2011 Volkswagen Routan

MY 2011 ROUTAN SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE I, WITH MY KID ON BOARD, WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN MARCH 2014. CAN YOU IMAGINE A VEHICLE STOPPING IN A FLOW OF VEHICLES AT 70+ MPH? ALL LIGHTS WERE ON. I MANAGED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "REPAIRED" IT AND TOLD ME THAT "EVERYTHING IS FINE" BY HAVING A BRAND-NEW SET OF WIRING. A MONTH LATER, THE SAME LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I COULD NOT ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. NOW THE VEHICLE IS AGAIN WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO BEFORE THESE LOSSES OF POWER HAPPENED, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT VERY RESPONSIVE. THAT IS, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INITIALLY DID NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND AFTER 2-3 SECONDS, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THIS REALLY FRIGHTENED ME AS I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES. NOW I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. I AM DEEPLY WORRIED THAT EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS "REPAIRED" THIS TIME, I AND MY FAMILY COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY HAVING A CAR THAT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDST A STREAM OF FAST-MOVING VEHICLES. THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE ROAD FOR THE SAFETY OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. *JS

I DRIVE 90 MILES BEFORE I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE. AFTER A MINUTE OF TURNING OFF THE CAR, I NOTICED BRIGHT SPARKS AND DENSE SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT DOWN THE FIRE AFTER DUMPING A LOT OF WATER UNDER THE SEAT. AT THAT TIME THE POWER SEATS WERE FUNCTIONAL BUT HEATED SEAT WAS NOT. I TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE BY STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I LEFT THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING, WHERE THE DEALER FOUND THE ELECTRIC WIRING HARNESS BURNT OUT. 1. ISSUE HAPPENED AFTER A MINUTE OF TURNING OFF THE CAR. 2. BRIGHT SPARKS AND FLAMES WITH VERY DENSE CAUSTIC SMELLING SMOKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER' SIDE BRAKE SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP OR POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURE WOULD CEASE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHRER THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS BURNED. THE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, BRACKETS AND THE BRAKE FLUID ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE SELLING DEALER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED JULY 2011. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY SERIOUS / SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM WAS THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT) HAS FAILED. MY WIFE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VAN. SHE WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT WHERE CROSS TRAFFIC WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH OR GREATER. HER DRIVING SKILLS AND USING BOOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE SHE WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VAN AND STEER IT FROM GETTING BLIND SIDED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROADS. THE AMOUNT PROBLEMS, WHILE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IS UN-HEARDOF FOR A NEWER MODEL VEHICLE. SAFELY FOR THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS AROUND IS THE NO. 1 PRIORITY. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS VAN SHOULD BE REMOVED AND MARKED UNSAFE, AND UN DRIVABLE. THIS LAST PART THAT FAILED COULD BECOME A MAJOR RECALL. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE FRONT BRAKES CAUSED A VIBRATION/ WOBBLE AT SPEED WHEN BRAKING, THIS WAS WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NOW AGAIN AT LITTLE MORE THAN 24000MI. WE ARE TAKING THE VAN IN FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. I'M TOLD BY MY ORIGINAL DEALER THAT THERE IS A SERVICE ADVISORY NOTICE FOR THIS ISSUE. *JS

WV 2011 ROUTAN. WHEN THE REAR TIRES/BRAKES GET WET EITHER BY RAIN OR WASHING, AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL, DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND SOAKED REAR BRAKES WITH GARDEN HOSE AND APPLIED PARKING BRAKES, NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PAD, TOOK VEHICLE AND WENT HOME SAME THING AFTER RAIN, THIS IS THE 8TH TIME I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS DUE TO THIS, TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO THEN REPLACED REAR BRAKES CALIPER, WENT HOME AND SAME THING AGAIN ONCE WET, TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO HAD A VW OF AMERICA REP COME TO DEALERSHIP AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES WHEN WET AND PARKING BRAKES IS APPLIED "IT IS LIKE WETTING A SHEET OF GLASS AND LAYING ANOTHER SHEET OF GLASS ON TOP IT WILL STICK" THAT THE BRAKES LOCKING UP AND REQUIRES 3000 RPM'S WHILE IN DRIVE TO GET THEM UNSTUCK THE VW REP STATED " THIS IS NORMAL AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE. .I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ANSWER THE VW REP LEFT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER JOHN, THAT ANSWER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, I WILL NOT SUBJECT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN TO BE POSSIBLE STRANDED WHEN THE BRAKES GET WET, IT IS CURRENTLY TAKING 3000 RPM'S TO FORCE THE BRAKE TO POP LOUD AND UNLOCK IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THIS TO ME IS NOT NORMAL, I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES IN THE RAIN AND AFTER WASHING NEVER TO HAVE THE BRAKES FREEZE UP AS WITH THIS 2011 ROUTAN, ALSO REPORTED EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON BOTH REAR WHEELS, NONE ON FRONT WHEELS, ALL WV CAN TELL ME IS MY COMPLAINS ON THIS MATTER IS DOCUMENTED? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DOOR MOTOR FAILED AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IMMEDIATELY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A PERCENTAGE OFF THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,923. *TR

I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT AN ACCIDENT MY WIFE WAS IN ON 12/06/2012. SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. SHE HAD THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THEY WERE ON A HIGHWAY AND THEY WERE GOING 55MPH AND THE DRIVER THAT HIT THEM HEAD ON WAS GOING AROUND 20MPH ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS $10,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE ROUTAN. THE BODY SHOP SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THIS CRASH AND THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SPARED SOME EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS IF THEY HAD DEPLOYED. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HAVE EXPRESSED MANY TIMES SINCE THE ACCIDENT THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE GETTING BACK INTO OR DRIVING THAT SAME VEHICLE AGAIN. MY QUESTIONS ARE: 1. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY? 2. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE NHTSA?3. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO GET A LAWYER TO HANDLE? 4. IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE YOU WANT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT YOURSELF FOR MALFUNCTIONS? 5. I AM SURE IT IS A COINCIDENT, BUT WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM VW AFTER WE TOLD THEM ALL THIS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STOP MAKING THE ROUTAN AFTER THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS JUST SUSPICIOUS. IF YOU COULD PLEASE GIVE ME AN EMAIL OR CALL BACK PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVING DOWN I70 WEST BOUND GOING 70 MPH IN INDIANA AND ENGINE TURNED OFF LOST POWER EVERY LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND THE WAS A BLINKING RED LIGHT IN CENTER OF DASH. SOME HOW I MADE IT OVER TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK. THE VAN WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED I WAS ON THE WHITE LINE AND WANTED TO MOVE THE VAN OVER MORE, BUT I COULD NOT GET THE VAN INTO NEUTRAL. I COULD FEEL THE EVERY CAR AND TRUCK DRIVE BY. I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN UNDER FIVE ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR. I KEPT THINKING A DRUNK DRIVER IS GOING TO CLIP US. WE LUCKY TO HAVE ENTERPRISE PICK UP MY FAMILY AND I GOT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY THING THE DEALER COULD FIND WAS A BLOWN 10 AMP FUSE FOR THE ECM. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AND DROVE THE VAN FOR 200 MILES AND THE SAID THE VAN DROVE FINE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW. THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WAS TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH A COMPUTER HOOKED UP. THEY SENT ME ON MY WAS WITH A BOX OF 10 AMP FUSES A WEEK LATER. I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS FROM A 2011 WITH 30000 MILE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VAN, BUT ITS NOT WORTH ANYTHING ON A TRADE IN. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN STOPPING. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURES. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,465.