1999 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews

I haven't owned many cars in my 49 years but this is by far the best. Perfect balance of style, comfort, luxury and utility. Could tow a 2000 pound trailer, great gas mileage, comfortable seats, perfect size - not too small, easy to park in city. Controls were perfect and simple - easy to use. Ergonomics were top notch - no fussy touch screens. Engine was quiet, powerful and smooth. 5 speed stick was just fine to get through the gears. Some say these cars were problematic but I disagree. In 22 years, I replaced the starter, an engine control module ($50 part, 15 minutes of labor), a vacuum hose and the struts. I never had an oil consumption problem, or sludge build-up. I cried my eyes out when they towed it away from the scene of the accident. I was really looking forward to being "that guy" who had this not perfect but nice looking daily driver that was 40 years old. Sigh, twas not to be.

commit. Only real complaint is the car is too low to the ground and your likely to have to replace the oil pan, I think the car would run even if all the wires were cut, amazing. Door latch went out as did the aux fan, relay. Got great get up and go. The thermostat is a real pain to replace. I would love to have one in a little better condition.

car rides luxury, AC works great, plenty of power for mountain passes

I like the ride of this car, and comfort. I interior is laid out nicely. This car has all the bells and whistles that were to be had in 99 and many more then some of the brand new cars. It does have one quirk, on rare occasions it does not start, but wait one hour and it does, only happened twice in four years.

Good German engineering, but poor reliability. You will love the car but hate the cost and inconvenience of maintenance. Do NOT buy a VW if you want a reliable car.

This car is very unique.It runs very well.No major engine problems.No transmission problems.Minor wear in door interior.Seats are clean and nice.Has turbo that is very smooth and clutch shifting is very smooth as well.clean original tires.Paint job very clean.Hood need repainting.The only flaw is the front bumper.I purchased one for 60 dollars but was the wrong one so the expense for bumper is no more than 80 dollars.Overall the car is very well worth it.

A very nice car when new, several maintenance problems and some of substantial cost, but entirely acceptable considering the miles of comfortable and sprightly transportation. The body style seems dated because so many other brands co-opted the shape and used it now, 15 years later. The gadgets all work like new, the car drives like new, and because of its economy I have set aside three times its cost for its replacement twice (the first plundered by one of my kids). At 15+ years old it is still a very nice car.

Within the first 50,000 miles something went wrong with the suspension system in the front. I was told that it was a design flaw. They fixed it and, as predicted, it lasted about 60,000 more miles. The exterior paint is peeling and the interior headliner is falling off in multiple places. VW uses a special oil drain plug, so watch out for going to quick lube places. Worst car I have ever owned.