2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN Complaints

RECENTLY I NOTICED A LOW TIRE PRESSURE ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF MY VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE, THE STEM PUSHED INTO THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE DEFLATED. THE METAL TIRE PRESSURE STEM IS ATTACHED TO TIRE PRESSURE SENSING UNITS ON EACH WHEEL. WHEN I EXAMINED THE STEM I NOTICED THAT THE NUT THAT LOCKS THE STEM IN POSITION HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM CORROSION. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE STEM IN POSITION WAS THE PRESSURE WITHIN THE TIRE. WHEN THE STEM WAS TOUCHED AND MOVED, THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY DEFLATED. I FOUND THE SAME DEFECT ON THE OTHER WHEELS. ANY CONTACT WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SERVICING STEM, CAUSED THE RETAINING NUT TO BREAK OFF INTO PIECES. EACH STEM AND RETAINING NUT SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE CORROSION. DUE TO THE EXTREME HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT SENSORS, I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE SENSORS WITH STANDARD RUBBER TIRE STEMS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2009 WITH ONLY 36,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT AND IM SURE THAT ACCELERATED THE CORROSION OF THE ATTACHING NUT, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT MIGHT RESULT IN A TIRE DEFLATION WITHOUT WARNING. I FEEL THESE SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A SINGLE VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE, HAVING FOUR SEVERELY CORRODED AND FAILED TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. I SUSPECT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. THESE FAULTY SENSORS COULD VERY WELL BE THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR INJURY. IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR DEALER BUT I DONT BELIEVE THERE IS ANY SPECIFIC INSPECTION OR SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE VALVES/SENSORS. THE PARTS ARE MARKED WITH THE FOLLOWING IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS: DAIMLER CHRYSLER 56053031AD #0193HT-2 SIEMENS VDO I HAVE SAVED THE FAILED PARTS AND I WILL PROVIDE THEM IF REQUIRED.

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THEY CHECKED THE OIL AND I SAW IT WAS CLEAN AND FULL. AFTER A WEEK MY WIFE TOLD ME THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THEIR WERE NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. I FILLED THE OIL TO THE CORRECT SPOT ON THE DIPSTICK. A WEEK LATER I CHECK THE OIL AND AGAIN THERE WERE NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. SO I CALL THE DEALER AND THEY SENT ME TO SEARS WHO COULD NOT FIND A LEAK AND THEY CHANGED THE OIL. I CHECKED THE OIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND AGAIN THERE WERE NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. SO I CALL THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY SENT ME TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. I'M NOW CHECKING AND ADDING OIL WEEKLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES CONTINUALLY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. *TR

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? *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF AND LOSES POWER STEERING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES NOW AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CAR CAN ONLY BE RESTARTED WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PLACED BACK IN PARK. *TR

WHILE PUTTING AIR IN MY TIRES, THE VALVE STEM BROKE OFF OF THE TIRE WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE THE CAP OFF OF THE STEM AND THE TIRE DEFLATED ALMOST INSTANTLY. AFTER LOOKING AT THE BROKEN VALVE STEM, IT APPEARS LIKE THE CAP AND STEM BECAME CORRODED AND WAS COMPLETELY WELDED TOGETHER. I STILL HAVE THIS CAP THAT BROKE OFF IF IT IS NEEDED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. *TR

NOTICE OIL LIGHT COMING ON BETWEEN OIL CHANGE....FILLED OIL TO PROPER LEVEL...I TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE TODAY (1/7/13) WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THE GASKET WILL NEED REPLACE, THAT WAS THE REASON FOR OIL USAGE. I JUST HAD MY VEHICLE IN TO FIX THE SLIDING DOOR (TSB RECALL NOT HONORED) IN OCTOBER AND IN WAS INSPECTED WITH NO PROBLEMS. DOING RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND FINDING THE OIL, DOOR IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN VW ROUTAN ( ALSO TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER WAS IN FOR SAME PROBLEM, STATED HAS BEEN GIVEN RUNAROUND SINCE DAY ONE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH HIS ROUTAN). *TR

WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN SINCE NEARLY DAY ONE. WHILE PARKED ON ANY TYPE OF SURFACE, (HILL, OR FLAT, DOWN HILL, OR UP HILL). ON OCCASION THE DOOR WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING WILL RE-CLOSE OR NOT OPEN. THIS HAS BEEN VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD GET IN THE DOOR BEFORE DOOR HAS COME TO COMPLETE REST. THE CHILD GETS IN AS THE DOOR OPENS, AND THE DOOR CLOSES BACK ON HIM AS IT COULDN'T OPEN PROPERLY. WE HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY VW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT WAS NOT RESOLVED. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE DOORS. *TR

10/7/12: ENTERING ONTO ROAD, BEGAN ACCELERATION UP TO 20/25 MPH -THEN ALL POWER, CONTROLS DEAD. LOST POWER STEERING AND COASTED INTO PARKING LOT. SHUT CAR DOWN, FLOODED/PUMPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DIFFICULTY STARTING BUT WORKED, DROVE LIKE NORMAL, AGAIN. 10/14/12: TURNING FROM SIDESTREET, ON TO MAIN STREET -GOING 20 MPH. LOST ALL POWER AGAIN-MANUALLY TURNED COASTED CAR INTO LEFT MIDDLE TURNING LANE. RE-STARTED, OPERATED NORMAL. *TR

TOOK 2009 VW ROUTAN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN 2010 DUE TO SAFETY RECALL ON SLIDING DOORS (FAULTY WIRE HARNESS). PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS FITTED WITH TIE WRAP. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS INSPECTED BUT NO WORK WAS PERFORMED. THIS WEEK, DOOR STOPPED WORKING ON DRIVER'S SIDE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON WEDNESDAY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $383 TO REPAIR WIRE HARNESS. CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO EXPLAIN PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT CASE WOULD BE STARTED. WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT SOLUTION. VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHED ON THURSDAY. NOW BEING TOLD IT WILL BE MONDAY. WE WERE GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE FOR THE WEEKEND. *TR