Overview & Reviews
For 2003, a base GL sedan and wagon are available. Think of the GL as a GLS 1.8T for buyers who don't require any extras like alloy wheels, leather upholstery, seat heaters or a sunroof. Meanwhile, alloy wheels and sunroof are now standard on GLS models. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system will not be offered on GLS V6 models, forcing interested buyers to cross the 30-grand line; however, VW has made stability control (ESP) optional on all Passats (except the W8, which has this standard). Also this year, you'll be able to get W8 sedans and wagons with a six-speed manual transmission and a sport package that includes a firmer suspension and the requisite 17-inch wheels. Lastly, the standard stereo head unit gets backlighting for the buttons.
- Fun to drive, excellent value in GL or GLS trim, roomy interior with upscale feel, outstanding build and materials quality, available all-wheel drive.
User Reviews:
Showing 41 through 50 of 588.00-
Swing and a miss - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By DF4811 - February 7 - 10:00 amI use my 03 Passat 1.8T as a commuter car, amassing 36k miles per year. Everything was working great until about 44,000 miles - when the "low oil pressure" warning light came on. I stopped the car immediately and had it towed to the dealer, who told me that I needed a new engine due to engine oil sludge build- up(!) Thankfully, I took it to an independant shop for a second opinion. They changed the oil pump and saved me $6,000. Aparently, this small turbo-charged engine heats the oil excessively causing it to "sludge", clog the oil pump and burn up the engine. Ive read in other VW forums that this is a common problem. Avoid the 1.8T and go with the V6.
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Defective Ignition Coil - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Gkwong21l - February 3 - 2:00 amI loved this car-until, it started to fall apart. In 1 year, I have replaced 2 ignition coils (2 diff. times), the glove box and realigned the door. The coils were the biggest pain- b/c the towing fees. VW has IDd the defective part (in all 1.8T engines)- But has refused to recall it, as it does not represent a safety hazard. A bad German supplier is to blame for the coil. VW is to blame for refusing to recall the part. Dealers refuse to replace all coils, just ones that fail. Note-1.8T cars have 4 coils for each cyl; so I now have 2 new coils, and 2 coils waiting to fail. Dealers are unwilling to sell new coils-as they dont have enough to go around.
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Be Careful - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Disappointed NJ - January 29 - 10:00 amLeased this vehicle for 36 months and had to have dealer buy it back after only 3 months.Lost alot of money on this car.Be very careful.VW Cust Service is horrible. I had an allergic reation to something in the interior of the car. Awful smell started coming from interior roof materials, especially when sun had been beating down on car. Eyelids began burning severly and eyelids turned brown.Also began to happen to my husband,when he started driving car.Velour seat materials are suspect also for allergic reation.I now have a 2003 Acura Tl and have no allergic reations whatsoever. I know this is a strange story, but very true. Just be careful.
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Why cant VW get it right ?? - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Fool me twice ?? - November 12 - 1:36 pmMy husband owned an 86 GTI that had electrical probs from day one. He swore hed never have another VW but I begged. While we have not had any major electrical probs, the car has been to the dealership too many times. The trim is continuously discoloring or falling off, the wiring harness went bad in the first 10,000 miles, the fuel pump went out at 44,000 miles and we had to replace the brakes AND rotors at 44,000. When the car was stalling for no apparent reason, the dealership asked me if I had driven through any puddles recently. Enlighten me, can a VW not go through puddles without stalling? Now the interior light only occasionally comes on when you open the door. The gas mileage is dissappointing. Ive learned my lesson.
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VW Never Again - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By manda - November 4 - 12:50 pmI love driving the car, the turbo is fun. However Ive had terrible service at the VW service store. Ive had all kinds of problems in the last year, the tail light stayed on, the heated mirror doesnt work, among other $500 repairs. I think what the worst one was the fuel pump going out, this was considered a recall but somehow according to VW "my car isnt part of the recall." So now Im stuck with a broken fuel pump even though they have been recalled. I will never buy another VW again, dealers provide terrible service and the cars have terrible quality.
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Lemon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Unhappy - June 9 - 2:13 amFairly fun car, but very poor construction. New tires every 25K mi, interior trim repeatedly broke, fuel pump failed, pwr windows failed, and on and on until the engine finally blew. 100% dealer serviced according to factory specs. Been towed more than once. I have been a very satisfied VW owner in the past, but this is it.
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2003 Volkswagen Passat GLS - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Mir - April 5 - 2:13 amI bought my Volkswagen passat brand new in 2003 with 0 miles. Weve owned it for about 5 years now and it has 41,000 today, barely driven people, only driven to work (5 miles away) and back to the garage. today I regret ever getting this Volkswagen, 2 weeks after the purchase the stereo threw me an error code and it turned out the whole unit needed replacing (warranty). Ive never experienced so many recalls in a single vehicle, heated seats started burning (recall), brake light switch (recall), fuel pump (recall), engine heat shield (recall), replaced whole front drive shaft at 30k ($400), replaced water pump at 40k ($450). Over all I have had nothing but problems.
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Frustrated with computer related prob - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By cmn168 - March 25 - 10:00 amPicked up my brand new 2003 Passat on 6/28/03. Towed to dealership on 7/6/03 with 113 miles, due to computer prob. Picked up the repaired car on 7/9/03. Towed to the dealship again on 7/26/03 with 581 miles for similar computer prob. and the car is still in the shop, as of 8/1/03.
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Nothing But Problems - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By JJP143 - September 12 - 10:00 amI have had nothing but problems with my Passat....After taking it to the dealership for service 7 times now since I bought it for numerous problems I am now looking into Lemon Laws as Volkswagen keeps insisting that "The car is working to manufacturers specifications". What a joke!! I have had it in for service 3 times on the same issue and the dealer cannot fix the problem...Not the quality I expected from Volkswagen nor for paying the amount of money I did!
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2003 Passat Wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Al - September 9 - 1:50 pmThis car looks good and drives well but it lacks in reliability. It burns oil and is plagued with recalls. This is the second VW I own and again to be disappointed.
