VAN HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. POWER STEERING IS LOST. VEHICLE WILL THEN START RIGHT BACK UP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR A MINIVAN USED TO TRANSPORT MULTIPLE CHILDREN. NO CODES OR FAULTS ARE RECORDED.
2009 Volkswagen Routan steering problems
severe 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION AT 76K. MAJOR TRANSMISSION WORK DONE APPROXIMATELY 26K. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 6 MONTHS LATER AND STILL HAS ISSUES (SLUGGISH, NON-SMOOTH SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS AT HIGHER CRUISING SPEEDS. VW ENGINEER GERARDO ZELEDON CALLS THIS THE "ROUTAN SHAKE" AND CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES STEERING BEGAN SEIZING UP WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS, ACCORDING TO REC…
WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER (STEERING, BRAKES, ETC). WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD THANKFULLY ONLY GOING 25 MPH AND NO TRAFFIC. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY AND RAN FINE AFTER THAT. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN MAIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK STATING THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN TURN OFF WITHOUT NOTICE INCIDENT H…
SINCE BUYING OUR 2009 ROUTAN IN THE FALL OF 2016 WE HAVE SUNK THOUSANDS INTO IT TRYING TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT (OURS DID NOT COME WITH A WARRANTY FROM THE VW DEALER). AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK, AND SOMETIMES MORE, IT STALLS WHILE WE ARE DRIVING...USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS LIKE WHEN WE ARE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT. USUAL…
AFTER MY VAN HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE AND IT BEEN WARMED UP FOR 15 MINUTES. WITH IN THE FIRST 2 TO 5 MILES OF DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE VAN WILL SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BREAK WILL FAIL. THEN I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO OFF AND RESTART THE VAN AND IT SOMETIME REPEAT ITSELF IF I'M STUCK IN TRAFFIC.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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