2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V396000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. *JS

MY KEY HAS BEEN STICKING IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TURN THE WHEEL, PUT IT IN GEAR AND BACK IN PARK, ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS USUALLY FREES THE KEY FROM THE ACC MODE AND ALLOWS ME TO REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION. TODAY, I WENT TO START THE VAN AND IT IS DEAD. CLICK. THAT IS ALL IT DOES. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THE BATTERY IS DEAD, AS THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, THE DOOR DINGS, THE MILEAGE COMES UP, ETC. THERE IS A RECALL FOR SOMETHING INVOLVING THE IGNITION, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED BY VW YET AS TO A REPAIR. I HAVE SENT IN FOUR PRIOR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT USED 7/2010 FROM CARMAX. IT IS UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS REPAIRED EVERY 7,000 MILES FOLLOWING A SUDDEN CALIPER SEIZE, THE VAN HAS NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO JUST STOP. ONE DAY I HEARD IT RUNNING IN MY GARAGE. I CANT RULE OUT ONE OF MY CHILDREN MESSING WITH THE FOB, HOWEVER, I HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THE REMOTE STARTER MYSELF? (CLICK2X&HOLD) I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WILL NOT DRIVE MY CHILDREN LONG DISTANCES OR TRAVEL ROADS WITH THEM THAT REQUIRE SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. THE VAN DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT 55-60MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE VW DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. I CLEARLY SEE IT IS A RECALL ISSUE FOR SOME ROUTANS, MY RECEIPT READS EXACTLY AS THE SIDE DOOR HARNESS RECALL IS STATED. I WILL BE WORKING WITH VW TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE. I AM LUCKY MYSELF OR MY CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN HURT. IN HINDSIGHT OF THE GM IGNITION RECALL, I WOULD BE AMISS TO THINK A CAR COMPANY HAS MY BEST INTEREST IN MIND. I AM HOPING MY GOVERNMENT DOES. *TR

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. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA ON HIGHWAY, WIPERS SUDDENLY CAME ON, ALL IDIOT LIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK, HEADLIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING OFF AND ON, BEEPING SOUND LIKE WHEN DOOR IS OPEN, THE VAN SUDDENLY DIED AND I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, STEER OR CONTROL VEHICLE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE SLIDING DOOR HARNESS WHICH WAS INTERFERING WITH NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. REPLACED SLIDING DOOR HARNESS AND FAILED BATTERY. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE FAULTY PART POSSIBLY BEING A RECALL ISSUE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT. COST=$624.48 + RENTAL CAR. *IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT I HAD JUST CROSSED OVER A VERY LONG LARGE BRIDGE. IF I HAD BEEN GOING UPHILL WHEN THE VAN SUDDENLY DIED I AM CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT INFLICTING INJURY OR POSSIBLY DEATH TO EITHER MYSELF OR ANOTHER MOTORIST, AS THERE IS NO SHOULDER ON THE BRIDGE AND I WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60MPH. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THESE MINI VANS. THANK GOD I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK AND DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VAN AS I WAITED 2&1/2 HOURS FOR A TOW. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

THE ELECTRONIC DOOR (SIDE PANEL, PASSENGER, AND DRIVER) DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME OUR FRONT HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBMITTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BALLAST WAS WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PARTS WERE ORDERED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SAID BALLAST REPLACEMENT ANOTHER MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS NOT A BALLAST ISSUE SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS APPEARED TO TURN ON DURING IGNITION, BUT THEN STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY FOR A DEALER ELECTRICIAN TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICIAN DETERMINED A CORRODED CONTROL PANEL WAS CAUSING A SHORT AND LIKELY CAUSING DOOR THE HEADLIGHT, AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE AND SPEED INDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE FIRE. NO WATER WAS INTRODUCED TO THE VEHICLE, SO MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES A CONTROL PANEL CORRODE UNLESS THERE IS A FAULTY VOLTAGE ISSUE AND ELECTRICAL DESIGN DEFECT? THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE DEALER GETS A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ON THE ROUTAN BUT THERE IS NO RECALL SO THEY CHARGE $900 FOR THE REPLACEMENT PANEL. VW KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE THAT THEIR OWN MECHANICS INDICATE CAN START ELECTRICAL FIRES! THE COMPANY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

MY WIFE TOOK OUR 2009 VW ROUTAN MINIVAN TO A VW DEALERSHIP TODAY TO REPAIR INOPERABLE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS AND FAULTY HEADLIGHTS (SEPARATE COMPLAIN FILED), AT WHICH TIME SHE WAS INFORMED OF AN IGNITION PROBLEM RECALL. THE IGNITION PART WAS PLACED ON ORDER AND MY WIFE WAS TOLD THE PART HAD TO BE SHIPPED FROM OUT OF STATE AND SHOULD ARRIVE WITHIN FIVE DAYS. MY WIFE ASKED, AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO OPERATE; HOWEVER, I LOOKED UP THE RECALL WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND DISCOVERED THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY STATES THE ENGINE CAN SHUT OF DURING OPERATION DUE TO ADDED WEIGHT FROM OTHER KEYS OR KEY RINGS ON THE VW KEY FOB. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, DEALERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ARE SUPPOSED TO INFORM CUSTOMERS TO REMOVE ADDED KEYS FROM THE FOB. MY WIFE HAD KEYS ON HER FOB WHICH THE DEALER MECHANIC HAD IN HIS HAND DURING INSPECTIONS, BUT THE MECHANIC NEVER INFORMED HER OF THE RISK, AND ALLOWED HER TO JEOPARDIZE HER LIFE BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE REQUIRED SAFETY INFORMATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V396000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.