This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Problems with braking at 22,837 miles in 2010. Vehicle would shake when going down a hill and applying brakes to stop. Front brake pads were replaced and rotors turned. Two years later in 2012 at 43,919 miles back rotors and brake pads were replaced, all 4 tires replaced, and front end alignment. In 2013 at 68,797 miles 2 of the new tires were replaced and another front end alignment. Car stops sometimes and will not come back on immediately. In 2014 at 90,000 miles, battery died and antifreeze in radiator exploded, had to purchase a new battery and a part for the radiator. Had to replace front rotors and brake pads, 2 tires and had another front end alignment. Extremely loud noise when driving, mechanic said it may be wheel bearings. The ABS and check engine light come on and off. Driver side door does not lock unless you push the lock down with your hand. Mechanic says the front brake pads will have to be replaced when tires are rotated the next time (these were replaced with the rotors in June or July 2014). If you lean against back seat from the trunk area, it falls forward and the middle seat no longer folds down. Also, the driver side window stalls when you try to roll it up or down.
Oil consumption since 24000 miles. VW dealer never want to address the problem. Keep tell me this normal. Now I have to add quarter oil every month. On morning car wasn't starting and took to the dealer and had the ignition replaced at 42000 miles but now the key get stuck on ignition multiple times. I hope the recall will fix this problem. I had to replace brakes at 12000 miles due the vibration while brakes. I had multiples electrical problems and some was repair after couple trips to the dealer. This car is a lemon. When we will have our money back?
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.
Driving from Indiana to phoenix the van began to shake violently while braking downhill on mountainous terrain. Temperature gauge went up over 200 and van smelled warm. Van did not overheat and problem subsided once back on level ground. Purchased van used on July 10 2012 with approx 25,000 miles.
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.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
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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.
When the vehicle is traveling near 30mph or even higher than that, when the brakes are applied, it shakes violently. This causes the driver to have to hold the steering wheel very tightly to avoid loosing control. The braking system in general seems to be faulty as the brakes and rotors have had to be replaced/changed every two to three months. It is very expensive to replace these brakes and rotors as well as pay for the labor every few months. This is a great concern and should be considered for a recall.
The engine turned to off while I was driving and depowered power steering and brakes. At that point I restarted the car and was able to drive. Took the car immediately to VW dealer, kept the car for 24 hours, and they could not replicate the incident so nothing was done by them. This happened again at 93000 miles on August 8, 2014.
Shortly after buying this van the van would shake when brakes were engaged, took it to the dealership but they said nothing was wrong with the brakes. I took it to another place for verification and was told my brakes were bad, the rotors were warped. Went back to dealer and told mgr about the second opinion so he had the brakes replaced.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that the brake rotors failed every 8,000 miles. The vehicle was taken toa dealer where the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,329.
At least twice per month when I drive my van, the steering will suddenly go out, then the brakes will stop working, then it will just shut off. So far it has only happened when I was driving at pretty low rates of speed. I've called the VW dealership several times and each time they say that they haven't heard of anything like this before and want to charge me a fortune just to look at it. With the newest recall, I cannot understand why my vehicle is not included and the dealership still claims that they have no clue what I'm taking about when all these vehicle were made bu the same manufacturer. This has happened so many times, I can feel it in the steering right before it happens. As soon as my steering starts to get tight, I have to hit the brakes right away before they go out, and turn the car off. Usually when I restart the car, it's fine. This is getting ridiculous and I should have to go through this with a vehicle when there is a proper fix. I have 4 children and another on the way and this is not safe.
The steering wheel shakes and vibrates when braking at over 30 mph. Had brakes service 3 times and the problem still persists. There must a defect in the brake component. Other owners have similar problems.they should have a recall or something before somebody dies.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 30 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was moved to the shoulder where it was restarted. The vehicle resumed normal function. The contact also mentioned that the brakes had to be replaced often. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
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.
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.
Our Routan was only going about 20 mph after pulling out of parking places and turning in to main roads the power steering, brakes, gas all stop working the car becomes impossible to turn the wheel the brakes and gas both do not work and you have to coast to a stop once stopped you have put the van in park turn key off and restart the engine. This has now happened twice in a 2 week time frame extremely concerned with two young children in the back both in car seats. What happens if I am on a freeway and this happens at 60-70mph?
Problem with the car: Start vibrating when brakes are applied, then start shaking. I have take the car to 2 different dealers (4 different times) since June 2011. First time dealer replace brake pads and rotors. Second time dealer service rep told "that nothing is wrong with it". third they said "that's normal wear and tear" submitted a complaint through corporate. A lady from corporate called me back and told me the same thing the dealer told me. She also stated that will forward the compliant to the dealer manager. Fourth time: I took it to a different dealer. I asked her "does anybody call Chrysler and ask for guidance or see if they have any brake problems with their cars. By the way this VW is made by Chrysler. Fourth time: I took it to a different dealer. This dealer called me (phillips) and told that the first time the other dealer fix it, that was it. He keep on saying "that was a one time deal, if you want it fix you have to come up with over $350. I told him that he was not right because the car still under warranty. I received the car back and the service ticket said " the rotors were resurfaced as a goodwill for customer satisfaction. I drove the car this morning and is doing the samething. I cannot afford for the brakes to fail and have a crash for the dealer to look pass the brake pads and rotors.
We bought this vehicle in April of 2009 based on all of the "safety features" and as it turns out has been one of the most unsafe vehicle I have ever owned. Since purchase we have had the rotors cut 2X and replaced once due to violent shaking in front end when braking at any speed. The first time we were told this was due to the vehicles sitting in the rain for a period of time. What "?" that may be the most aggravating of all which is that VW would rather assume you are stupid enough to believe that. Another issue has been that the head unit (dvd player & backup cam) have had issues from day 1 such as the unit switching from dvd to radio on its own. At times the dvd screens go blank which requires you to shut down the system and start it up again and the backup cam will not go off once the vehicle is put in drive. This problem was then referred to VW for them to tell me that they found no issues and that I should bring the vehicle in when it happens, which I did to no avail. My final complaint is the "worry free" maintenance. I have always changed oil religiously in any vehicle I have ever owned every 3000 miles unless I used synthetic which I would change before 5000 miles. VW has told us to come in for service every 6000 miles which I had claimed to be wrong and it should be changed every 3000. Again I was treated as if I am stupid and VW's somehow can go longer in between oil changes using conventional oil. Needless to say I now have a 2009 VW Routan that has just over 28000 miles, is out of warranty, as 36 months has passed since purchase, and has a check engine light that continues to go on and off and although the oil now gets changed every 3000 miles at my expense I have to continuously add oil every 500 or so miles. Does any of this seem to be the result of negligence on the part of VW?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Covington, VA, USA