Volkswagen Routan power steering loss problems

Filed Jan 10, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NV

loss of steering while driving, fluid loss multiple times since late september 2024(all while driving and no lights or warnings came on), 2 snapped serpentine belts, key ignition sticking(would not turn), dashboard not lighting up, rpm no longer rests below 1.5 - 2, car struggles to accelerate(especially uphill), car turns over and struggles to start, even though has newer battery. 1/9/25 driving to an appointment, upon reaching destination, a pop sound. No smell, no warnings came up on dashboard. Upon leaving, saw fluid leak, headed straight to dealership, at which a massive amount of fluid began pouring out of vehicle..in exact same area as original issue from 8/31/24.

Filed May 13, 2022 · Electrical · 188,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact stated that numerous unknown warning lights were illuminated and blinking. The contact was attempting to maintain lane when the vehicle independently restarted and the contact pulled off the road safely. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and all the functions returned. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 11V151000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the failure was a recurring issue. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.

Filed Aug 23, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · NY

The vehicle turned off in the drive gear. I lost steering,breaking and control of vehicle.

Filed Jul 1, 2021 · TN

My 2011 VW Routan completely lost power on the freeway while driving in heavy traffic. The steering completely locked up (not lost power steering), locked up and all components died while moving. It took two people to break the steering wheel loose so that the van could be pushed out of the road by TDOT. We had the van towed and once removed from the truck it started and ran like normal. Our 3 kids were also in the van which makes the situation extremely hazardous. Previous to this, we paid $1,500 to the VW dealer to replace the TIPM unit because the van wouldn’t start on many occasions. The dealer stated that he knew Chrysler had issued a recall on their vehicles with these same issues but VW hadn’t taken any action. Other info… no dash lights are/were on. Dealer can’t seem to reproduce the issue. TDOT Officer said he’d never seen a vehicle that locked the steering while the car was in motion. This was worse than it loosing all power.

Filed Sep 11, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 132,000 miles · IN

I was driving home from work approx. 30-35 miles per hour and my van died. I lost power steering and brakes. Luckily I wasn't seriously injured. There was no warning. No service engine light. Within a span of less than 2 years ive already replaced the fuel pump, the battery, and the alternator is still new and under warranty. The ignition/power windows fuse constantly needs adjusting so I can roll my window up or down. All the dash lights come on randomly as well. Sometimes the windshield wipers would come on. Never had a vehicle die on me while driving due to manufacturers issues. After reading other consumer complaints about the same issues im very confident its the tipm. Some complain that this costs people $1 000s on a chance that you can get a couple more years out of it. The van wants to turn over and continues cranking when key fob is in ignition but doesn't turn over. I cannot get it to start at all.

Filed Jan 24, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 100,000 miles · GA

2011 volkswagen routan engine will unexpectedly shut down during normal driving conditions, resulting in no engine power, no power steering and no power brakes. This occurs at any speed and in any driving condition from stationary idling up to highway speeds. This has occurred multiple times with this vehicle.*dt*dt*dt*jb

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 150,000 miles · PA

First my routan has been in my posession for I believe about 5 years. I check the oil regulary and keep oil changes, tires, and inspections up to date are regular. Since owning it, I have had a huge antifreeze leak (while on vacation), which was an easy fix, but essentially the part melted and had to be replaced, which is absurd! I was having a lot of issues with it not starting. You would have to try to start it over and over, and just when you called a garage it would start (this issue seemed to be fixed when the dealer changed the ignition, per the recall) for the past several months, the govener kickis in, and the vehicle will only go 30mph. It happens infrequently, but seems to becoming more frequent. The solution is to pull over, turn it off, start it back up, and your good to go for days to weeks until it does it again. Typically it happens shortly after starting a trip, and while gaining speed, you suddenly cannot go the speed you would like. I do believe it continues to get more frequent in occurance ****now the scary thing that gets me to file a complaint**** I have seen this listed many times already. My husband was again away on a trip this weekend. He had just done a lot of circle type steering at the gas station trying to park (I mention this because someone else complained of this issue after a round about). He parked. He started the car again, he backed up, and when he tried to turn to get out of the parking spot, there was no steering. He pulled forward. He put it in park, he turned it off. He started it, he drove 2.5 hours home with my 3 kids under 9. He had no issues. What is wrong with the car, I am afraid to drive it. Thankfully he was going 2 MPH, but I have seen cases of people on the interstate. What if I drive it, and we have an accident and my family dies? How can I drive a car that lost steering and feel safe!?

Filed Jun 2, 2019 · Engine · CA

The car will just shut down while driving. No warning, no lights, no check engine, no power steering or power breaks (I have to put all I got into trying to steer the car to just pull over!). I have to bring the car to a complete stop and restart it. It has happened about 3 times. Took it to 3 garages and they could not figure out the problem because the car never gave any computer codes when it would shut down. There are similar complaints and I'm wonder how vw knows of this issue and has failed to inform the owners of these vehicles. If my van shuts off on the freeway, this could be very serious!

Filed May 3, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 127,000 miles · MN

I believe the ignition switch is faulty but my VIN does not come up under the ignition switch recalls (15v194000 or 11v151000). One time when accelerating up a bumpy hill going about 40 MPH on a highway, the vehicle shut off and power steering was not available. I was able to maneuver to the side of the road and turn it off, put it in park, and turn it back on. Another time on a flat bumpy road, accelerating at about 35 MPH, the vehicle shut off again with no power steering available. I again pulled over, put it in park, turned it off and then restarted it.

Filed Jan 31, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 144,729 miles · NY

The engine will die as I'm driving down the highway. This causes me to lose power steering, all my digital guages on dash,etc. When I pull over stop and put it in neutral I can then turn the key and it will start right back up. This has happened at least 6 times while driving on the highway or in town but always while moving and for no apparent reason. Possible touched the key chain with my knee but I can't say anything triggered it. First thing I notice is I'm slowing down and have to power steering. Also, when starting the car the ignition regularly does not recognize that I've turned the key. Requires that I push the key in with force up and to the right while rotating for the key to activate the ignition. Sometime the engine will begin to start but stop when I let go of the key. My dealer said it could be the battery or the remote car starter. I've replaced both and still have the same problem. Now they are quoting me about $700 to replace the key fobs and ignition. I was told by a mechanic this is the exact type of problem that all the town & countries & routans have had and there was a recall. It's a plastic key that wears out and stops working properly. Checking on-line vw routan, dodge caravan & chysler town & country all had a recall on their ignitions, but it was limited to 2009 & 2010. I have the same issue described in the recall "inadvertent ignition key displacement from the run position, which would shut off the engine and depower safety systems, such as airbags, power steering and braking"