AI Damage2009 Volkswagen Routan: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Volkswagen Routan filed 294 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 294
- involving a crash
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 51% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 27% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 151 complaints (51% of all).
- Engine: 78 complaints (27% of all).
- Service brakes: 55 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 34 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 20 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 294 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 151 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 78 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 55 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 34 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The paramedics and the Police arrived on the scene. A Police report was filed, however thePolice report information was unavailable.
The air bags did not deploy. The driver was shaken up and was taken to the emergency room for medical attention. The vehicle was damaged and towed to a tow yard. A police report was filed. The vin was invalid. The failure mileage was 82,000.
The engine was still running while I finished up a phone call through the bluetooth and proceeded to listen to the radio while cleaning out the van. I walked around the exterior of the vehicle leaning in to clean the interior of the car.
My 2009 volkswagen routan slipped into reverse while I was behind it today running me over and causing a leg injury.
The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch failed and needed to be replaced; however, the dealer confirmed that parts were not available for the recall…
If seat is disconnected for safety, the seatbelt does not register as secured. Eventually doors stop functioning, have completely lost lock function, tried replacing battery and sending to mechanic specialist. Still the car malfunctions at random.
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 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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,379 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 4% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Routan has 112 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 294, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, service brakes. Total complaints: 294. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (20%), warning lights, check engine (12%), steering or power steering problems (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Volkswagen Routan from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.