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 21 through 30 of 588.00

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  Fun but tempermental - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By tim d - December 30 - 9:36 pm

  Bought this car new in 03. Blue Anthracite with Grey Leather. Very well appointed and good performance. Drove great, had the feeling of a safe and heavy car. Had problems that I would not expect of a fairly new car: Short Brake Life, including warped rotors. Bad Breaklight Switch, $900 alternator replacement, a battery that only the dealer can replace (not good when it goes out on Sat. night). 2 bad CV boots. Oil leaks. Improper alignment burned up 2 new tires. Ridiculous price on 40K and 80K maintenance. When this car was getting near 80K, I sold it on Craigslist and bought a Honda. I could not stomach another trip to the dealer for them to find more stuff wrong.

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  My First VW - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By First-time VW Owner - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Only had the vehicle for a week, but so far its a blast. The automatic is a bit sluggish starting out, but it quickly bites and gets going fast, pinning you to your seat. Ive only had one problem with quality so far and its a simple paint problem on the left rear quarter panel. Looks as if they forgot to buff or polish. Looks like a light haze, just a couple of inches in area. Ill see how the dealership handles my request to fix it.

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  2003 Passat 4 Motion Sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ksaintd - December 15 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Passat, the first being the 1.8t 5 speed GL model. I only have 600 miles on the car so this is clearly preliminary information. The car is very luxurious for the price. The fit and finish, the interior comfort are just superb. I wanted the safety and sure-footedness of all wheel drive so I looked at both the Audi and Passat. I needed an automatic to meet the needs of all of the drivers of the car. Everything I read and heard told me the 1.8t was marginal when used with an automatic. That meant the Audi 3.0 automatic and a price tag of about $37k. I could not justify the $8,000 difference for 25 more hp and 15 ft/lbs of torque.

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  03 VW passat GLS 1.8T Sedan - Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By 2003 VW passat - December 9 - 12:33 pm

  I have had this car since Jan 2009, and this is the most comfortable car I have ever sat or driven in. The only problem I have had since buying the car was a CV boot which was just a month ago and it was torn and needed to be replaced asap. So I recommend to you VW owners to not go to a dealership for ANY repairs including headlight/tail light bulbs & oil changes unless you want to pay up the butt in bills. Find a car mechanic. The only thing I dont like about the car is that the headlight bulbs are hard to find and replace. My advice to VW owners is to not to go to a dealership unless that is your last option! I love my car and I guess I was just lucky compared to other reviews.

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  fun to drive but few flaws - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Pjopzy - November 20 - 2:00 am

  Presumably good car, but few flaws and none mentioned on this forum. Like everyone the interior colors are great. But confusing controls on the dashboard. The build is good with an eye on safety.Fun to drive,sporty. But too many electrical faults. Bad Monsoon sterio system. Too many reported problems with their ignition coils. They are redesigning their ignition coils after too many of the Passats started giving problems. There is a backlog for these parts for a few frustrating weeks. If you are the next unlucky victim cross your fingers cos the wait can be painful.Does not have a good defroster. Can be painful in those foggy cold days.

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  silent beaut - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By happydub - October 21 - 2:00 am

  whats not to like? classic subdued styling, the 1.8T engine, the 5-speed, and the interior comfort. I thought I wanted the V6 but after driving that and the 1.8 I went with the four; much better fuel economy than the V6 and just as much apparent power. good in snow despite the very average factory Conti tires. reliability might be a worry as its in the shop for a "check engine" light but thats it so far. avoid the tan interior if you care about how dirty itll get!

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  Beautiful, but electronic nightmare - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By nolte14 - October 14 - 10:00 am

  As a longtime Honda and Nissan owner, Im accustomed to hassle-free operation. Despite its good looks and fun to drive personality, my Passat has had the malfunction indicator lamp illuminate five times in two months and the Monsoon stereo stopped working! A review of VW forums shows Im not alone.

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  Avoid at all costs! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JetsetTX - September 1 - 5:10 pm

  I loved my car when I first bought it. It is beautiful and the inerior is very well done and they use quality materials. Thats where the love story ends. When it was just over three years old the check engine light came on and it was the brake light switch, which was replaced under warranty. Not long after the car broke down on me on the way to work, it was the fuel pump, they replaced it. They had to replace something that was allowing fuel vapor into the cabin a few month later. The new fuel pump needed replacement within a year of the original being replaced. The clutch had to be replaced (out of warranty) at five years old. The thermostat was just replaced the CV boot 2 yrs ago.

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  Solid, Comfortable & Fun to drive - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By JAS3rd - August 10 - 10:00 am

  My Passat is quiet and nimble and yet it "rides heavy" on the highway. When I looked at the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series I realized that would get much more creature comfort for less money and still have a car that is a joy to drive. If you want significantly more sportiness you have to go for the BMW 330 or the A4 3.0 (more $$$). The Accord seemed tinny & the Camary is as plain as a soda cracker (by the way... whats up with the funky exhaust pipe hanging so low under the Camary??? its ugly and odd.

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  Funnest car Ive owned - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By not all bad reviews - June 26 - 12:03 pm

  Bought it in 04 with 20,000 miles and now have 145,000 miles on it. Had to replace the coils and brake light switch. Had my own mechanic do the work and got reimbursed most$ because of recalls. Fun to drive. Had a water issue but fixed it myself. If I had mechanic fix it would have gotten reimbursed due to recall. Only issue I have is the headlights are wired backwards so the main lights are on all the time. Also have a heated seat issue but beyond that I love the car. Parts are pricey and the dealers dont have a clue. But have not had the issues these posters have had. Anyone whos borrowed my car liked driving it.