IllustrationTHE VEHICLE'S RIGHT-REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE BREAK IS VERY CLEAN AND IS LOCATED NEAR THE FRONT OF THE TRAILING ARM'S CUTOUT AREA, JUST BEHIND THE TRAILING ARM MOUNTING BRACKET.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Routan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
470–25K
3525–50K
6250–75K
4975–100K
46100–150K
10150K+
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
Suspension complaints
4 reportsIN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT I HEARD A "PING" IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY FELT A LOSS OF CONTROL IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ROADWORTHY AT THAT POINT AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN.
BEGINNING ON 2/09/2012 THROUGH 8/19/2013 THERE HAVE BEEN (3) INCIDENTS ON THIS VIN OF AT LEAST (1) WHEEL CAUSING A SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRST (2) INCIDENTS REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD ITS LUG NUTS LOOSENING WHILE THE OTHER (3) WHEELS NUT NUTS WERE ALL TIGHT AND TORQUED TO SPECS. ON THE…
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BEGINNING ON 2/09/2012 THROUGH 8/19/2013 THERE HAVE BEEN (3) INCIDENTS ON THIS VIN OF AT LEAST (1) WHEEL CAUSING A SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRST (2) INCIDENTS REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD ITS LUG NUTS LOOSENING WHILE THE OTHER (3) WHEELS NUT NUTS WERE ALL TIGHT AND TORQUED TO SPECS. ON THE LAST INCIDENT ON 8/19/2013 (3) OF THE (5) RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND REQUIRED A TOW TO THE DEALER. *TR
SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AS A NEW CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2009 WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BUT CHRONICALLY RECURRING ISSUES WITH VIOLENT SHAKING DURING BRAKING ON OUR 2009 VW ROUTAN. TO WORK THE PROBLEM THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED BY THE OEM THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED…
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SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AS A NEW CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2009 WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BUT CHRONICALLY RECURRING ISSUES WITH VIOLENT SHAKING DURING BRAKING ON OUR 2009 VW ROUTAN. TO WORK THE PROBLEM THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED BY THE OEM THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED & AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALER THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY THE OEM AT 15,019 MILES ON OCTOBER 27, 2010. VIBRATION DURING BREAKING STILL PERSISTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT WAS MANAGEABLE. IN JULY OF 2013 HEAVY VIBRATION RETURNED. THE DEALER INFORMED US ALL FOUR TIRES HAD UNEVEN WEAR AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH ALL 4 AIR PRESSURE GAUGES. SHAKING CONTINUED SO WE THEN PAID TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN AT 47,300 MILES (APPX) ON AUGUST 6, 2013. AS OF NOW THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEED BRAKING ALTHOUGH LESS VIOLENTLY. WE BELIEVE SEVERAL ISSUES ARE AT PLAY POSSIBLY: - INFERIOR OR DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS, BOTH FACTORY INSTALLED AND OEM REPLACEMENT ROTORS - CHRONIC STABILITY ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - UNEVEN WEAR ON TIRES WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO MORE RAPID WEAR AND TEAR - NEAR SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF ALL 4 AIR PRESSURE GAUGES BEFORE 50,000 MILES. WE HAVE KEPT THE REPLACED TIRE PRESSURE GAUGES, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE. *TR
Official recalls
616V083000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.