NHTSA Complaint #11256039 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN

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!?