2009 Volkswagen Routan Interior & seats Problems

After getting wires regrounded at the mechanic, the car continues to malfunction. The wiper blades turn on, the entire dash blinks, the seat moves back and forth, resetting repeatedly. If seat is disconnected for safety, the seatbelt does not register as secured. Eventually doors stop functioning, have completely lost lock function, tried replacing battery and sending to mechanic specialist. Still the car malfunctions at random.

NHTSA ID

11464597

Incident

May 12, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GURLEY LEEP MOTORWERKS (4004 GRAPE RD, MISHAWAKA, IN 46545) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCK SWITCH AND LOCKING ROD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT LATER THE POWER LOCKS ON THE SAME DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO GURLEY LEEP MOTORWERKS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABLE GUIDE WIRE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

11000384

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE MANUAL LOCK THAT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE KEY FOB AND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10621801

Incident

May 9, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

POWER SLIDING DOORS ACTUATE ON OWN, WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH OPEN AND CLOSE WITH NO REGARD TO HUMANS OR OBJECT IN THE PATH. DOOR HANDLES CHROME DELAMINATION CAUSING SEVERE CUTS. POWER THIRD ROW SEATING MOTOR/FRAME FAILURE CAUSING SEATS MOUNTING POINTS TO BE UNSECURED. DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA UNWILLING TO CORRECT SAFETY ISSUES WITHOUT LARGE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584240

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

66,000 mi

POWER SLIDING DOORS CAN TRAP CHILD OR PETS IN THEIR PATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10403693

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

11,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE REAR DOOR OPENED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE DOOR THEN CLOSED. SHE STATED THAT ONCE A CHILD'S HANDS GOT CAUGHT IN THE REAR DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO AUTHORIZED DEALERS SEVEN TIMES; ONCE THE DEALER VACUUMED THE CHANNELS WHERE THE PULLEYS WERE LOCATED. THE DOORS HESITATED AFTER BUT DID NOT STAY OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR BRAKE ISSUES AS THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DRUMS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AND THE SEAMS WERE SEPARATING ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRONT SEATS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WERE FIVE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE BUT THE REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID

10377983

Incident

May 15, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE LOCKED THE DOORS, THE CHILDREN WERE UNABLE TO EXIT FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10365461

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

13,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MY VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. IN THAT TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 6K MILES AND IT WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. THERE WAS EVERY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK, FIRST THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TECH QUALIFIED TO FIX IT SO THEY HAD TO WAIT ON AN OUT OF STATE TECH TO COME IN. PARTS WERE BACKORDERED AND WHEN THEY CAME IN THE "FIX" DIDN'T WORK SO THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW AT 15K MILES I STARTED HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR POWER FOLDING SEAT WAS BROKEN. I RELUCTANTLY TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WAS ASSURED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIX IT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THAT WAS A MONTH AGO, AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED, THEY ARE WAITING ON PARTS TO COME IN. VOLKSWAGEN'S CUSTOMER CARE IS NO HELP, THEY SAY THEY ARE WORKING ON IT BUT THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE DONE SO FAR IS APOLOGIZE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352967

Incident

Aug 2, 2010

Mileage

15,000 mi

BESIDES THE BRAKES/ROTORS NOW GOING ON THEIR 4TH SET AND THE CAR IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD, THE FRONT BUMPER LOOKS LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF, MANY SMALL OTHER PROBLEMS, THIS MORNING MY SON HAD HIS FINGER CAUGHT IN THE SLIDING DOOR AND THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN, IT JUST KEPT TRYING TO SHUT ON HIM. THIS VAN IS HORRIBLE! THE DOOR HAS ACTED UP BEFORE, BUT NEVER LIKE THIS. THE DECALS ON THE DRIVERS DOOR WERE COMING OFF AT ONE POINT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TAIL LIGHT ALREADY HAD TO BE REPLACED. WATER IN THE FRONT LIGHT. JUST TOO MANY THINGS FOR A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342184

Incident

Jul 9, 2010

THE REAR TAILGATE OF MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN OPENED UP AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN GEAR AND IN MOTION WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT SHOULD NOT DO EVEN IF THE POWER TAILGATE BUTTON IS PRESSED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE GARAGE WHICH RESULTED IN THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERING UPON CONTACT WITH THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND NOTHING WAS FOUND IN THE DIAGNOSTICS THAT POINTED TO A FAILURE OF ANY SORT. THERE WERE PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES EXPERIENCED WITH THE CAR NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALER, INCLUDING WITH THE TAILGATE, THAT WERE NOT AS SERIOUS AND THAT CORRECTED THEMSELVES AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325835

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

Mileage

6,800 mi

HEATING/VENTILATION/AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL PANEL IS MOUNTED LOW IN THE CENTER DASH AREA AND IS ILLUMINATED IN BLUE, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN DAYLIGHT. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS/HER EYES OFF THE ROAD WHEN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SETTINGS AND CAN RESULT IN A CRASH. THE 2010 MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE USES WHITE LIGHTING, CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. 2009 MODELS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR A RETROFIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293343

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

88 mi

I HAVE A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE THIRD ROW IS A BENCH SEAT, WHICH HAS LATCH COMPATIBILITY IN ONE PLACE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT A CHILD SAFETY SEAT (BOOSTER OR INFANT SEAT) CAN BE INSTALLED USING THE LATCH SYSTEM IN THE CENTER SEAT OF THE THIRD ROW. WHEN A BOOSTER SEAT OR AN INFANT SEAT ARE, IN FACT, INSTALLED IN THIS THIRD ROW, THE CHILD IS ACTUALLY POSITIONED IN BETWEEN THE OUTBOARD SEAT AND THE CENTER SEAT, DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE LATCH "BARS", AND THE CHILD'S HEAD IS IN BETWEEN THE CENTER AND OUTBOARD HEADREST, AND IS NOT PROTECTED BY EITHER HEADREST. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT NEITHER THE CENTER SEATBELT OR OUTBOARD SEATBELT FITS ACROSS MY CHILD AS IT SHOULD - IT IS NOT ACROSS HIS SHOULDER. I TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL VW AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY; WHEN I DID, I WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH A MEMBER OF THE SAFETY TEAM WHO COMPLETELY DISMISSED MY CONCERNS AND TOLD ME THAT IF MY LATCH DIDN'T SEEM TO BE IN THE CORRECT POSITIONS, THEN I SHOULD JUST NOT USE THE LATCH. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT WOULD TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY (THE CHILD IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE SEATBELT OR HEADREST WHEN USING THE LATCH IN THE THIRD ROW AT ALL!!!), I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK TO AN THAT ALL THE ROUTANS WERE MADE THAT WAY AS A "CONVENIENCE" FOR FOLDING DOWN THE SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286109

Incident

Oct 2, 2009

Mileage

13,000 mi

I AM WRITING YOU DUE TO AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD CONCERNING THE VW ROUTON MINIVAN. WE WERE LOOKING AT ONE ON DISPLAY AT HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE THIS PAST SATURDAY, THE 4TH OF JULY., 2009. THE BACK HATCH WAS OPEN AND MY 7 YEAR OLD FOUND BUTTONS THAT POWERED THE LAST ROW OF SEATS. THESE BUTTONS LIFTED THE SEATS UP AND DOWN. TO MY HORROR I ALL OF SUDDEN HEARD MY 3 YEAR OLD SCREAMING. HE WAS STANDING IN THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE LAST ROW OF SEATS WITH HIS FOOT LODGED IN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE FLOOR. THE POWER LIFT WAS STILL RUNNING AND SMASHING HIS FOOT. THERE WAS NO SENSOR THAT STOPPED THE POWER SEAT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A CHILD'S HEAD GOT LODGED IN THIS MECHANISM. LUCKILY MY CHILD HAD CROCK SHOES ON AND WAS ABLE TO PULL HIS FOOT OUT OF HIS SHOE BUT THERE WAS QUITE AN INDENTATION MARK FROM WHERE THE SEAT WAS PUSHING ON HIS FOOT. THE DOORS IN MINIVANS HAVE SENSORS--I BELIEVE THESE POWER LIFT BACK ROW SEATS SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF SENSOR. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE A CHILD GET KILLED BY THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275912

Incident

Jul 4, 2009