RoadVitals

2008 Volkswagen Routan

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Jan 12, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Routan, most frequently naming the electrical, other / unspecified and seat belts categories. 114 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Seat belts133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID
10671784
Incident
Jul 31, 2014
Mileage
58,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Dec 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TPMS SLEEVES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10555854
Incident
Dec 12, 2013
Seat belts
Filed May 30, 2013

I HAVE THE CAR SEAT GRACO MY RIDE 65. I HAVE HAD IT NOW FOR 4 YEARS. I WAS PLANNING ON USING IT AGAIN FOR MY SECOND DAUGHTER. AFTER THE END OF THE 2ND YEAR, THE STRAPS THAT YOU PULL BEGAN TO FRAY. THE LATCHING SYSTEM ON THE SEAT HAS BEEN LOCKING OR GETTING STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO RELEASE MY DAUGHTER FROM THE STRAPS. I AM ALSO HAVING A HARD TIME TIGHTENING HER SUFFICIENTLY ENOUGH BECAUSE THE LATCH GETS STUCK. THE STRAPS ARE ALSO CONSTANTLY GETTING TANGLED AND TWISTED. I CALLED GRACO AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT SEND ME A 40 DOLLAR REBATE WHEN I BUY ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR SEATS. THERE IS NO PARTS THAT THEY CAN HELP ME WITH REPLACING ANYTHING. I AM VERY DISGUSTED. I NOW HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER GRACO HIGH BACK BOOSTER FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD AND NOW I HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SEAT FOR MY BABY. I WASN'T PLANNING ON BUYING ANOTHER SEAT FOR MY BABY. I WANTED TO USE THE MY RIDE FOR MY 2ND DAUGHTER. I AM VERY UPSET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10514297
Incident
Mar 10, 2009

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

V171901201285560

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

A002155201173212

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.

CustomerLetterB

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

Warranty Extension for Intake Manifold & Fuel Injectors Certain 2008-2011

V171901_2012855

ENGINE

Engine oil quality standards. Also includes all models for 1997-2003. Also Rabbit from 2006-2009.

SM 33-2019

EQUIPMENT

The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.

TT 91 19 01

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Alternative method for radio code retrieval.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Routan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015000
2014200
2013700
2012631035.4
20111750034.0
20102402046.4
20092936049.1
2008Viewing300

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.