2009 Volkswagen Routan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (79) · Engine (43) · Steering (34)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Routan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
249 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2016-02-11 · campaign 16V083000 · 1,037 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Electrical System:ignition:switch 2015-04-01 · campaign 15V194000 · 20,676 vehicles
Defect: 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
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 i
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-01 · campaign 14V396000 · 18,526 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Suspension:rear:axle:non-Powered Axle Assembly 2014-02-11 · campaign 14V055000 · 130 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Electrical System:wiring 2010-06-10 · campaign 10V252000 · 15,902 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Service bulletins (356)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-03-27 · VOS-26-21 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the error message erp0204e could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, svm updates for any control
Electrical System 2026-03-06 · VOS-26-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct multiple test plans: all basic settings test for the following components - fill and bleed cooling system issue, n493, j338, c
Electrical System 2026-01-06 · VOS-26-01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct a test that is not reading any information from the battery data module (bdm) and will output:
Suspension 2025-11-18 · V4016012043146_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
what is and what is not a leaking suspension strut.
Engine 2025-07-22 · V0017132033846_24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
fuel additive
Suspension 2025-07-14 · V4616012043146_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
how to identify and when to replace a leaking strut
Showing the 6 most recent of 356 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-26 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen routan. the contact received notification for nhtsa campaign number: 15v194000 (electrical system); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not available. the local dealer was contacted to schedule the recall repair, but the part remained unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceed…”
2024-06-25 · Air Bags · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owned a 2009 volkswagen routan. the contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the contact suffered a medical emergency and lost control of the vehicle. the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of a semi-truck. in addition, the contact's vehicle crashed into a ditch. the contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. the param…”
2024-06-23 · Electrical System“volkswagen dealership does not want to fulfill the recall.…”
2023-07-31 · Electrical System · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen routan. the contact received notification of the nhtsa campaign number: 15v194000 (electrical system) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was towe…”
2023-06-20 · Electrical System“while driving the vehicle flashed several of the dashboard waring lights, starting dinging and then stopped, started flashing and dinging again then the vehicle completely turned off. i was able to pull over out of traffic but the vehicle would not restart. none of the interior lights would come one and the emergency lights would not come on. i co…”
2023-02-27 · Electrical System“the car shuts off while driving which is scary. requires restarting while in traffic. there was a recall in past and the fix clearly did not work. this incident has occurred multiple times. …”
2022-06-08 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen routan. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v194000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the dealer was made aware of the issue. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the con…”
2022-05-13 · Visibility/Wiper“after getting wires regrounded at the mechanic, the car continues to malfunction. the wiper blades turn on, the entire dash blinks, the seat moves back and forth, resetting repeatedly. if seat is disconnected for safety, the seatbelt does not register as secured. eventually doors stop functioning, have completely lost lock function, tried replacing…”
2021-12-05 · Electrical System“my vehicle shows no pending recalls, but ignition switch still malfunctioning whenever it is bumped or a lanyard is on the key. brakes malfunction, car seat moves, windshield wipers move, car seems to think it is resetting as original recall states is a problem. …”
2021-11-17 · Engine · 54,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen routan. the contact stated while at a stoplight, the vehicle stalled. there was an abnormally high pitch noise detected. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was jump-started by the police and was restarted. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufac…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.