2006 Volkswagen Passat consumer reviews

Those of you shopping for a midsize sedan and are thinking about or have already been smitten by the new Passat's attractive features (price and sleek lines) beware. I have been duped by VW again (3rd VW, 1st Passat): VW has done a commendable job of insidiously hiding potential electrical and mechanical design flaws in their "sleak" new Passat. I do not think that VW has figured out how to design reliable electrical systems on their car since my first Beetle in 1972. Their quality control is horrendous for a car in this pricepoint. My Passat has 11,800 miles on the odometer and I have been back to the dealer over a dozen times for the following issues: 1. Brakes squeak. VW does not have a solution to this problem. The dealer stated to me that all pads on 2.0t models squeak. 2. Check engine light comes on (4x). What follows is poor gas mileage and hesitation. No solution found. Check engine light is still on after the dealer reset it. 3. Power lock failure (2x). They even had to replace the key fob remote and reprogram it. 4. Plastic trim around parking brake bezel and door pull handles delaminating. 5. Car hesitates when cold. 6. Traction control hypersensitive. The traction control engages prematurely at times. Dealer replaced sending unit? 7. Rear speakers blown and sound distorted. Upon receipt of my vehicle in late 2005 I noticed a crackling and distorted sound coming from the rear speakers (first day I had the car). The speakers were replaced under warranty. 8. The 16 inch eco squealer tires offer mediocre grip and are noisy. I would avoid the Passat 2.0t at all costs. I would recommend the Accord, BMW 328i, or even the Audi A4. Trust me, I am saving you from potential headaches, inconveniance, and expense going forward! 9. Squeaks and rattles

This car has been in the shop more in one year than 3 Japanese cars I owned over 16 years. Three check engine lights, rattles, creaks, jingles, doors won't open, radio fails, AC weak... I regret prioritizing the Passat's driving experience over the Accord's reliability.

for $20-$25k this vehicle is a steal, strong engine which is very quiet and smooth compared to the previous 1.8t, great interior design and materials, exterior is conservative yet has some flash.

I bought this in September 2005 (new) and currently have 23k miles on it. I love almost everything about this car, and 99% of the time I actually find myself smiling because it's so much fun to drive. I've had some issues with the engine light coming on (MIL) randomly. They misdiagnosed it a couple times, and eventually what I had been telling them from the start (the seal in the fuel tank/line is leaking) turned out to be true and it was resolved. This was the only real annoyance, which was partially my fault for not wanting to go in. Other than that, some chrome began peeling off the shifter after about a month and there was some minor adjustment to be made on the sunroof. They were quick to fix and not a big deal...initial bugs. I wanted to respond to another reviewer who was complaining about the audio volume and the tire pressure light. The volume is speed-responsive, which can be annoying but is increasingly standard on new cars. I've also noticed mine turn down the volume when I have the bass and volume turned very high, apparently to save the speakers (and my hearing). I noticed the tire pressure light come on during the first big winter freeze, with some alarm. It did it this winter, too (and only these 2 times) but this is a result of the much colder air (think balloon in the freezer). I'm actually happy the car let me know I should add a little more air, rather than having no sensitivity to this and leaving me to drive through the snow and ice with less-than-optimum tires... I'm undecided what to do when my lease ends, because I'm worried about expensive electrical stuff once the warranty ends. I may buy it anyways, or lease another Passat or A6.

I love my Passat, but I think I have problems with the dealer. I have experienced a lot of niggling problems like: 1. Gear shifter giving problems, needed lubricating 2. Music still giving problems - vol. dropping off 3. Horn working intermittently 4. Passenger vanity lights on visor stopped working 5. Back door wouldn't open from inside

i bought a 2.0 turbo sedan. handling is quite good and acceleration and gas mileage are excellent [low 30s on trips; mid 20s driving in the area.] great safety features [incl standard head curtains and stability contol] and it is a very comfortable and smooth highway cruiser. some nice touches: embrella holder in the driver's door; two sun visors per side; power trunk release; tire pressure monitor; power lumbar; leatherette that does a passable imitation of leather; split reclining rear seats; and my favorite: one touch down AND up power windows! while the major stuff is great there are some minor annoyances. I think the ignition-key fob and electonic parking are gimmicky. front cupholders could be better designed. the front seat's thigh support is slightly overbolstered but the seats are sufficiently comfortable. while the legroom is great the mechanical seat height adjustment is not in keeping with the rest of the interior appointments. overall, regarding what you get for what you pay it flat out beats the volvo s60 and saab 9-3 [my Saab 9-5 was way overpriced compared with my Passat] and is a better value [tho not a better car] than the BMW 3 series. also, for the money it's a better value than the Audi A4. Overall, an outstanding value!

Pros: Too many standard features to list, powerful turbo-charged engine, luxury car feel similar to an Audi or BMW, minimum road/wind noise (from inside the car). Cons: Noisy engine at idle or accelerating from zero (listening from outside the car), manual seat adjustment, and wind noise if rear windows are lowered. Overall, a nice upgraded sedan and we really like what it offers at this price. If only VW could make their engines as smooth as some of their Japanese counterparts, it would take the experience to a whole new level. I have not had any issues since we just bought the car a few weeks ago. Will report back on reliability in a few months. In the meantime, I would like to know if it is common on VWs to have a noisy and rough engine.

I just came off lease of my 2002 Passat and just leased my 2006. Needless to say I liked my 2002 model but I like the 2006 much better. The car is larger with much more leg room in the back. The car is more powerful and the turbo lag is gone. The car is much smoother off the line. The fit and finish is above any Japanese car in the same price range. The only thing needs getting used to is the key fob. Had some issues with it until dealer took some time to show me how to really use it. Have recommended car to my family friends and co workers.

We have been very, very happy with our 2006 Passat 2.0T. We have now owned the car for one year, since July of 05'. This car has not had a single problem during the first 15,000 miles. I've just changed the oil for the third time (full synthetic), so our maintenance costs have been about $150 total. Performance is very good, there is a lot of power from the turbo engine. Breaking is good, maybe could be a little better....but this is a heavy car. There is plenty of room in the front and back seats, but the seats could offer more support. Gas mileage has been averaging about 25 mpg, with a mix of local and highway miles, and a lot of stop and go on the highway. Only complaint is the round dial to adjust the passenger seat, if this was motorized, it would be much easier to change drivers/passengers...especially when their is a size difference.

I first saw this car on the internet and i fell in love with it. It's ride is phenominal and i chose this car over Lexus, Bmw, Mercedes and Audi. I couldn't be happier and for $299 per month with no money out of pocket, i got a great deal. This car is quick and i found myself doing 100+ miles per hour when i first got it. Now that i have become accustomed to the car i drive much slower. I would suggest this car to anyone and i will be getting another when my lease is up.