Volkswagen Passat 2006+

bjeffers

How did you do the wiring connection to the LED tail lights in the Passat. I had the same hitch installed but cannot find a wiring adapter capable of interfacing with the dual level LED tail and brake lights. Thanks

600kgolfgt

German cars, assembled in Vietnam, consumed in the US. Wow welcome to 21st century globalization.

That's the sign of the times, my friend...

drmemnok

I have been a VW owner for most of my life. My previous vehicle was a prior model Passat.

7 moths ago I bought a 2007 Passat and have been miserable. Yes the car is fast but who cares when it has been in the shop for more than 1 day 5 times in this short of an amount of time.

The problems i have had include problems with the lights going out (4 times), brake problems, noisy suspension (especially the loud clunk under acceleration).

When I contacted VW corporate in order to do get them to buy back this lemon (remember the lights went out 4 times, I am not a crack pot) they told me they would be happy to continue repairing the car.

My advice to anyone considering the Passat is to RUN in the opposite direction.

600kgolfgt

My advice to anyone considering the Passat is to RUN in the opposite direction.

Sorry about your experience... Maybe you bought one of those Vietnam-made VWs... :lemon:

autoedu

VW has had a bad reputation in reliability for the longest time.
As for made-in Vietnam VW - it doesn't exist yet - VW has only begun signing paper to invest in a manufacturing plant in Vietnam. Not until 2010 will we start seeing VW produced in VN.
As bad as VW is now, VN-produced VW can only see improvement.

goodieshannon

I feel your pain! We purchased a 2007 in August of last year (3.6T All Motion wagon) and it lives in the shop! We are now stuck with it for a couple of years (don't want to be top heaving in another new vehicle nor do we want to lose our downpayment (as this was the 2nd one we purchased, traded up due to problems with the first 07 wagon which was the 2.0T Wagon) that should have been a warning, but no, we thought it was just a bad apple in the entire bunch and traded up to the 3.6T All Motion Wagon....it looks great but that is the extent of it! I will never purchae another VW again! Back to NISSAN for us!

vwguild1

You need to stay focused at the Dealer level...Make an appointment to see the Fixed Operations Director at the Dealership...He, in turn, needs to involve the VWOA Regional Service Manager...This is called the Chain of Command, and the only way VWOA will get involved and correct your problems...Please read the Customer Dispute/Arbitration booklets that came with your Owner's Manuals.

goodieshannon

I appreciate the heads up and will cal the Fixes Operations Director at the Dealership to discuss the problem and will let you know how it goes. Thanks again!

peregoy

I wanted the VW Park Distance Control when I recently ordered a 2007 2.0T wagon, but this option is only offered on 3.6 models and dealers claim it can't be installed outside of the factory.

While I'll be able to program the passenger side mirror to lower when in reverse, I'm not convinced that this is going to be enough of an aid to avoid bumper scrapes and playing "guess where the kids are now."

I'm interested in adding a "wireless" backup system with either the audible or visible monitor, but I'm not sure if any system is truly "wireless" and, if it is, I'm not sure how reliable it would be between the transmitter at the back of the car and the receiver at the front.

I know that some advertised "wireless" systems actually require putting sensors on the bumper that wire to a transmitter in the trunk. The problem with that, aside from having to channel wires, is the power comes from the tail lights. I understand that 2006/07 Passats use low voltage LEDs that may not power these units.

Does anyone have any experience in this area? Any suggestions on how to get a quality aftermarket backup system on a new Passat with minimal impact on the vehicle and it's warranty?

vwguild1

I do not know a thing about aftermarket Park Assist units...Did not even know that they existed...But your Passat will come with the adjustable rightside mirror when in reverse, and adjuster set to the rightside mirror.

cosmo

Check out page 7 in the May 2007 issue of Consumer Reports.

peregoy

I didn't mean to imply that there were aftermarket Park Assist units. What I meant to say was that there are multiple generic backup sensor and camera systems available that might be useable on a B6 Passat.

Yes, I'm aware of the adjustable rightside mirror that can be programmed to point down when in reverse to see the curb and objects along the lower part of the car. That's why I mentioned it in my initial post. I'm skeptical that this feature will be enough to see around the high rear sill of this car so that I don't put the car's finish or my kid's safety in jeapordy when backing up.

I'm hoping that there are others out there who have this same concern and who have already researched and maybe even tried these other generic systems so that the rest of us, who would like extra help in seeing behind our cars, can benefit from their experience.

peregoy

Thank You. The CR May '07 issue has a short take on a new, inexpensive wireless camera system called VR3 that activates when the backup lights come on. The question is: how does the system know when they come on? Does it require a connection to the car's backup wire? I'm going to see if I can find out from the manufacturer. I've now found it on some seller websites and noticed some cautionary comments about these units from those who've tried them. They included many disturbing finicky anecdotes. It sounds like they might need some time to mature before they're ready for primetime. I may still see if a newer unit has overcome these early problems if I can get one that can be returned if it doesn't live up to the company's claims.

peregoy

I have found a comprehensive review of the VR3 backup camera on CNET. Basically, they thought it was better than nothing. You do have to pass a wire from your license plate area inside to your tail light wire. I don't know yet if this is easy or hard on a B6 Passat -- and particularly on a wagon where the license plate swings way up out of the way when opening the back hatch. Seems the consensus is that the fisheye camera lense makes it hard to judge distances and the wireless monitor can be easily interfered with by other wireless devices. These days, it seems a likely bet that even the car, with it's ever growing number of electronic gadgets, could also interfere with it's receipt of images from the camera. If you're interested, here's the link to the CNET review: http://reviews.cnet.com/VR3_VRBCS300W_Wireless_Back_up_Camera/4505-6730_7-323173- 12.html

I would probably enlist the help of the dealer to get any install right, so I might as well continue my research to see if there's a better system out there -- even if it's not wireless.

diaz1

I had this terrible smell coming out of the vents when the AC was turned on for the first time after a few weeks of 'cold weather' (Houston).
Took it to the dealer and they said there was a recall. They cleaned "something"... the smell went away for a few days, BUT came back! :confuse:
Dealer said VW would only pay for one cleaning a year... Any suggestions? This is on a 06 2.0T
Thanks!

saulster

I recently drove a long trip ( SF area to LA ) for the first time in my '06 Passat ( 4 Motion, 6 cyl., navi, etc. ). Set the cruise control going down I5 at my usual 78 MPH and was getting "run over" which is not usual, that speed is normally a good comprimise and I more over occasionally for the faster traffic.

So, I reset the trip computer average speed and clocked that for over 20 miles with cruise control working and speedo / cruise indicator at 78 MPH. Surprise, the trip computer said I was averaging 75 MPH! Retried at various speeds down to cruise / speedo says 63, trip computer says 60 MPH.

Took it in to my dealer for this and a few other items. They had no idea so they called the VW Tech Line, which they state advises them that VW INTENTIONALLY sets their speedos reading a bit faster than actual speed as a "safety" measure!!! Really!

The speedo is the only item I found inaccurate vs. the trip computer. The odometer reads almost to the exact mile against the trip computer trip miles report after over 150 miles. I also did not find anything in California or Federal laws or regulations regarding speedometer accuracy excepting a federal standard ( DOT regulation ) for commercial vehicles that the speedo has to read within 5 MPH, either + or -, of actual speed.

Anyone with similar experience, suggestions, knowledge, comments?

Thanks,

Saulster

cosmo

European car speedometers seem to be optimistic. I compared the speedometer readings on our 2004 Passat and 2006 Jetta with a GPS readout. I found that 75 mph on the Jetta's speedometer is actually 70 mph, and 73 on the Passat's speedometer is actually 70 mph. Readings down to 25 mph were proportionally inaccurate. Some BMW and Mercedes owners have told me that theirs are even more inaccurate. And, like your experience, the odometers are accurate. I've come to the conclusion that the trip computer on our Passat is a useful only as an entertainment device. I trust only the distance traveled because it matches the odometer. The fuel consumption readout is way more optimistic than even the speedometer.

shipo

Over the years I've owned two Audis, two BMWs and two VWs, and I worked for MB-USA for several years in the 1990s and drove many of their cars. In every case, the cars were off by similar degrees in the speedometer department only. The odometers and trip computers and such were all spot on.

Best Regards,
Shipo

ormand

I've used this device on two vehicles,our Ranger pickup and a Ford Escape.Works as advertised,you need to run wiring from the sensors to the unit in the tail light. Not too dificult,has a voice prompt to let you know the distance.

http://www.bak-talk.com/home_b.asp

saulster

Cosmo and Shipo,

Thanks for your prompt responses and information. Looks like this is "situation normal". I'll just adjust the speed I drive as indicated by the speedometer accordingly and live with it.

Saulster

cosmo

VW Tech Tip 06-19:
"If you receive a customer complaint that the speedometer displays a vehicle speed that is slightly faster than the actual speed, this is normal. The speedometer is operating per manufacturer specifications. VW does not manufacture vehicles where speedometers read slower than actual speed. To allow for possible differences in overall tire diameter with different tire manufacturers and wheel sizes, a factor is designed into the speedometer function that increases the displayed speed. This factor does not affect odometer readings, which show actual distance traveled."

Those VW engineers never cease to amaze.

goodieshannon

I am experiencing (among other problems)water not draining after a rain - i opened my rear passenger door the other day and water just ran out at the bottom like it had been siting there with no place to go. Then i opened the other doors and found water drops sitting on the other side at the edge of the inside (when you are sitting down put your left hand and run it on the inside just above the rubber (not on the door frame part but on the insidejust below the seat just above the rubber (kind of hard to explain) anyway, i am going back to the dealer tomorrow (i have also scheduled a test drive with the service manager due to a noise that i get from the steering column when i make sharp turns and back into spots but not all the time, when the weather gets cold or changes drastically...go figure. My husband says this is a MONDAY car...anyone else have any thoughts on the noise or water issue?

peregoy

Has anyone had any experience with the VW bike carrier options on a sedan or wagon? I would be putting it on a wagon, so the rails would already be there. I'd just have to buy the carrier bars. I know there is the Barracuda attachment for the whole bike or the Fork Mount. Oddly enough, the seemingly less complicated Fork Mount is more expensive than the Barracuda. It would be convenient not to have to take the front wheel off everytime with the Barracuda, but it looks like it would be more of a balancing act to get a bike on it and to connect the support bar. You'd hate to lose control of the bike on the way up or down and scratch and dent. The Fork Mount would be a hassle with having to take off and store the front tire, but would seem to be a more rigid arrangement -- less prone to bike movement damage -- and also better for low clearances and wind resistance.

kirkl

You've got me on that one...I recall them asking if I would need lights but I didn't because I'll only be using the hitch for a bike rack.

kirkl

If you want to roof mount, look into carrier bars and the Big Mouth upright system from Thule. I used this on a Taurus wagon. No need to take off the front wheels and the bikes were always secure. Between the carrier bars and the track that holds the bikes, however, it looks bulky. I took off the bike tracks when not in use. It also isn't the easiest thing to lift the bikes to the roof.

I think the best solution for a wagon is a trailer hitch hosting a carrier like a Thule model 957. See my post 2043.

mnm2007

I just leased a 2007 PASSAT, my 3rd VW. I loved my 2003 PASSAT, so I thought the 2007 would be even better. WRONG! I am having the same problem that you have had with your PASSAT...uncomfortable seats! Not just uncomfortable, actually painful! I have lower back pain and terrible cramping in my legs. I really can't believe it because my 2003 PASSAT had VERY comfortable seats. Anyway, I am now looking for a wedge seat cushion, but I am not having much luck. Did you find a good solution for your seat problem? Please share!

Thanks!

birdboy

I tried several different products and returned them all.They seemed to make other aspects of the seat worse. I am happy to say that approximately three months into owning the car the seat began to feel better. I believe that the butt part compressed causing a slightly different slope. I guess the seat needs to form to your body. I drive sometimes four hours and am comfortable in the seat now. it will never be a totally enveloping orthopedic feeling seat as with with Lexus, Volvo, and even SAAB. OOh la la how great those seats are. also found it important to sit with my legs as stretched as much as possible to eliminate the lower back pain. Believe me , I know what you are feeling and after spending the money we did, we expect better design. My 02 passat and even the new Jetta have a better fitting seat. Sorry that I do not have the magic answer

wephillips

I had a similar problem w/my sedan. It may be worth looking into after I twice had gallons of wateer drained from my trunk. Apparently there are 2 or more reed valves that are used to drain water from Passat's trunk or cargo areas. One of them may be bad. I also had the seals on the struts replaced. You may also have a faulty gasket on the liftgate. The dealer won't want to fix any of these I'm sure, but be persistent about it. It took 8 days in the shop for my dealrer to get it right but I haven't had any problems in months.

goodieshannon

thank you to wephillips! I will print your reply out and take it to my Master Mechanic at Congressional VW! He is very helpful! Still have the noise problems around the steering column that is heard inside and out but not all the time! It's the strangest thing! Thanks again!

uga91

I drove a 2007 Passat 2.0T with auto yesterday. I liked the car a lot, but did not love the car. I wanted to love the driving experience. I was thinking about going back and driving one with a manual transmission and seeing how that goes. I find it very interesting, however, that the owners on this thread do not seem to be real happy with their cars. I'm not reading any "I love my Passat!" messages here. I'm reading about many problems. Maybe only the disgruntled are taking the time to post. Does anyone out there enjoy their car?

On a side note, I read many posts about taking Passats to places like Jiffy Lube. The salesman said you get the first oil change at 5k mi and then every 10k mi after that. With maintenance as infrequent as that, why go any place else but the dealer so they can look it over?

lserve

I've been test driving around and found the Passat to be one of the better experiences in comparison to the other midzize sedans I'm comparing to. Much of the feedback is good regarding driving experience. Its been reliability that has been the issue. And yes, especially if you get the 2.0 - the word is bring it to the dealer for oil changes.

goodieshannon

sorry that I can't post a positive message either. i started out with the 2.0 last summer and traded up after reliability issues on the 2.0. Traded up to the 3.6T All Motion Wagon, still has reliability issues and will trade in and go back to Nissan/Infinit next summer. Sorry VW!

path_ohone

Happy Passat owner here ! As with most forums, folks rarely post if there are no issues with the car and are happy with it. I absolutely love it, have had no problems to speak of and I feel this is a great buy (I have a 2.0t). Of course there are owners with problems as well, but I am lead to believe that the incidence of problems is no more /no less than average. Is it as good as a Camry, in terms of trouble-free’ness? Probably not. Was that what I was expecting when I bought the car? No. I valued other attributes of the car more, so it has worked out fine.

Do some more research and figure out what are the top three things you are looking for in your ride, and that may give you the answer. YMMV.

uga91

Thanks to you and to the others who posted. My comparisons are what brought me to the Passat. I'm trying to make safety my number one priority in my next car. Head air bags, stability control, all that good stuff. I will gladly give up the sunroof or 6 disc changer if it means buying a car with the safety features I want (at the price point I'm shopping in--I know VW offers those goodies and more). Passat gives those to me. I will check the other sites. Thanks again!

au1994

We just leased a 2.0t wagon 2 weeks ago. Needless to say we love it. The bang for the buck is outstanding. Ours has the package 1 with nav in candy white with beige leatherette. The wagon is an excellent alternative to an SUV or even a cross-over.

I was concerned after reading the boards and the problems, but there is a common thought that most of the people that are happy with their car are too busy enjoying it to write the good stuff!

BTW...I'm guessing from your ID you're one of those pesky Dawg fans??

verdugo

There have been a few unlucky owners over at vortex who've had accidents. They've all commented on how great the car/wagon performed.

Best of luck. It really is a great car.

uga91

Thanks for the input; and, yes, class of 1991!

mark_wny

I notice that none of the VWs at my local dealer have leather - just leatherette (aka vinyl). Is there a reason for this? Have people found that leather isn't worth the extra $$ ? Was also curious about the thread above on uncomfortable seats - wondered if 'real leather' made a difference in comfort.

robr2

Leatherette seems to be the VW standard. It's an alternative to leather and IMHO wears better than leather.

pat

I moved some posts to the audio discussion so maybe they will benefit more people. Let's continue here: rachael3, "Volkswagen Passat Audio" #34, 4 Jun 2007 7:37 am.

sda

On 5/14 bought certified 06 passat with option 2, tiptronic, dynaudio, deep black, pure beige, 13000 mi. Sweet car! I have owned many vws in the past starting from 1979. Owned several brands, gm, chrysler, ford, honda, nissan, audi, etc.
My most recent car was an 03 acura tl. nice car. boring. Wife has an 06 pilot. She was more than annoyed with me for buying vw. In past, wife had a 99 passat gls 5sp that she loved. One drive of 06 passat and her response--WOW, that's a real car. She has now driven it more than she ever drove the tl, and has threatened to confiscate the keys to the vw. Anyhow, happy to be home.

drmemnok

An update from my previous post. I have had my 5th headlight problem, and one of my tire pressure sensors is on the fritz.

I have hired a Lemon Law Attorney. Will let you all know how it goes.

I am really upset about this because with my previous Passat I was one of those guys that would say "I love my Passat... sure a few repairs here or ther but nothing outside the norm."

Well in 9 months it has been in for 11, count 'em 11 repairs. Each taking more than one day in the shop. That is more than one a month, and that is unacceptable.

I still have to say it... Based on my experience, if you are considering a Passat, consider anything else.

goodieshannon

i purchased an 07 passat wagon 3.6T all motion. at first it was fine.now i can't wait to get rid of it. It makes a noise (really loud) in the steering column when i make turns or back up to park (but not all the time) i have compliand to dealer and they can't hear it...also,,,brakes are still squeeshy when i slow down and especially on bumpy roads...they replaced the brakes once (for free) but the problem is back..so...the minute i can i will TRADE IT ON A NEW MISSAN MAXIMA (Nissan's were and still are our favorite cars, my hubby bought a 07 Altima 3.5SL in NOv. last yr and we love it! Will NEVER purchase VW again!!!!

verdugo

I also have an early 07 3.6L 4Motion wagon. It was making the noise that you described when it was new (Sept 06). The shop foreman rode with me, and of course the car didn't make any noise. So it was the dreaded "could not replicate."

Fast forward to June 07. The car hasn't given me any problems until recently. There is some noise now when accelerating from a stop (not turning, but going straight. Think stop sigh/red light). And the airbag fault light came on.

I dropped it off at the dealership yesterday. This time they heard the noise. So hopefully it will be fixed once and for all.

It's an awesome car. I attribute the few probs I had to the early build date (Feb 06 I think). Hope your ownership experience gets better.

jetlag07

Quite frankly, I am at a loss to figure out why so many people on here seem to wanna bash VW. I have had an '06 Passat for a year now, with absolutely no problems other than two recalls. That is saying something considering the climate here in Canada with winter temps in the -30c range. The car is not garaged, starts up every time, and every system works as advertised! Plus, a year later the car still feels like out of the showroom. I used to be an "Import" fanatic (read Honda, Toyota etc.), but what sold me on the Passat was the interior fit, finish, quality of materials, power and handling that the asians can't begin to duplicate. Unless, of course, you are prepared to slap down an extra 15-20k for an Infiniti/Lexus...even then. So to all you dissatisfied Passat owners, go ahead and get rid of the car instead of just complaining about it! It'll make this forum that much more enjoyable for those of us that turn here for tips and constructive criticism. Enjoy your new car from the land of the rising sun!

birdboy

Just curious. I had an 02 Passat for 4 years and put Nokian all weather tires on Nov-April for driving upstate in New york. Traction and drive in sleet, and sizable snow amounts were great. I now have a 06 2.0 Passat. this winter, though mild, I had great traction difficulty in the smallest amounts of snow. I could not even get up a very small incline driveway. Has anyone else had poor traction in the snow this past winter. I quess I will look into all weather tires again unless I absolutely love the new compact Tiguan SUV this fall. As always, thanks for your input and suggestons.

scottyg1234

I just leasesd a 2.0T Passat for my wife and it seems that only the W32 Luxury 2 package and W34 Sports package have actual real leather seats, (as well as 3 memory positions). I have found the seats to be extremely comfortable and easy to adjust (I am over 6 feet tall, and this is one of the few cars I have driven that I do not have to have the seat all they way back. Two dealers kept trying to push the wolfsburg edition, but I wanted the leather and memory seats (my wife is 4'10). One dealer finally got it for me after lieing to me that the car would be arriving in 2 or 3 days, when I threatened to cancel, and buy a Toyota, they found me one (2 weeks later). The VIN number they had given me for the vehicle that would be arriving in 2 or 3 days, is for a car that is still on the water, and will not be delivered to them for another 2 weeks. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM Legend Autorama in Amityville, NY.

verdugo

I have a 4Motion Wagon with Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi's. It handles great in the snow (Lake Tahoe, CA). The traction control never engaged once (it engaged frequently in my old Jetta with all season tires).

Maybe your problem was due to the tires? :confuse:

Like you, I'm also looking forward to the Tiguan. Although, I don't think it's coming this Fall. It will be here in May or mid 2008.

mark_wny

jdhebert23

Jetlag07:

As you, I have a Passat (01.5 1.8T) that I've had minimal (but still some, nonetheless) trouble with. It's never a pleasant experience to have things going wrong with your car, but I appreciate all of the feedback, both positive and negative, because I at least know what to look for when owners of similar cars have problems. I've used this forum to help diagnose potential failures on my car that others have already had to pay dearly for. While it's nice to hear of the good things, unfortunately not everyone who has good experiences will post in here. :shades: