Overview & Reviews

GLS model vanishes from radar as Volkswagen prepares for launch of all-new Passat in mid-1997.

• Huge interior with lots of leg room, superb seats, excellent road manners

• 2.8-liter V-6 responds sluggishly when harnessed to automatic transmission

User Reviews:

Showing 31 through 40 of 43.00

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  Could of Been So Good! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lorale - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car with 20,000 miles on it. Love the room and drive. Had way too many problems with the door handles that all had to be replaced! (at $343 each!) The interior door handles peeled, the engine light and ABS light came on and off. Had them checked, and dealer said, "No problem found". I found the car to have a ridged ride. Would of loved to have a glove compartment. This car could of been GREAT!! I wouldnt buy another one, because of the many small, but costly problems!

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  Hope It Lasts Forever! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW4Life - December 5 - 1:23 am

  I have owned nothing but VWs. They all have been reliable and great to drive. In 2000 we needed a bigger car as we were expecting our first child. We drove the new Jetta, and but it seemed small and sort of cheap. Then we saw the beautiful Indigo Passat GLX. It is a big, roomy sedan which drives and handles like a dream. The VR6 engine is the best thing VW has ever designed. The check engine or ABS lights have NEVER been on in this car. I bought it with 38,000 miles on it, now it has 96,000 miles and drives like the day I took it home. The first owner probably neglected a few things. It needed brakes, rotors, battery, etc. that first year, but the dealer covered everything. Find a good mechanic, do your maintenance, and this car will last!

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  Stay away! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By A.W. - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Too many problems to specify. This car has been in the shop more times than all the other cars I have owned combined. The electrical system has failed numerous times. The sunroof track has broken four times. The AC and vent system has malfunctioned since I bought the vehicle. Luckily I purchased a used car warranty with the purchase. I have most definitely gotten my moneys worth. I have heard from others who have also owned 1997 Passat wagons who have had as negative experiences as I. I am very VERY disappointed.

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  1st luxury car - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By soccerfreak11 - June 16 - 8:43 pm

  We bought this car with 74,000 miles and have had a few problems. 1) EGR valve. No idea what so ever how to fix it. 2) rear window doesnt work. It is a solid car with good MPG, but could be better. Tons of interior room and trunk space. Love the sunroof. The radio goes into SAFE mode every time the battery is disconnected though. Now it is permanently locked and only the dealer can open it. The exterior design is a definite draw back. Over all, it is a great family car.

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  great German car! - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By creed hyatt - February 24 - 4:43 pm

  I bought this car about a year ago, and have really enjoyed driving. Auto trans can shift hard occasionally, had some problems with the ABS & Check Engine lights coming on - but that could be because my mechanic couldnt figure it out - I never found any performance problems when these lights were on. Overall its a great car, very comfortable, plenty of power. My only complaint is the lousy gas mileage - I have never gotten the claimed MPG.

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  Anybody Want to Buy My Passat Wagon? - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By poskarp - September 9 - 9:10 am

  Although purchased used, this car was great until it reached its fifth birthday. Over the last five years this car has nickeled and dimed (or more accurately $500 and $1,000) us to death, especially with the pesky check engine light that has been diagnosed at least three times. Ive put more into this wagon over the last five years than I did for my last two Toyotas which had double the mileage. So much for my European love affair, Im going back to the orient where my cars have been reliable to over 150,000 miles

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  My Passat experience - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By Sam in Agawam, MA - August 3 - 10:00 am

  There is not an aspect of this car I have not had problems with in six months of ownership. The original tires were awful (Goodyear) & the replacement Dunlops helped quite a bit. The wheel bearings, inner tie rod ends, ball joints, and transmission output bearings all needed to be replaced at only 50 thousand miles! The car is currently in the shop having the transmission removed on account of a worn gear that determines the speedometer reading. The engine knocks when hot, despite the new coil pack I installed on the car six months ago (the original was cracked.) I cant wait to trade this in.

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  97 TDI - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By richardb - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car except for recent stalling problem. Have been to dealer several times but they cannot find the problem.

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  Lack of Quality - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By NA - March 10 - 12:50 pm

  I bought my 1997 Volkswagen Passat new in 1997 after having good luck with a 1989 Golf. However, the Passat has been of poor quality and I will never purchase another VW. Problems include the door handles, power windows and front end (tie rods, bearings). I get nervous when the "check engine light" is not on (faulty air pump, does not impact drving). It is a great handling car, it is roomy and I like the VR6 engine with the 5-speed manual transmission. I am at 135,000 miles and the next major repair will force me into a Honda or Toyota dealership.

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  German Engineering - 1997 Volkswagen Passat
  By mb - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Purchased my VW Passat TDI in March of 1997 after reviewing several articles on the TDI engine. Hard to believe you can get that great fuel mileage in a mid-size vehicle. No American made auto can do that. I have almost 150,000 miles on it now and it still runs great. I like going almost 900 miles before I have to fill up again. I change the oil every 5,000 miles and the timing belt every 60,000.