The Volkswagen Passat B7 model is another great car in the German automaker's line of midsize sedans. An improvement over its predecessor the B6 in at least one important area: price. The Passat B7, which is also known by the acronym NMS, which stands for New Midsize Sedan, generally gets positive reviews from the car's owners which is not to say that there aren't sometimes problems with the car such as steering and drifting issues.
Some drivers have reported problems with the steering alignment which causes the car to drift. Many drivers claim that the drift is subtle yet noticeable and usually causes the vehicle to veer to the right. It has also been reported by a few owners that having the steering realigned did not correct the problem.
Of course, this sort of problem is not normal for any car. It is in fact, quite a dangerous issue that needs to be addressed. There are a few usual suspects that need investigating as well. The tire pressure is one thing to check. A bad valve in the steering rack could also be the culprit.
If you are a VW Passat owner who has taken advantage of one of Volkswagen's "carefree maintenance" plans then you should be covered for up to two years or 24,000 miles. If your plan has expired, or if you have not enrolled in the plan, then you can save a buck or two by taking your VW to a specialized, local German auto maintenance mechanic for a proper diagnosis.
Search for a local, independent Volkswagen repair shop with Volkswagen mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.