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.
Vehicle has been moving and will suddenly shut down while driving. All power steering, braking and electrical systems go out. I have to try to manually swerve off the road and put the car in park. Take the key out of the ignition and restart. I understand that this problem had been fixed in 2015 under a recall with the win module and VW indicates that since it's been fixed they only offer a 12 month warranty. For me to get a new win module, the dealership said it would be $2,000 and a long estimated time without the car. This car is blue booked as only worth $3,500. This is again a faulty piece that should be covered by the recall. The car only has 75K miles. There's no reason to have a car with 75K miles and need two win modules so far. I want this to be in writing that when I am driving on I-95 and my car suddenly stalls and my 2 1/2 year old and 4 1/2 year old and myself end up in a casket, it's because of this faulty product which they will not cover again on the recall.
Car electrical system goes crazy, speedometer needle goes crazy. Radio turns off and on, then the vehicle turns off completely. It turns on after. Sometimes all this happens before turning off, sometimes it turns off suddenly with no warning. Have spent a lot of money trying to fix issue with no luck. Driving it makes me very nervous but I can't change cars right now. It has happened both on small streets and highway in motion.
I just purchased the 2009 Volkswagen Routan. I have had it 3 weeks it randomly died when test driving the van and all the alarms and lights came on. We just thought I didn't have the fob in right. Then it started to randomly not start, even the remote start will not work. The lights, radio, alarm, windows and door locks work like they normally should. Usually if I wait like 20 minutes and keep trying the key (taking it out of the ignition and reinserting it) until it starts. The check engine light came on for 7 days. Thursday 10/10/2019 nothing worked let it sit overnight and still nothing tried to jump it and it finally started. Took to place I purchased jd byrider in janesville, wi and they believe it was the starter because it was not turning and it was replaced on 10/11/2019. Then 2 hours later the car again would not start again. The dealer came to rescue me and we tried the actual key and at first it didn't work, we pushed the gas and it as as the gas pedal got stuck for about 30 seconds but started. Then driving down route 26 from johnson creek, wi to janesville, wi, it was making squeaking noises from the engine. We could hear it through the heating vents. Then the tire pressure warning light came on and it kept dinging. When I got to janesville, I checked the tire pressure on all the tires and it was fine. Because I live in rockford, il, I drove down I90 and the car at times started shaking like it was going died. Again, today it won't start not even with an actual key. Also, the driver side passenger door lock is not working and had to have a part ordered. The vehicle has 129,000 miles.
The vehicles stalls out while driving, power steering goes out, brakes stop working....very dangerous - 2015 ignition switch recall (win module) did not fix this problem. Chrysler knows this, VW knows this - common problem is 2009-2010 models - these are family vehicles - someone is going to be killed soon because of this issue!
While driving on street or highway or stopped. Usually around 20-40mph car stalls. Brakes lock up/steering wheel locks up/no control of car at all. All lights indicate car is on, one bell goes off prior and anti-skid light comes on. By then panic cannot control car! put car in park after stopped and it starts right up.
- Toms River, NJ, USA
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The car does not start after a stop. It takes hours before it restarts. Replaced battery, starter still same issue. Many other VW Routan owners have the same issue. The car has power but something is messed up in this car.
The ignition switch has failed multiple times leaving us stranded. We have had the vehicle towed. Our mechanic has run multiple diagnostics to no avail, they replaced the starter and we continue to experience ignition failure. At times, the car will start and not go into gear. We have been able to get it into gear by turning it off and back on again, assuming it will turn back on again. There is danger in being stranded far from home with children in the car.
While driving at 65 mph on I35, the car's transmission acted like it slipped into 2nd gear and the tack went to 5000rpm. I tried to just slow down and get off the road, turned the car off and back on when I got to a parking lot. I then started driving again and it appeared to be alright. Within a few days it did it a couple times more, this time turning on the check engine light. Took it to the dealer and they couldn't duplicate problem in the week they had it. Picked it up from the dealership and was about 10 to 15 miles away and it did it again. I took it back to the dealer the next day and it has been there for two weeks. They told me an engineer from corporate came to check it out and during that time they had another car - same year, same style, even same color come into the shop with the same problem and they verified the problem on both of the cars. They said it was the transmission and it is going to cost somewhere around $5000 +/- to get it fixed. This is a very dangerous problem and I am hoping that something will be done about it. There are numerous stories on the internet with people in Volkswagen that have had the same or similar problems. Cannot see why there hasn't been a recall for this problem. They even admitted that they had seen the same or similar problems posted on the internet.
I bought a certified pre-owned 2009 Routan. After about a year, the car randomly will not start, it just clicks but will not start. Replaced battery. Still - car will not start. This has been going on for 3 years. Had starter & alternator checked - both good. Had the ignition recall done and problem resolved itself for about 3 months - now it started doing this again - randomly will not start. Hubby moved a wire under the hood and magically the car started. Got home and van will not start! after spending $5,200 on a new transmission - I hate to put any more $$ into this van. Has anyone found a fix for this problem - I've seen many have this same issue. Talked to a lady at VW repair shop who has been in excess of $3,000 trying to fix this exact same problem. Still keeps happening. Help!
I took my van into the VW dealer to get the safety recall #28H1 performed to replace the ignition switch. The dealer discovered that there was an aftermarket remote start installed and told me that they will not perform the recall service until I get all the wiring connectors back to stock. I took up this issue with the VW corporate office and they gave me the same answer. I don't see how this aftermarket remote starter absolves VW from the responsibility to perform the safety recall. It is their defective part that needs to be replaced. I told the dealer that I don't care about the remote starter, I just want the safety recall to be done as they are responsible to do.
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.
The electronic driver side passenger door will not latch open. The door will power open then slide back shut hitting whoever or whatever is in the way. This is an intermittent problem. The van was checked by our local dealer several times over several years. This is still an issue. This has led to myself and children being hit by the door leaving bruises. It almost smashed my 2 year old daycare child's leg in the door but I intervened stopping the door prior to it hitting her. I have looked on the internet and found several other complaints also with no remedy from VW.
Passenger side power sliding door wire harness keeps coming out of place and getting caught in door. Local dealer claims this has already been repaired under the recall but it is still happening.
We recently purchased a 2009 Volkswagen Routan SE with both driver and passenger automatic sliding doors. Our 4 year old son went to open the rear passenger side door by pulling on the handle, and at the same time my husband went to open the door by pushing the "door open" button on the key. As a result of this, the door ended up closing completely, and latching, on my son's hand. It also would only open once my husband forcefully pulled the door open. Of course his hand immediately swelled up and we visited the emergency department, had xray's taken, and there was no incidence of a fracture. When we reported this directly to Volkswagen of America, we were instructed to bring it to the local dealer and have diagnostics done. The result" "there is nothing wrong with your vehicle." They went on to explain to us that the anti pinch protection is working, but is not designed to sense such a small object. Volkswagen of America assured us that this matter was not taken lightly, and that the engineering department came to the conclusion that the door was functioning properly. When we addressed any further actions, ie replacement of door, vehicle, or termination of our lease agreement, we were told, "we are sorry for this unfortunate accident, but accidents happen and there is nothing more we can do for you." When we expressed our concern that our 4 year old son is petrified of our car, and that he refuses to get into the vehicle by himself, let alone open the door alone, we were told, "I am sure he will get over it after a while." These answers are not acceptable to us. For a car that is marketed as a family mobile and a safe vehicle, we feel that it does not live up to it's claims. It makes no sense why an automatic door would be designed to sense something bigger than a child's hand, limb, or other body part. What goes hand in hand with a minivan" a child! we feel we have been neglected due to the lack of caring or importance that this matter has been given.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wilmington, DE, USA