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2009 Volkswagen Routan Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 294 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, most often about the electrical (51% of complaints, typically around 73,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Routan model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2009 Volkswagen Routan problems
Electrical
151 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 73,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, starter assembly.
While driving on 4 different occasions over the last week the engine shuts off without warning. Once while turning left across traffic. The van stopped right in the middle of the turn and was started just in time and started moving as oncoming car also swerved to avoid my car stalled right in front of them. Dealer has…
Our Routan was only going about 20 MPH after pulling out of parking places and turning in to main roads the power steering, brakes, gas all stop working the car becomes impossible to turn the wheel the brakes and gas both do not work and you have to coast to a stop once stopped you have put the van in park turn key…
Engine
83 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who was not able to replicate nor diagnose the failure multiple times. The authorized dealer replaced the starter and hose but the failure still recurred. The vehicle…
While driving, engine shut off like the ignition was turned off - lost power steering and brakes. This has happened multiple times since incident date. Volkswagen service could not diagnose the problem.
Brakes
54 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
Premature rear brake failure. With 40k miles the rear caliper locked causing burning of the pads, and requiring complete replacement of all rear brake components.
Since purchasing the vehicle as a new car in october of 2009 we have experienced intermittent but chronically recurring issues with violent shaking during braking on our 2009 vw Routan. To work the problem the rear brake rotors and pads were replaced by the OEM three months after purchasing the vehicle. The problem…
Steering
34 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles.
Our Routan was only going about 20 MPH after pulling out of parking places and turning in to main roads the power steering, brakes, gas all stop working the car becomes impossible to turn the wheel the brakes and gas both do not work and you have to coast to a stop once stopped you have put the van in park turn key…
Catastrophic failure of transmission at 76k. Major transmission work done approximately 26k. Transmission replaced 6 months later and still has issues (sluggish, non-smooth shift between gears at higher cruising speeds. Vw engineer gerardo zeledon calls this the "Routan shake" and claims this is normal. Approximately…
Transmission
20 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Where to begin with this car. All 4 valve stems needed to be replaced. I was losing pressure in my tires, and mechanic said they were corroded. Then my tiptronics did not work, also when you shifted in to gear, it didn't want to move. Had the whole shifting lever component replaced. Lots of trouble with the doors not…
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. While in park, the vehicle failed to start. While driving at 40 MPH, there was a beeping noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the range selector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Body and structure
18 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 7,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The rear tailgate of my 2009 Volkswagen Routan opened up automatically while the car was in gear and in motion which, according to the owner's manual, it should not do even if the power tailgate button is pressed. This happened while the car was being pulled into the garage which resulted in the rear windshield…
I have experienced mechanical defects with the power sliding door feature on both sides of the 2009 vw Routan se. The defect has been repaired a total of four times since its purchase, twice before the NHTSA safety recall on the power sliding doors and twice after the recall. The defective power sliding doors have…
Other or unspecified
15 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 80,500 miles.
The vehicles stalls out while driving, power steering goes out, brakes stop working....very dangerous - 2015 ignition switch recall (win module) did not fix this problem. Chrysler knows this, vw knows this - common problem is 2009-2010 models - these are family vehicles - someone is going to be killed soon because of…
Vehicle has been moving and will suddenly shut down while driving. All power steering, braking and electrical systems go out. I have to try to manually swerve off the road and put the car in park. Take the key out of the ignition and restart. I understand that this problem had been fixed in 2015 under a recall with…
Wheels and tires
15 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: valve, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the front driver's side tire went flat. The contact installed the spare tire and took the tire to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The contact was informed that the valve stem had become extremely corroded. The manufacturer…
The valve stem broke off when I went to put air in it and the tire (front driver side) immediately deflated. The valve stem is metal and apparently corroded. About a month later the rear driver side began to leak and had to be replaced. Then today (3/4/14) the valve stem broke off the passenger front tire when I went…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Volkswagen Routan recalls
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Vw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began april 2016. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (vw) is recalling certain model year 2009 volkswagen routan vehicles manufactured february 7, 2008, to august 28, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Electrical: switch
Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the off or accessory position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on june 23, 2015. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28h1. Note: this recall supersedes recalls 11v151 and 14v396. Vehicles that previously received an ignition switch trim ring as a recall remedy must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign. Vehicles that have already received a new ignition switch are not covered by this campaign.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 routan vehicles manufactured june 25, 2008, to july 8, 2009, and 2010 routan vehicles manufactured october 1, 2009, to august 11, 2010. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the off or accessory position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1- 800-822-8987. An interim notice was mailed to owners on august 29, 2014. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28g1/u8. Note: this campaign is an expansion of NHTSA recall no. 11v-151.
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 routan vehicles. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Suspension: non-powered axle assembly
Risk: Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Freedom motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected axles, free of charge. The recall began on april 1, 2014. Owners can contact freedom motors at 1-800-561-9600. Freedom motors' number for this recall is engf0216-3.
Full defect summary
Freedom motors inc., (freedom motors) of savaria vehicle group (formerly the liberty motor company) is recalling one model year 2009 volkswagen routan and certain model year 2008-2010 dodge grand caravan and chrysler town & country wheelchair accessible vehicles modified by the liberty motor company from february 2008 through january 2011. Over time and with use, the vehicle's rear axle may develop cracks which could lead to axle failure.
Electrical: wiring
Risk: This could result in an overheated latch and a fire within the rear sliding door could occur.
Fix: Volkswagen will inspect the sliding door wire track wire assembly and the sliding door power drive unit wire assembly for damage, repair/replace as necessary, tie strap the two harnesses together and route the harnesses under the sliding door weather strip. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 15, 2010. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 routan vehicles manufactured from june 2008 through july 2009. These vehicles may have been built with an improper routed wire harness that may have a condition where the lower sliding door hinge bracket can make contact and wear through the wire insulation. Contact with a 12v power feed circuit within the harness may cause a high resistive short circuit within the latch mechanism located inside of the sliding door.
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: Any such objects could cause injury to the vehicle's occupants in the event of a crash severe enough to cause the air bag to inflate.
Fix: Dealers will send an owner's manual insert containing the required air bag information for owner installation or dealers will install in the event the owner prefers assistance from the dealer. The recall began on july 31, 2009. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling 18,500 my 2009 routan vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the owner's manual was printed without the fmvss no. 208 required information explaining that no objects should be placed over the or near the air bag on the instrument panel.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2009 Volkswagen Routan
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (151 complaints, typically around 73,500 miles); engine (83 complaints, typically around 67,500 miles); brakes (54 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Routan have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 11, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Volkswagen Routan?
- It is the most complained-about Routan model year since 2000, with 294 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.