Should a high-mileage Passat be reliable?

Is the 2006 1.6-litre Volkswagen Passat reliable over 100,000 miles?

Mim Hamel

Jun 2013 Filed under: reliability

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Expert answer

Hi Mim,

By and large, yes. The 1.6 FSI engine was actually pretty peachy to drive, if rather underpowered. As with all underpowered cars, watch carefully for signs of abuse and hard-running by drivers frustrated with the lack of oomph. 

It seems to be a very solidly reliable car, but there are some reports in owner forums of problems with the cam belt tensioner repeatedly failing and needing to be replaced at almost every major service, while there are also some reports that the direct fuel injection system means that the inlet valves can become sticky with carbon deposits. That seems to be about it, though.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe