2009 Volkswagen Routan: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan: 6 recalls, 294 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V244000 · 2009 · 18,500 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Electrical Vehicle recall #10V252000 · 2010 · 15,902 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This could result in an overheated latch and a fire within the rear sliding door could occur.
The fix: 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…
Suspension Vehicle recall #14V055000 · 2014 · 130 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Failure of the rear axle May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V396000 · 2014 · 18,526 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge.
Electrical Vehicle recall #15V194000 · 2015 · 20,676 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2015.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V083000 · 2016 · 1,037 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Vw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (151): the most common themes are electrical failure (80), stalls / loses power (52), door / lock issues (42).
- Engine (78): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (49), electrical failure (16).
- Brakes (38): the most common themes are noise or vibration (9).
- Steering (34): the most common themes are steering problems (29).
The 2009 Volkswagen Routan has 294 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 7 Routan model years for complaints (2.6× the average Routan year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (66 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 65,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (3 complaints, 0 recalls), 2010 (240 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan.
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FAQ
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Routan have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 Volkswagen Routan problems?
Owners have filed 294 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (151), engine (78), brakes (38).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Volkswagen Routan get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (4.0 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Volkswagen Routan repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.