2009 Volkswagen Routan: steering wheel locks up

5 of the 294 complaints about the 2009 Volkswagen Routan describe steering wheel locks up.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 73,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 2 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Steering wheel locks up by model year

2012
1
2011
2
2010
4
2009
5

What owners say

Filed Dec 3, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · NJ

While driving on street or highway or stopped. Usually around 20-40mph car stalls. Brakes lock up/steering wheel locks up/no control of car at all. All lights indicate car is on, one bell goes off prior and anti-skid light comes on. By then panic cannot control car! Put car in park after stopped and it starts right up.

Filed Nov 14, 2017 · Electrical · 90,900 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen routan. While driving between 15-25 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to fox valley volkswagen schaumburg (1000 e golf rd, schaumburg, il 60173, (847) 839-8101) where it was repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v194000 (electrical system). The failure recurred at least 15 times within the past two weeks. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,900.

Filed Mar 31, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 73,000 miles · GA

In july 2012 I bought a certified pre-owned 2009 volkswagen routan minivan. I have reported the following major safety problems on several occasions to no resolve: loss of power' the car will completely lose power and the steering wheel locks while driving. For ex on 12/22 from 5:32p ' 10:48p, the car lost power and steering wheel locked 11 times. Sliding doors automatically open ' the doors will not close securely, won't open, or will appear closed and spontaneously reopen. There have been several times we will go out for the evening or come out for work in the morning and both doors are opened. At times, while driving, the door (particularly the driver side rear) will appear closed and secure however it will sound as if it has suddenly jumped off track and the door will crack open. We took the certified pre-owned vehicle to be serviced 8xs within the warranty time and we were told each time because the check engine light was not on to trigger a code that outline the problems there was nothing that could be done. We have suffered a great deal of personal and emotional stress as these are critical and highly dangerous highway safety concerns. I'm worried each time my family gets into the minivan and I continue to fulfill my contractual agreement of $320+ per month without fail however I have yet to receive the same from volkswagen.

Filed Mar 20, 2015 · Brakes, Steering · 91,770 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen routan. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. In addition, the contact stated that the brakes failed to respond when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v396000 (electrical system); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,770.

Filed Jun 28, 2011 · Electrical · 52,000 miles · SC

My wife (and 8 month old son) were driving when the van suddenly shut off. My wife was driving approximately 55 MPH. She was able to get the van off the road before the steering wheel locked up. She was able to restart the van. She was able to avoid a rear-end collision with a tractor-trailer that was behind her.