2009 Volkswagen Routan Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

78Engine complaints

26.6%Of all 293 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM146 · 49.8%

ENGINE78 · 26.6%

SERVICE BRAKES38 · 13%

STEERING34 · 11.6%

POWER TRAIN16 · 5.5%

Share of the 293 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan overview page.

What owners report

“OUR 2009 VW ROUTAN COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING 3 TIMES NOW. NOT ONLY DOES IT SHUT DOWN, BUT THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCK AS…”NHTSA complaint 10620722 — filed 08/07/2014

“MY 2009 ROUTAN 3.8L WILL INTERMIT NOT START / I GET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ELECTRICAL LIGHTENING BOLT. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO IT STARTED AND…”NHTSA complaint 10619111 — filed 08/05/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON…”NHTSA complaint 10618218 — filed 08/01/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen Routan have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan: 78 of 293 complaints on file (26.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Volkswagen Routan have in total?

293 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 12 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.