Volkswagen Passat [2007-2014] User Reviews

This is a extract of one of the several letter I wrote to Volkswagen customer care (who dont care) about my breakdowns  and extended warranty. 

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When I bought in the car in 2011 and asked for extended warranty program it was not available for the car. Now its available but its not applicable for my car as its more than 1 year old even if its within the 2 year warranty.

 Please advise from where can I buy it. My cars has faced several mechanical faults.

- Electronic hand brake was not working. Which was replaced under warranty after 4 months of being in the garage. I am very Unhappy

- I had lost my tyres signature bolt it took 3 months for the dealer to source the Master bolt to open my bolt as they didn't have their own set. I am very Unhappy. I couldn't drive the car in peace. 

 -My Air conditioner is still not working I have gone to the dealer 9 times for this issue every 2 months since I got my car but its still not fixed.They just refiled the gas as a temporary solution and after 1.5 - 2 months the Air conditioner stops working again.

Now the dealership is saying that the compressor has to be replaced under warranty.
Its been 15 days since they said that they have placed the order.. It has still not come.

Looking at the pathetic track record I estimate the compressor to come in 3-4 months. My warranty is lapsing in May 2013. I do not want to pay for the Volkswagen lethargy, malpractices and total disregard for the customers.

value for moneyFrequent break downs and pathetic service support.

Exterior STYLISH.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) ALMOST LOADED WITH ALL FEATURES, SPACE IS LESS THAN SUPERB BUT DECENT & CONFORT AS LONG AS NEW AND COVERRED UNDER WARRANTY/EXTENDED WARRANTY.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox ENGINE PERFORMANCE IS GOOD, FUEL ECONOMY IS DECENT LIKE IN CITY 9 & HIGHWAY 12 to 14 AND GEARBOX SUPERB WITH DSG

Ride Quality & Handling RIDE QUALITY & HANDLING AS LONG AS AS THE VEHICLE IS NEW AND UNDER WARRANTY.

Final Words FINAL WORDS IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THE POCKETS TO MAINTAIN I THINK MORE THAN SKODA AND AFTER SALES SERVICE IS VERY VERY POOR as I OWN A PASSAT HIGHLINE MODEL JAN 2009 MODEL and TILL THE TIME VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE WARRANTY IT WAS WAS PRETTY NICE BUT NOW THE WARRANTY IS OVER AND IMMEDITELY AFTER THE WARRANTY I HAVE STARTED FACING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LIKE FRINT AND REAR SUSPENSTION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE ALMOST 1 LACS EXPENSES, THEN AC COMPRESSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED QUOTED AS 60000, ELECTRIC PARTS LIKE WINDOW SWITCHES STOPPED WORKING NEEDS TO BE REPLACE RS. 10000, FUEL LID SWITCH & PARKING BRAKE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACE RS. 10000, HORN NEEDS TO BE REPLACE RS. 10000, WIPER NEEDS TO BE REPLACE RS. 10000 SOME ENGINE BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE RS. 20000 . STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACE RS. 100000.

AFER SALES SERVICE IS VERY VERY POOR AS I AM LOCATED IN MUMBAI AND THEY HAVE 3 WORKSHOP KSM, NAVIMUMBAI, VOLKSWAGEN DOWNTOWN LALBAUG, TORNADO ANDHERI AND ALL OF THEM ARE LOADED WITH WORKS AND WHEN EVER I HAVE TO SEND THE VEHICLE THEN PRIOR APPOINTMENST NEEDED AND EVEN AFTER SENDING THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 2 DAYS TO KNOW THE EXACT RESULT AS IN WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. ALL THE SERVICE PEOPLE MENTIONED ABOVE ARE VERY MUCH LOADED WITH THE WORK LOAD. I EVEN TRIED COMPLAINING WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN INDIA SALES OFICE LOCATED IN BANDRA BUT NOTHING HAPPEND AS MANY A TIMES NONE OF THE AFTER SALES CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE BOTHERED TO REVERT BACK OR COME ON THE PHONE TO SHARE THE PROBLEM.

MANY A TIMES THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLW THE WORKSHOP SO AGAIN DELAY IN GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED EVENE THOUGH YOU ARE READY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

SO PLEASE BEWARE OF THESE THINGS BEFORE COMING TO THE FINAL PURCHASING DECISIONS.

Areas of improvement ALL THE AREAS NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AFTER SALES SERVICE.

STYLE & FEATURESAFTER SALES SERVICE & VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN

Exterior Its a beauty! The front view is awesome with the day time running lights. Crome is used liberally and gives a very luxurious look.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) It is absolutely loaded with features. After considerable (a lot) debate I purchased this car over the Audi A6 2.0 tdi and boy am I glad that I did. With the price almost 9 lakh lesser I got a whole lot more... I am happy!

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Everything is perfect.

Ride Quality & Handling Very good.

Final Words True value for money. Features in this car match cars that are twice (if not thrice) the cost! Granted the VW logo lacks the appeal of the BMW, Audi, Jaguar or a Merc; but who cares! After all I do not need those brands to show to the world that I have arrived... I'd rather enjoy the subtle and fine luxuries that the VW Passat Highline has to offer and have a whole lot healthier Bank Balance...:)...!

Areas of improvement NA.

Beautiful exteriors, loaded interiors, capable engineNone so far!

Exterior Very good looking, nice day light LEDs, Sun roof of no use

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Excellent Features, comfortable, good looking Black interior, good leg room as compared to other cars of the same segment.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Driving Comfort, blue motion technology is excellent

Ride Quality & Handling Very useful parking assistance

Final Words Very good car with very bad support. After sales service is very bad. I had to send my Brand new passat to the workshop just after driving 50 km. The car was at the workshop for 4 days. There was no answer for the cause from the delear B U Bhandari as well as Volkswagan. The delear was not ready to take any responsibility. The staff was not answering phone calls!!!! The treatment was like a beger after paying 30 Lacs. There is a customer care department but it does not care for the customers.

Areas of improvement After Sales Service.

Good looks, very good featuresVery very bad after sales support from B U Bhandari as well as Volkswagan. There is no care for Cust

Exterior Nice.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Good.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Be careful with oil since it will destroy the engine and cost lakhs in repair. Only use synthetic which is 3-4x more expensive than regular [mineral] oil. Don't allow excess oil filling since it will also damage engine without any warning lights.

Ride Quality & Handling Fine.

Final Words Avoid buying any used passat diesel since many have odometer tampering and the service centre won't share the history in a pre-sales inspection due to 'confidentiality' unless you are the registered owner!

Areas of improvement A single diesel injector costs rs. 75 k in delhi and rs. 71 k in mumbai the 2.0turbo engine needs 4 replaced so rs. 3 lacs in parts + labour + taxes! even used cost rs. 25 k each in delhi. worst car ever owned - total money pit. Engine will sieze up in the middle of the highway so it can be very dangerous if truck hits from behind.

safety, performance, styleunreliable and very fragile; exorbitant spare costs

I HAD BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST BLUNDER OF MY LIFE.

Volkswagen is a Cheater Company and It is my serious and responsible statement that this German company dumps all defective cars in India.

The car has several defects such as:

1) Blinking amber light in the indicator which shows there is a serious problem.

2) After the appearance of blinking light the cars pick up fails.

3) After a few days from that the brakes and stearing will not function when your car is running at a speed of 100 kmph.

4) I have written several complaints to the company but the company is least bothered. Everytime they take the car keep with them for 30-40 days and do some shoddy work and the problems re-occur after 2-4 months.

5) If you are thinking of buying this car, Please send me an email on XXXXXXXXXX@XXXXXX.com. I will send you all the PDF copies of my correspondence with the company. 

I have also written to the Honorable Prime Minister of India:-

“The foreign companies like VOLKSWAGEN dump defective cars in India, as they believe: India is a safe heaven and there is no CONSUMER PROTECTION SYSTEM.

Last year Chinese Govt. ordered Volkswagen to RECALL ALL (3,85000 cars) defective cars (Ref: http://english.sina.com/business/p/2013/0320/573384) In India so many consumers are suffering of such problems from VOLKSWAGEN, but the company is least bothered. Govt. must intervene in the matter & TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE FRAUDESTER.”

Buying a Volkswagen PASSAT WAS my LIFE’S BIGGEST MISTAKE.

NONE AT ALL.THE NEW CAR IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY & THE COMPANY IS LEAST BOTHERED ABOUT COMPLAINTS.VERY POOR PERFORMANCE BETTER TO BUY ANY DESI CAR.

 

Exterior Good looks, curve light a nice thing to have, strong body.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) An average music system, better comfort in the front seats, Auto hold funtion a wonderful tool to have in stop & go traffic, wood finish Front panels.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Brilliant gera box/shifts, Great to drive in 'S' mode and engine noise sounds great on S mode.

 

Ride Quality & Handling Excellent grip on the road, touched 200 Kmph on Salem -Kovai NH road, good response.

 

Final Words As the name says 'volkswagen' a real car for common man with the comfort of the luxury brands, Value for money (under 25-30 Lacs), Good milege even for the city drives( 12 kmpl).

 

Areas of improvement The Air conditioning system certainly requires improvement. Needs frequent cleaning up of A/c filters, rear window sun bilnd are flimsy(better design in a Merc E class), Grond clearence a problem in a city like B'lore where there are monstrous speedbreakers.

 

Driving comfortLow ground clearence & poor air conditioning

 

Exterior Good!

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) comfortable.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine is responsive,powerful,but should be handled gently.i have seen 14kmpl on highway with gentle handling.i have also seen 5 kmpl within city.this is a high way car.sunroof is awaste in most of the parts of india.bumps on roads are not smoothly handled.auto gear in place of sun roof would have been a great bargain.

 

Ride Quality & Handling I drove vehicle for 600km before buying.thanks to my dealer for having given this oppurtunity.i found it it tobe sporty when i wanted with rev,pickup,power,control etc.at the same time found gentle,fuel efficient .i could do 140 kmph on nh 5. effertlessly.over drive gears are simply fuel efficient.i could do 80 km speed at just 1500 rpm which can easily give 14 kmpl with 2 persons in car.gear changing is not frequently asked .from high speeds to lower speeds on breaking,gear is mooving from 5/6 to 3rd gear smoothly.

Latest technolgy og tsi is wonderful.worlds still latest 1.4 must ave been still better.

Ride is smooth,pickup is great.economy as well as as sporty.if driver wants enjoy thrills in driving,one has to compromise for fuel efficiency.breaking is good.

 

Final Words Definetly better than diesel version,provided economy is looked into.better than honda accord and superb.i have no experience with camry.

 

Areas of improvement Auto gear box. All car manufacturers are bringing outdated technology first to india and later getting improved versions.we cant understand why later tch if not latest id brought into india.

 

good fuel economy,safe,comfortable,tsi technology is simply superbsunroof is waste,automatic gearbox must

 

Exterior Elegant looks and good robust bodywork combined to make a pleasing car. the use of chrome is subtle and understated adding to the subdued charm of the car.  The head lamps are distinctive and easily spotted as is the VW badge on the front and rear. The clever use of the badge on the rear as a trunk opening device adds to the clean appearance of the car. The rear tail lamps are too Jettaish for comfort and could have been different. Doors are brilliant esp the Hofmeister kink on the rear doors.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Interiors are well styled with easy to touch and comprehend. However there are signs of cost cutting and the plastics do not have as robust a feel as the Camry and some of the other cars. The features are well thoughout and easy to use. Climatronic is effective, but needs to be set below what you would expect on a hot day (its great in winter and on cloudy days - VW needs to work on this).  the cupholders are logically placed and there is enough space for all that you want to carry. The leather interiors are nice, but cause their own problems.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The crdi 2.0 litre engine is refined and smooth. there is turbolag that is compensated by the dsg gearbox.  the 6 speed dsg gearbox has swift shifts but struggles in our driving conditions between 2nd and 3rd gears where the shifts take noticably longer and hesitant.

Fuel economy is approx 10 kmpl in city traffic and 13 kmpl in a combined cycle.  highway give about 14 kmpl as I tend to drive fast (above 100 km/hr), The drivetrain deteriorates after bout 17,000 km of use and there are noises that the dealer cant figure out.

 

Ride Quality & Handling Ride is good in cities, but the suspension is too soft for high speed driving on highways. the suspension bottoms out easily and the chassis is not well controlled due to soft suspension settings. The mudflaps (OE spare part) are too long and touch speedbreakers etc easily resulting in noise.

 

Final Words Overall a decent car. however the number of dealers is less and simple things like changing the battery on the key fob is an issue.

 

Areas of improvement Suspension needs to be improved. Drivetrain durability also needs to be looked at.

 

elegant finish, comfort, featuresbuild quality (interior), reversing lights