Avg. Price Paid:$8,426 - $13,747
Original MSRP: $24,370 - $33,320
MPG: 23 City / 31 Hwy
Search Used Listings:

2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon U.S. News Best Cars 7.8
Critics' Rating: 8.1
Performance: 7.9
Interior: 7.7
Safety: 8.6
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Powerful engine choices
  • Comfortably seats five
  • Wide-range of standard safety features
  • European styling and driving dynamics
  • New six-speed automatic transmission downshifts roughly
  • Four-cylinder engine suffers from turbo-lag
  • Electronic steering system offers little road-feedback
  • Volkswagen has spotty reliability record

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 5/2/08

Recalls

There has been 1 safety recall issued from NHTSA.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUMRecall Date: 12/05/2006
  • Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES POSSIBLY INCREASING VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 06V472000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 58800
  • Summary: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L ENGINE WITH 147 KW MAY HAVE A VACUUM LINE THAT MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME DISCONNECTED AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED VACUUM LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.
  • Notes: VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. P7. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Dependability Ratings1 2007
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

1These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

All information provided by J.D. Power and Associates is proprietary information owned by J.D. Power and Associates and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and conventions. Reproduction of this information, in whole or in part, by any means is prohibited without the express written consent of J.D. Power and Associates, other than printing copies of the J.D. Power and Associates content by site visitors for their personal use. J.D. Power and Associates® is a registered trademark of J.D. Power and Associates.

Warranty

The Passat Wagon comes with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Volkswagen also supports the Passat with free roadside assistance, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and 12-year corrosion protection.

Volkswagen has a problematic reliability record, but VW is trying to change this image. CNET reports, "The car feels well built, as if VW is seeking to combat past quality problems by overbuilding hinges and hatches. The hood and doors all close with a satisfying solidity, while plastic interior hatches and drawers also feel like they're in it for the long haul." However, regardless of VW's achievements in producing such a solid vehicle, most reviewers are still skeptical. USA Today notes, "Reliability's the question mark. The previous Passat shows up as the very worst among family cars in Consumer Reports magazine's predicted reliability chart. The '07 is a new design. That can be good, or it can be otherwise."

Next Steps: Volkswagen Passat Wagon