Which Years Of Used Volkswagen Passats Are Most Reliable?

Published 20 Jun 2023 in Reliability

The Volkswagen Passat is a family car through and through, designed as a midsize sedan with enough room to carry five people inside at once. If you’re interested in this car, it’s ideal to invest in an option that will provide the most value for your expense. You might wonder - what is the most reliable Volkswagen Passat year available?

Dependability is one of the critical items to consider when looking at your options. Although it might seem overwhelming to pick the right Passat with decades of choices at your disposal, we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about the most reliable Volkswagen Passat year, the least reliable, common troubles, and other information you should know.

THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT YEARS TO AVOID

CoPilot can help you decide the ideal choice for your investment and determine the Volkswagen Passat years to avoid. We will help you locate your next vehicle the right way.

Most Reliable Years For The Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat is the classic family car, equipped with all the tools you need to get your kids safely from one location to another. However, you won’t get as much value out of the vehicle if you pick the wrong year. We’ve put together a list of the best to make the selection process easier.

Here are the ideal selections for your next Volkswagen Passat:

1992 Volkswagen Passat
1993 Volkswagen Passat
1994 Volkswagen Passat
1995 Volkswagen Passat
1996 Volkswagen Passat
1997 Volkswagen Passat
1998 Volkswagen Passat
1999 Volkswagen Passat
2007 Volkswagen Passat
2008 Volkswagen Passat
2009 Volkswagen Passat
2016 Volkswagen Passat
2017 Volkswagen Passat
2018 Volkswagen Passat
2019 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2021 Volkswagen Passat

If you want the most reliable Volkswagen Passat year, go with one of these.

Repairs on a Passat can be pricey, so it’s best to go with the reliable options for the car. Luckily, there are plenty of choices available with the Passats’ extensive history on the market as a top family vehicle.

Are Volkswagen Passats Generally Reliable?

The Volkswagen Passat has been around for a long time, first appearing in 1992 and pushing to 2022. There are several reliable years, but they don’t speak for the car as a whole. Is the Volkswagen Passat considered generally reliable?

According to repairpal.com, the Passat scores ⅘, placing it in the middle of the road compared to other midsize vehicles. According to carparts.com, the Passat generally scores above average in reliability with few major repairs during ownership.

The Volkswagen Passat is one of the most reliable family vehicle choices on the market. If you stick with a dependable year, you’re getting the best of the best.

8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR

So you’re in the market for a used vehicle? We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.

Which Volkswagen Passat Years Are The Least Reliable?

We’ve gone over the best choices for this car. Now, let’s discuss the least dependable selections.

Here are the worst Volkswagen Passat years:

2000 Volkswagen Passat
2001 Volkswagen Passat
2002 Volkswagen Passat
2003 Volkswagen Passat
2004 Volkswagen Passat
2005 Volkswagen Passat
2006 Volkswagen Passat
2010 Volkswagen Passat
2012 Volkswagen Passat
2013 Volkswagen Passat
2014 Volkswagen Passat
2015 Volkswagen Passat

If you’re hunting for the most reliable Volkswagen Passat year, stay away from these if possible.

Since these years are less reliable, you might find them at a discounted rate on the Internet. However, they will cost you more in the long run.

Are Volkswagen Passats Expensive To Maintain?

According to repairpal.com, the Volkswagen Passat costs an average of $639 to maintain annually. This number is almost $100 more than the $526 average for midsize vehicles and a little lower than the $652 average for all cars combined.

The Volkswagen Passat does not experience severe troubles often. However, when it does, they are expensive to repair and could set you back quite a bit. It’s critical to be careful with your selection of a year with the Volkswagen Passat.

If you own a Volkswagen Passat, assume you will need to perform more maintenance on it than other vehicles. However, sticking with the most dependable years should minimize these payments every year.

THE BEST TWO-SEATER CARS

If you’re in the market for a speedy two-seater, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the best two-seater cars on the market today.

Which Volkswagen Is Most Reliable?

Volkswagen has many successful vehicles, like the Passat, which have done well over the years. However, not all their vehicles boast excellent reliability. Volkswagen is often one of the last-place finishers when compared to other brands. Which of their cars has the best track record in dependability?

According to whatcar.com, the discontinued Volkswagen Up has the best score in reliability for the brand. It gets a reliability rating of over 98% and even comes in the top three when compared to 28 other vehicles in the same category.

Second and third belong to the Volkswagen Golf and T-Roc. Although the Passat offers a decent reliability score, it’s nowhere near the top for the brand.

What Are The Most Common Volkswagen Passat Problems?

As with any car, the Volkswagen Passat has issues that appear across all years. These are vital to keep in mind if you’re considering this car for your next endeavor.

According to motorbiscuit.com, here are the most common issues with the Volkswagen Passat:

Digital display on instrument cluster malfunction
Engine oil leaks
ABS light illumination

Keep an eye out for these if you are behind the wheel of a Passat.

You are likely to see these troubles across all years, whether you have a reliable or unreliable year. Be ready for occasional repairs if you want to be in charge of commanding a Volkswagen Passat.

8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR

So you’re in the market for a used vehicle? We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.

Is The Volkswagen Passat Worth It?

Although the Volkswagen Passat is discontinued, it offers many quality years for the average driver to enjoy. With solid ratings, it’s worth it to pick up one of the most reliable years of the Volkswagen Passat for your driveway.

However, it is possible to experience expensive repairs if you go with the worst years for the Volkswagen Passat. Be careful about your selection to keep more money and time on your side.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Volkswagen Passat is an excellent vehicle with several quality choices on the market. We recommend picking out 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021 designs for the best results.

We hope this information is helpful! Picking out the most reliable option is tricky, but our knowledge should make it easier to land on the right Passat for your needs.

How much does a new Volkswagen Passat typically cost?

Let’s say you want the newest version of the Passat. How much will it set you back?

According to cars.usnews.com, here are the price points for the 2022 Volkswagen Passat:

2.0T SE: $27,575
2.0T R-Line: $29,595
2.0T Limited Edition: $30,575

The more features you have, the higher the price point.

Typically, the newer the Volkswagen Passat, the more it will cost. If you want to pay less for your vehicle, go with an older option.

How much does a used Volkswagen Passat typically cost?

A used Volkswagen Passat has a much different price range for an interested user. Used Passats typically cost somewhere between $5,000-$20,000, with the average falling closer to the higher end of the spectrum.

More features, age, and rarity all contribute to the price. Also, the worst versions are typically cheaper than the best.

Is the Volkswagen Passat a good car to purchase?

If you want a quality family car, the Volkswagen Passat is an excellent choice. It will carry around plenty of people and cargo, providing quality reliability.

Ensure you stick with the best years. Otherwise, you might find yourself facing higher expenses.

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