# 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
> NHTSA complaint `819582` · 2010-10-12 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** ROUTAN
- **Year:** 2009
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- **Miles at failure:** 12,000
- **Speed:** 7 mph
## Narrative
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 2010, I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PLACED THE 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN IN PARK.  THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WHILE I FINISHED UP A PHONE CALL THROUGH THE BLUETOOTH AND PROCEEDED TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO WHILE CLEANING OUT THE VAN.  I WALKED AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE LEANING IN TO CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.  I NEEDED TO GO INSIDE THE HOUSE, SO, STANDING OUTSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VAN I REACHED ACROSS THE SEAT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVE THE KEYS. AS SOON AS I DID THIS, THE VAN JOLTED BACKWARD AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL DOWN MY DRIVEWAY.  MY UPPER BODY WAS STILL INSIDE THE CAR.  I TRIED TO DEPRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT HAND WHILE I HELD TIGHTLY ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY LEFT.  I WASN'T ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BUT I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT THE VAN CRASHED INTO A TREE ON MY PROPERTY, INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE STREET.  WHEN THE VAN HIT THE TREE, THE FORCE THREW ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE DRIVEWAY.  I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY MY HUSBAND WHERE THE FOUND THAT I HAD BROKEN 2 RIBS, SPRAINED MY LEFT SHOULDER AND SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE.  I ALSO SUFFERED SEVERAL CUTS AND SCRAPES AND NUMEROUS BRUISES.  AT THIS POINT IN TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*