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2009 Volkswagen Routan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Routan years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 63.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

249 reports with mileage · 45 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

7 reports
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150,000 miles · Jun 25, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

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 n…

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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 paramedics and the Police arrived on the scene. A Police report was filed, however thePolice report information was unavailable. The contact sustained eight broken ribs on the left side and two broken ribs on the right side, injury to the left eye which needed stitches, major trauma to the left lung and bruises and cuts. The contact was taken to the local hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was condemned a total loss. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11596563

115,000 miles · Jan 29, 2021
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V083000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11390616

80,000 miles · Sep 8, 2020
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER ARE INFLATED , CRACK , BUBBLE, LOOK LIKE THE AIRBAG MAY EXPLOTED.. I CALL VW AND THEY SAY IS IT NORMAL AND NOT SALE THE PART. 2009 MINI VAN. .?? I REALLY NOT THINK THEY CHANGE OR OVERHEATING.. GETTING WORDS .. AND YESTERDAY FROM NOT WEAR THE ROUTAN NOT DRIVE OVER 35 MPH WHEN MY WIFE DRIVING ON …

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THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER ARE INFLATED , CRACK , BUBBLE, LOOK LIKE THE AIRBAG MAY EXPLOTED.. I CALL VW AND THEY SAY IS IT NORMAL AND NOT SALE THE PART. 2009 MINI VAN. .?? I REALLY NOT THINK THEY CHANGE OR OVERHEATING.. GETTING WORDS .. AND YESTERDAY FROM NOT WEAR THE ROUTAN NOT DRIVE OVER 35 MPH WHEN MY WIFE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CHECK ENGINE CAME , 4 CODE ,P0733,P0734, P0792. AND ALMOST A TRUCK HIT MY WIFE.. I LOOK ON VW FORUMS AND IT IS COMMON PROBLEM,, WHY THIS IT NOT A RECALL WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING AND PROBLEMS.. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11353892

10 miles · Feb 8, 2017
Air BagsSteering

AUTO - P215/15R16

NHTSA ODI #10950361

82,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. 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 …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. 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.

NHTSA ODI #10924855

110,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES APPROXIMATELY FEBRUARY 17, 2015.THEN FINALLY WOULDN'T START AT ALL. EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CAME GOT CAR STARTED. THEN WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD STARTED BLINKING POWER WAS LOST CAR CUT OFF. HAD TO CONTACT ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN TO HAVE CART TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. COULD NOT FIND OUT PROB…

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VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES APPROXIMATELY FEBRUARY 17, 2015.THEN FINALLY WOULDN'T START AT ALL. EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CAME GOT CAR STARTED. THEN WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD STARTED BLINKING POWER WAS LOST CAR CUT OFF. HAD TO CONTACT ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN TO HAVE CART TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. COULD NOT FIND OUT PROBLEM SUGGESTED TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM INITIALLY THEN FOUND IT MADE REPAIRS WHICH I FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS PARTLY DUE TO THE RECALL (28H1.) THEN APPROXIMATELY THE MIDDLE OF JULY 2015 CAR BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN WHEN TRYING TO START. CONTACTED VWOA MADE ARRANGEMENT TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR DONE AGAIN. IT LASTED APPROXIMATELY 7 WEEKS LATER SEPTEMBER 2015 AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR IS PERIODICALLY STALLING WHEN TRYING TO START. IF THIS IS ELECTRICAL AGAIN IF THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR WILL IT EVENTUALLY LOOSE POWER AND DISABLE THE CAR ALL TOGETHER AND BE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10764970

79,578 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Air BagsEngineService Brakes

VEHICLE COMPLETELY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, LOSING ALL CONTROL, USE OF BRAKES AND STEERING. IT HAS BEEN 4 WEEKS SINCE THE RECALL WAS SENT OUT AND THERE IS STILL NO FIX AVAILABLE, AND THE COMPANY CAN NOT GIVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION BESIDES THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638137

Official recalls

6

16V083000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Feb 11, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Air Bags:frontal

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

15V194000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Apr 1, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

14V396000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 1, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

14V055000 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED Axle Assembly

Feb 11, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

10V252000 · Electrical System:wiring

Jun 10, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OVERHEATED LATCH AND A FIRE WITHIN THE REAR SLIDING DOOR COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: 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.

09V244000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Jul 1, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.