than the 6 speed wet type. But again, there is no evidence to support that.

Well, my colleague's advice is, since I am leasing and I will get rid of the car before the warranty expires, so it shouldn't be an issue. But my wife is becoming very sceptical about VW now.

[clip]

You've come to the wrong place to ask. IMHO Forums are mostly used by people to talk about problems. So looking through threads you'll find all sorts of issues, but doesn't mean its common problem. Over 15 million passats have been sold, which includes hundreds of thousands of late model ones and people still buying them. Plus resale is better than holden and ford (and probably a lot of others too). If they really were bad eggs, would this be the case?
I have friends that own gti, r32, and jetta's. Not one has had any problem.
I've owned 2 new VW in past 4 years, and only 1 minor problem with TSI Tig in over 70000ks and none so far with the TDI Passat at 17000ks. It's a superb vehicle that continues to impress everyone that has the privilege of driving in it with me

[VAG newbie]

Why doesn't your friend go to another VW dealer or a VW specialist? Either way, his car is covered by warranty.

Besides, it doesn't mean everyone who bought a 118TSI will have the same problem. You're using ONE example to dramatically change your opinion of the Passat?!

I'm not sure how using what you've heard or read can really lead you to an objective opinion about the Passat.

If I had listened to all the scaremongering, my Passat should have broken into pieces in less than a year and spent more time at the dealer than with me! Some annoying rattles aside, it's been a pleasure and a privilege to own and drive this vehicle.

Having owned a 2010 Mazda6 and extensively driven company cars like a 2010 VE Calais and 2010 Subaru Liberty, I can tell you that all of them (including my Passat) have proven reliable with comparable servicing costs. The Liberty did have four official recalls in its first nine months on the market, but Subaru were remarkably prompt at addressing the issues.

I understand where you're coming from in terms of wanting bulletproof reliability, but why avoid the Passat based on anecdotal evidence when the reality is that most new cars are fine, but any new car can develop some faults regardless of manufacturer.

It's how the manufacturer and dealer respond to an issue which can make or break the ownership experience and not necessarily the car itself.

Yes, you are right. I think dealer attitude towards post-purchase service is more important. Our Volvo XC60 was plagued by a lot of software bug initially, and we have gone back to the dealer no less than 6 times in the first 6 months. After a few software upgrades, it has proven to be a reliable car. We never had problems with it since the last upgrade. (Although there are still some interior panels that would crack with no reason). The best part has been, the dealer has always given us loan car free of charge during these repairs. I think that definitely made my wife more comfortable about a Volvo.

I will ask my colleague if he has tried other dealers/service centre. I think the worst thing is a problem that can't be fixed.

I haven't scrap Passat completely from my shopping list, it's just a consideration that needed to be taken into account when we make our purchase. I will remind my wife of our experience with the Volvo initially. If she wants Euro performance, handling, safety and fuel efficiency, she has to put up with the fact that Euro cars are more likely to go wrong than Japanese cars. Good thing is, there are 2 VW authorized service centre within 15 min drive from my house.

[clip]

she has to put up with the fact that Euro cars are more likely to go wrong than Japanese cars.

Just buy a Toyota and be done with it, she'll be happy, you'll be happy and all will be good.

[booba]

i second this motion

Just buy a Toyota and be done with it, she'll be happy, you'll be happy and all will be good.

[entice]

5000kms on the wife's B7 TDI wagon.
hasnt missed a beat.
brilliant blend of economy and power.
best things:
Power, economy, panoramic roof, sat nav, massive boot, and luxury feel.
no quirks.

2 possible improvements. flappy paddles to be standard,

and change the design of the bonnet hinge that gets in the way of cleaning the leaves out of the windscreen scuttle panel. could be teh source of bad aircon smell in a previous poster....

[booba]

The smell in my car could only be blamed on my gaseous anus.

[VAG newbie]

Just buy a Toyota and be done with it, she'll be happy, you'll be happy and all will be good.

No, she hates Toyota to the uttermost, my kids will cry if we get a Toyota, no Toyota in my family. We have owned all kinds of cars from Nissan to Mitsubishi, Honda to Subaru, BMW to Rover, now Skoda and a Volvo, but never Toyota.

It's a long story. My wife went to uni with the daughter of Toyota and she said she has never seen such a b**ch in her entire life. Apparently Miss Toyota had a crush on a guy that was my wife's friend (just "friend", she stressed to me), and she thought this guy was going out with my wife (she swore she wasn't) and the relationship just got a bit complicated.

Besides, Toyota's reliability has been proven to be poor. So definitely out of question.

[wind]

Have done 8,500 km in about 6 weeks - yes, all business travel (have lots of stuff to take so works out better than flying).

Simply put: the Passat wagon is brilliant - extremely safe, handles very well, stupidly good fuel economy from the TDI, etc. I can go on about how comfortable it is to drive (whether 5 min or for hours and hours). You only notice it when you go to another car and for some it feels like like you are going back 100 years compared to the Passat - the sports seats do make a difference!


I agree with clip that if you rely on Forums for an overall picture you get a very distorted perspective - it is mainly either people who love their car and share what they do with it or people who have issues/problems and seek help/advice (both equally valid uses of a Forum). Very rarely do you get someone posting to say 'everything is OK - nothing happened in x km' - which is what most owners would be doing if they were to post regularly.

In terms of making a decision, you will probably find that any modern well-designed and put together car will for the vast majority of people be reliable and have minimal problems (other than teething problems that crop up in any brand - no matter how reliable it may be!).


Overall, I am extremely happy with the Passat wagon (aside from a few small annoyances re VWA decisions such as not having KESSY, colour MFI etc. as standard on a car at this price point!) and can recommend it as a good cruiser that can handle a bit of go with aplomb.

If I were to make a buy decision today, I would go with the Passat without a hesitation - then again, it is like I tell a friend whenever he asks me if he is crazy: "I have never had any doubts about your sanity".