2009 Volkswagen Routan

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER IN 08/2014 FOR MY CAR 2009 VW ROUTAN. THIS IS THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR MONTHS. THE LETTER SAYS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND J WILL BE CONTACTED WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO MONTHS SINCE THE LETTER AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT CONTACTED US FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND MY WIFE. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR WE HAVE SO WE MUST USE IT. I HAVE NOTHING ELSE IN MY KEY- NOTHING OF ANY WEIGHT. HOWEVER I FEEL THAT IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO BE DRIVING THIS CAR AROUND AND THAT VW / CHRYSLER ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THESE REPAIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V396000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO STATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V396000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. *JS

MY KEY HAS BEEN STICKING IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TURN THE WHEEL, PUT IT IN GEAR AND BACK IN PARK, ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS USUALLY FREES THE KEY FROM THE ACC MODE AND ALLOWS ME TO REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION. TODAY, I WENT TO START THE VAN AND IT IS DEAD. CLICK. THAT IS ALL IT DOES. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THE BATTERY IS DEAD, AS THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, THE DOOR DINGS, THE MILEAGE COMES UP, ETC. THERE IS A RECALL FOR SOMETHING INVOLVING THE IGNITION, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED BY VW YET AS TO A REPAIR. I HAVE SENT IN FOUR PRIOR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT USED 7/2010 FROM CARMAX. IT IS UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS REPAIRED EVERY 7,000 MILES FOLLOWING A SUDDEN CALIPER SEIZE, THE VAN HAS NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO JUST STOP. ONE DAY I HEARD IT RUNNING IN MY GARAGE. I CANT RULE OUT ONE OF MY CHILDREN MESSING WITH THE FOB, HOWEVER, I HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THE REMOTE STARTER MYSELF? (CLICK2X&HOLD) I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WILL NOT DRIVE MY CHILDREN LONG DISTANCES OR TRAVEL ROADS WITH THEM THAT REQUIRE SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. THE VAN DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT 55-60MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE VW DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. I CLEARLY SEE IT IS A RECALL ISSUE FOR SOME ROUTANS, MY RECEIPT READS EXACTLY AS THE SIDE DOOR HARNESS RECALL IS STATED. I WILL BE WORKING WITH VW TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE. I AM LUCKY MYSELF OR MY CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN HURT. IN HINDSIGHT OF THE GM IGNITION RECALL, I WOULD BE AMISS TO THINK A CAR COMPANY HAS MY BEST INTEREST IN MIND. I AM HOPING MY GOVERNMENT DOES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROX 30-35MPH, MY VAN BEGAN TO SMELL HOT AND SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I HAD TWO OF MY THREE CHILDREN WITH ME. I FRANTICALLY TOLD MY 14 YR OLD SON WHO WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT TO GET TO THE BACK AND HELP HIS FOUR YR OLD SISTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT (WE WERE STILL MOVING) I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD THEM QUICKLY EXIT THE LEFT SLIDING DOOR OF THE VAN. LATER THAT EVENING I WENT BACK TO RETRIEVE THE VAN ALONE AND AS SOON AS THE VAN BEGAN TO MOVE IT MADE THE MOST HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE I HAVE EVER HEARD. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW IT WAS A SEIZED BRAKE CALIPER, (NOT BECAUSE I AM A MECHANIC. I AM A SPEECH THERAPIST). I KNEW BECAUSE APPROX 4 MONTHS PRIOR THE VAN MADE THE EXACT SAME SOUND WITH NO WARNING WHEN THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER SEIZED AND BOTH FRONT AND BACK BRAKES WERE REPLACED! =$780). I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST BRAKE SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY. COST=$733.68. I TRAVEL AS A SPEECH THERAPIST. I WAS IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL DURING THIS FIASCO. THE PRIOR BRAKE REPAIR WAS DONE IN PHOENIX, AZ SO I COULD NOT USE THE SAME COMPANY OR QUESTION THE WARRANTY. IT CLEARLY ISN'T A WARRANTY ISSUE. AM I TO BELIEVE IT IS NORMAL TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM INCLUDING ROTORS, DRUMS, PADS, DISCS, CALIPERS, BUSHINGS, PIN BOOTS, ETC,,, EVERY 7,000 MILES?? I THINK NOT. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ALL THOSE WORDS UNTIL I PURCHASED A ROUTAN. SOMETHING IS WRONG. THESE VANS ARE DANGEROUS. I WILL NOT DRIVE MY CHILDREN LONG DISTANCES OR ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE VAN, WHICH I PURCHASED BECAUSE WE DON'T ALL FIT IN THE COROLLA. I AM ASKING VW TO REIMBURSE ME. WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES. THANK GOODNESS ALL I HAVE LOST IS MONEY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA ON HIGHWAY, WIPERS SUDDENLY CAME ON, ALL IDIOT LIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK, HEADLIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING OFF AND ON, BEEPING SOUND LIKE WHEN DOOR IS OPEN, THE VAN SUDDENLY DIED AND I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, STEER OR CONTROL VEHICLE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE SLIDING DOOR HARNESS WHICH WAS INTERFERING WITH NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. REPLACED SLIDING DOOR HARNESS AND FAILED BATTERY. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE FAULTY PART POSSIBLY BEING A RECALL ISSUE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT. COST=$624.48 + RENTAL CAR. *IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT I HAD JUST CROSSED OVER A VERY LONG LARGE BRIDGE. IF I HAD BEEN GOING UPHILL WHEN THE VAN SUDDENLY DIED I AM CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT INFLICTING INJURY OR POSSIBLY DEATH TO EITHER MYSELF OR ANOTHER MOTORIST, AS THERE IS NO SHOULDER ON THE BRIDGE AND I WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60MPH. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THESE MINI VANS. THANK GOD I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK AND DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VAN AS I WAITED 2&1/2 HOURS FOR A TOW. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN PHOENIX AZ THE VAN BEGAN TO SHAKE AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. (THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY). LATER THE SAME EVENING BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK AND GRIND. UNTIL THIS DAY THE ONLY ISSUE HAD BEEN THE INTERMITTENT SHAKING WHILE BRAKING. THERE WAS NO SQUEAKING PRIOR TO THE GRINDING. RIGHT REAR CALIPER WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL FRONT/REAR BRAKES ROTORS DRUMS AND HARDWARE. COST=$780.55. *TR