Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Volkswagen Routan problems

Owners filed 294 complaints about the 2009 Volkswagen Routan with NHTSA between May 2009 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (151).

Complaints
294
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system151
  2. Engine78
  3. Service brakes38
  4. Steering34
  5. Power train20
  6. Structure18
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic15
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)12
  9. Wheels12
  10. Vehicle speed control8
  11. Air bags7
  12. Tires7
  13. Seats6
  14. Latches/locks/linkages6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20098
201013
201120
201213
201320
201466
201563
201622
201721
201812
201911
202011
20216
20222
20233
20242
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

151 reports3 fires3 related recalls
“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 exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2026Electrical systemODI 11759820

Engine

78 reports
“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 manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2021EngineODI 11440823

Service brakes

38 reports
“THANK GOD I WAS NOT GOING FAST. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. WAS ABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP. APPARENTLY, THE ROUTAN IS MANUFACTURED BY CRYSLER AND THIS ISSUE ALSO HAPPENS WITH THE 09 TOWN AND COUNTRIES AS WELL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2021Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11412826

Steering

34 reports1 crash1 fire
“VAN HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. POWER STEERING IS LOST. VEHICLE WILL THEN START RIGHT BACK UP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR A MINIVAN USED TO TRANSPORT MULTIPLE CHILDREN. NO CODES OR FAULTS ARE RECORDED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2020Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11383517

Power train

20 reports2 crashes
“EVEN AFTER REBUILDING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A PAUSE, THEN A JARRING AS IT SLIPS INTO R GEAR; BUT EVERY TIME ACCELERATION IS ATTEMPTED IN R, THERE IS A DELAY, FOLLOWED BY CONSISTENT LAG; IF ATTEMPTING TO R UP AN INCLINE, IF SPEED IS NOT ALREADY OVER A SPECIFIC MINIMUM, VEHICLE THEN ASSUMES ACTION AS IF IT IS IN N. EVEN AN INCLINE SLOPE OF SIMPLY BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY, IF VEHICLE IS NOT ENTIRELY ACROSS THE INCLINE, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE CONTROLLING A REVERSE MOVEMENT, THOUGH ENGINE RESPONDS AS THOUGH IN N. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE; THAT HAS PERSISTED EVEN AFTER REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO; IS THAT THE DOOR'S LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR SEVERAL OF THE DOORS, NO LONGER OPERATE PROPERLY. LOCKING VIA KEY FOB, OR DOOR PANEL, DOES NOT ACTUALLY ENGAGE THE DOOR TO LOCK. NOR DOES UNLOCKING THE DOORS VIA KEY FOB, OR DOOR PANELS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2019Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11280049

Structure

18 reports
“The brackets that hold the automatic door wires brake continuously. Then the wire gets pinched in the door and it causes a large amount of electrical problems. The abs, esp bad, brake, and traction control lights come on when the wire gets pinched. These doors were made very poorly and should have been looked over before this vehicle was made.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2021StructureODI 11425987
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.