Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Volkswagen Routan
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Volkswagen Routan has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 294 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V083000 Air Bag Control Unit Power Supply Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V194000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V396000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V055000 Rear Axle may Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V252000 POWER SLIDING DOOR WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V244000 MISSING INFORMATION ON OWNERS MANUAL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 151 complaints
- Engine 78 complaints
- Service Brakes 38 complaints
- Steering 34 complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
- Structure 18 complaints
Of the 294 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 294 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Volkswagen Routan shows a below-average reliability rating due to a significant number of owner complaints and recalls, particularly around the electrical system and ignition issues. The high volume of complaints, especially concerning electrical problems and engine performance, suggests frequent repairs may be necessary. While the data reveals problems, precise failure mileages are unknown, making cost estimation challenging.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,000 | very common |
| engine | Unknown | $500–$3,000 | common |
| service brakes | Unknown | $250–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Replace brake pads
- Change engine oil regularly
- Inspect suspension components
- Rotate tires frequently
- Check and replace timing belt
- Flush transmission fluid
- Inspect and replace battery
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Flickering dashboard lights
- Unresponsive engine start
- Soft or spongy brake pedal
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Delayed vehicle acceleration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.