Passat B7 reliability

[VAG newbie]

Not sure if this has been asked before. Been trying to look for a new family wagon to replace my wife's Volvo XC60 when the lease is finished. Due to the changes in FBT rules, (ie. Flat rate of 20%) I can't afford a car as expensive as the XC60.

The Passat wagon has ticked almost every box of our need and is well within our budget. The only concern we have is the poor record of VW's reliability. I don't know how true is it, but according to the JD power's survey, VW certainly was ranked among the worst. I have also heard a lot of horror stories about VW from friends.

I have test driven the B7, and I must say it felt much better screwed together than the B6. But initial quality doesn't equal to long term reliability. Of course I'm aware that Euro cars can't be as reliable as Japanese cars because Euro cars are usually more sophisticated. But compare to a Volvo or a Merc, is VW equally as reliable?

Now that the B7 has been out for more than 1 year, I would just like to ask the owners of B7 passats, whether they have encountered any problems? How often do problem arise? Is it true about the poor reliability of VW's?

[dopey]

I've had my B7 125TDI for 13 months now. Notable faults have been:

1. Faulty fuel filter housing = Diesel leak. This was when it was near new. Fixed under warranty.

2. They forgot the wheel lock nut key. Couldn't get the wheel off when I had a puncture. Key replaced under warranty and tyre fixed free of charge for the inconvenience.

3. A/C System smelly. Had it cleaned out, smell returned. Getting it repaired again this week. I think the VW A/C evaporator design must be a good place for bacteria because it's not in the filter, or the vents, or anywhere else I could access. Annoying but not a deal breaker.

4. Passenger window switch faulty. Fixing under warranty next week with the A/C. Works fine from drivers side, but passenger side switch will only let me put it up/down with "auto" function which is annoying.

Overall not enough for me to say don't buy one. I had particular issues with a few useless members of staff at one dealer, but have been treated really well at another since. Ensure you get factory warranty for the entire period of ownership though.

[Riker]

Had my V6 B7 for 9 months now & all is as it should be, great...

[FSI 220]

Mine came out with the steering of center... and a a long blonde hair in the instrument cluster... both were sorted, been mint since...

7500km so probably not a statistically relevant distance ... I paint all hi tech euro as similar risk... including Volvos , the beauty of a lease is the cost of ownership (and typical repairs) are allocated... at least VW has been building DSG's for a while (at least the wet pack 6spd ones...) etc... etc...

Tech brings risk... it is up to you, you already allude to the basic difference to Japanese.... I enjoy the robotized manual, hi-po direct injection 220kw V6, active AWD and all the toys knowing something might stuff up... However I put my wife and kids in a two tonne Toyota.... with mature port injection technology 200kw V6, a regular ignition barrel, regular 5speed torque converter gbox, regular permanent AWD, cable operated handbrake... knowing she will be safe and never be left by the side of the road because the ignition lock, dsg, locked handbrake actuator or whatever.

Then again, my first car was a ported 76 Rotary, so i got used to disappointment early

[Buzy_Robot]

A year since purchase my MY11 125TDI sedan is going strong with no major mechanical issues or failures whatsoever after 12,000kms. Just drove down from Melbourne to Queenscliff and back today. More than 200kms in one day and my Passat proved gutsy, surefooted and incredibly economical - telling me it could do over 1,000ks on a single tank of diesel ... Believe it!

The downside of my Passat are some of the silly interior rattles, height adjustment levers working loose from the front seats and the occasionally temperamental iPod integration where it skips the start of a track (this doesn't happen always though).

I was led to believe I had an issue with premature front tyre wear and wheel alignment last week, but it was all sorted out by Bob Jane. They were rather bewildered by the VW service report and told me my Passat's tyres are all in excellent condition and to come back for an assessment after I'd done another 10,000kms. Go figure?!?!

Would I recommend the Passat? Yes, but it might be worthwhile waiting to see the next Mazda6, Subaru Liberty or Skoda Octavia. The Japanese contenders will get new fuel efficient engines and drivetrains. The Skoda Ocatvia will be larger and built on VW's new MQB platform.

Reliability can be a very subjective thing and twisted to suit certain agendas and perspectives. Don't assume Japanese cars don't have problems, because they do, albeit of a different sort and frequency compared to European cars. My previous Mazda6 needed to have a rear speaker replaced - does that mean it was unreliable? I don't thinks so. Let's factor in recalls and start talking about Toyota - considered by many to be reliable and risk free in terms of maintenance and low running costs - yet, subject to quite a few serious recalls.

Whatever car you buy, there's always the risk of something going wrong - that's what a warranty is for and my advice is to enjoy the great driving experience offered by a Passat (or your car of choice) and not speculate on potential problems that may not even arise during your ownership of the vehicle.

[VAG newbie]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It is a bit of relief hearing that most of the problems are minor annoyances rather than major mechanical failure.

Certainly I'm not rushing into buying one at the moment. It is still sometime before my wife's car's lease is due, but still gotta make up my mind in the next few months if I need to order one from Germany.

[VAG newbie]

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.

[booba]

The FSI will eat oil, they all do and it is stated in the manual. Get a Camry would be my suggestion LOL.

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.

[Lance B]

I have had a B6 3.2lt V6 FSI Wagon, then two B6 R36 Wagons and now I have a 3 week old B7 V6 Highline Sportspack Wagon. I have been extremely happy with all of them and they have performed basically without fault for all the time I've had them. Any minor issues I've had with them, can't remember any off hand, have been fixed without issue quickly and promptly. None of mine ever used oil, apart from my second R36 using a little during the first 5,000kms, but after that it stopped using it. DSG has never been an issue on any of the PAssat's I've had either, all performed pretty much faultlessly throughout the time I had them, with a very few minor hiccups here and there, and I do mean very few.

Observations on the B7 are:
I think it is better put together than the B6 versions, it feels better all over than the R36's.
The paint is better, at least on the one I have.
After 2,000km's of driving, this new B7 V6 Highline has basically used no oil either, maybe a smidgen, but it is so minor it is not even an issue.
Interestingly, the new B7 seem to go better than my R36's!! Obviously not quite up to the handling feel of the R36, but I do prefer the new V6 Highline that I have compared to the R36's I had.
Also, the B7 V6 Highline has a different final drive ratio to the R36's. The R36's used to be about 42km/h per 1000rpm (from memory) in 6th, whereas the B7 Highline V6 is 52km/h per 1000rpm in 6th. I do get slightly better fuel economy out of the B7 than the R36's.

Personally, I don't think there is a better car on the road for the money than the B7 V6 Highline Sportspack. One of the main reasons I stick with the VW's is the DSG, apart from the fact the rest of the car is damn good.

[booba]

The oil consumption i think seems to be a trait of the 2litre turbos such as thes ones they stick into gti/golf r etc and probably passat from what is observed.

[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.