2009 Volkswagen Routan Electrical System Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 151 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, 51% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 73,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (12% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Ignition switch: mentioned in 18 of 151 complaints (12%)
  • Sliding door: mentioned in 11 of 151 complaints (7%)
  • Stalled without: mentioned in 10 of 151 complaints (7%)

At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?

Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles6 · 5%
10k–25k miles4 · 3%
25k–50k miles12 · 10%
50k–75k miles39 · 33%
75k–100k miles26 · 22%
100k–150k miles27 · 23%
150k+ miles6 · 5%

How serious are the reports?

Of 151 complaints, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.

Volkswagen Routan electrical system complaints by model year

Peak: 2009, with 151 complaints
2008: 1200812009: 15120091512010: 15020101502011: 11120111112012: 392012392013: 2201322014: 120141

n = 455 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearElectrical System complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2014 Routan150%48,000
2013 Routan229%69,750
2012 Routan3962%77,000
2011 Routan11163%71,000
2010 Routan15063%80,000
2009 Routan15151%73,500
2008 Routan133%58,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2015, with 41 complaints
2009: 1200912010: 222011: 4201142012: 222013: 8201382014: 39392015: 412015412016: 13132017: 112017112018: 552019: 7201972020: 992021: 2202122022: 222023: 3202332024: 112026: 120261

n = 151 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (3)

Electrical system:ignition:switchApr 1, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V194000 · 20,676 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles manufactured June 25, 2008, to July 8, 2009, and 2010 Routan vehicles manufactured October 1, 2009, to August 11, 2010. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. 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.

Risk: 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. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H1. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 11V151 and 14V396. Vehicles that previously received an ignition switch trim ring as a recall remedy must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign. Vehicles that have already received a new ignition switch are not covered by this campaign.

Electrical system:ignitionJul 1, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V396000 · 18,526 vehicles

Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk: 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. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1- 800-822-8987. An interim notice was mailed to owners on August 29, 2014. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28G1/U8. Note: This campaign is an expansion of NHTSA Recall No. 11V-151.

Electrical system:wiringJun 10, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V252000 · 15,902 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 routan vehicles manufactured from june 2008 through july 2009. 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. Contact with a 12v power feed circuit within the harness may cause a high resistive short circuit within the latch mechanism located inside of the sliding door.

Risk: This could result in an overheated latch and a fire within the rear sliding door could occur.

Fix: Volkswagen will inspect the sliding door wire track wire assembly and the sliding door power drive unit wire assembly for damage, repair/replace as necessary, tie strap the two harnesses together and route the harnesses under the sliding door weather strip. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 15, 2010. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V194000 (Electrical System); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not available. The local dealer was contacted to schedule the recall repair, but the part remained unavailable…

Received Aug 26, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11759820

Volkswagen dealership does not want to fulfill the recall.

Received Jun 23, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11595982

The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V194000 (Electrical System) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. No…

Received Jul 31, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11535458
Volkswagen Routan
2009 Volkswagen Routan photographed in Washington, D.C. , USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2009 Volkswagen Routans have electrical system problems?

No. NHTSA has 151 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan (51% of the 294 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan electrical system?

Yes: 3 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do electrical system problems start?

The median reported mileage is 73,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?

The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 18 of 151 complaints, followed by “sliding door” (11).

Other 2009 Volkswagen Routan problems

See all 2009 Volkswagen Routan problems or electrical system problems across all Routan years.