Is the 2009 Volkswagen Routan a bad year?
294 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 82.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 51k–88k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Routan owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 151 (51%) | 55k–103k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 82 (28%) | 51k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 55 (19%) | 22k–77k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 34 (12%) | 62k–119k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (7%) | 12k–89k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 18 (6%) | 7k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 12 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 12 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 294 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I have been experiencing the engine dying suddenly while I am driving. There is no warning or engine lights. Everything turns off including the power steering.
Driving downhill, foot off accelerator. Abrupt loss of engine power followed by loss of power steering and braking.
While driving typically at speeds less than 45 MPH the vehicle engine will shut down and electrical power at the dash is lost.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan: 6
In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail. If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking.
Over time and with use, the vehicle's rear axle may develop cracks which could lead to axle failure. Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles may have been built with an improper routed wire harness that may have a condition where the lower sliding door hinge bracket can make contact and wear through the wire insulation. This could result in an overheated latch and a fire within the rear sliding door could occur.
The owner's manual was printed without the FMVSS no. 208 required information explaining that no objects should be placed over the or near the air bag on the instrument panel. Any such objects could cause injury to the vehicle's occupants in the event of a crash severe enough to cause the air bag to inflate.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Volkswagen: 261
Repair instructions Volkswagen sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Gasoline Engine Misfire Diagnosis document
Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
MIL ON, DTCs P2014 or P2015 Intake Manifold Faults Stored in ECM Fault Memory
Incorrect torque converter or flywheel/flexplate installation can result in transmission damage
Neighbouring years
2010 Routan: 240 complaints, keep it.
Every Volkswagen Routan year
2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · All Routan years side by side
Other Volkswagen models: Volkswagen Atlas · Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport · Volkswagen Beetle · Volkswagen CC · Volkswagen Eos · Volkswagen GTI · Volkswagen Golf · Volkswagen Golf SportWagen · Volkswagen ID.4 · Volkswagen Jetta · Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen · Volkswagen Passat · Volkswagen Rabbit · Volkswagen Taos · Volkswagen Tiguan · Volkswagen Touareg. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Routan a bad year?
294 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 82. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 51k–88k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (151), engine (82), brakes (55), steering (34), transmission and drivetrain (20). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 51k–88k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Routan have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-083), Electrical system (NHTSA 15V-194), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-396), Suspension (NHTSA 14V-055) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.