7.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$170
Average Mileage:
83,800 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (11 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #11

Mar 132013

Passat GL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

The dealer Volkswagen of Santa Monica fixed car now costing me a lot of money and time from work.

- fuentesca, Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #10

Sep 152010

Passat Wagon V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

the check engine light comes on and goes off. i was told the transmission was needing fixed

plus when you go to drive there's a hesitation then it goes fast.

- Trina K., Anderson, CA, US

problem #9

Aug 012010

Passat V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Love the Car but since rolling 100k starting to have problems.. didn't Know it was the worst year for the model

- jmckee, Mission, TX, US

problem #8

Feb 262011

Passat GLS 1.8t

  • Manual transmission
  • 141,000 miles

I just bought a used 2003 Passat a week ago, yes that's right a week ago 2/19/2011 and the check engine light is on and the car won't start 02/26/2011. I have no idea what the problem is and had to have it towed back to the dealer in Middle River MD. Out of no where the car stopped starting and now i am waiting to hear what the problem is? I am fearful of the worse because i put down $2500 and i am praying i can get my money back and get out of this nightmare.

- robertsmd, Middle River, MD, US

problem #7

Jan 262011

Passat GLS 1.8t

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,186 miles

Check engine usually comes on after the STOP TURN ENGINE OFF warning. Overnight it went off once the next morning.

Update from Feb 4, 2011: Car was fixed for $164.19. Replaced oil pressure switch.

- Debra T., East Orange, NJ, US

problem #6

May 252010

Passat 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

My check engine light has come on, initially the dealer said its probably on because perhaps I didn't close the cap on gas tank tightly enough, now they're saying its a $400 issue.

- Lupe K., Lisle, IL, US

problem #5

Dec 082008

Passat GLX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

I purchased this car with 50K miles on it. I quickly found out that the car in excellent appearance has major problems. No leakage of oil on the driveway, no visible smoke when driving but.....1 quart of oil consumed in less than 1000 miles of driving.

Now the engine light is on and the dealer says if the engine runs I can ignore the light until the next service.

This sounds like fundamentally wrong.

No more Volkswagen for this family

- runningman 541, Eugene, OR, US

problem #4

Jun 222009

Passat GLS 1.8L T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,200 miles

Very frustrating because I do a lot of highway driving. I couldn't pull onto a freeway with other cars miles away/ that's how sluggish the engine is with 1 cylinder misfire. due to oil in the spark socket.

- yarborough, Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #3

Oct 102008

Passat V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I have my car checked with the diagnostic machine and still nothing was done.

- mgutierrez, Robstown, TX, US

problem #2

Jul 082008

Passat 1.8t

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Check engine light came on car lost power and sounded like it was missing something awful. took it in and they said that it was a module that controlled the spark.

- joshuava, Virginia Beach, VA, US

problem #1

Aug 042007

(reported on)

Passat 1,8T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

My wife was driving the car to work and it started missing badly. The car never actually died but lost all of its power. Have checked what I can check and have found no problems. The nearest dealer is about 50 miles away and there is no way I can get the car there. Any suggestions or similar experiences?

- Rudy D., Apple Valley, CA, US