Why does my VW Routan sometimes just click and not start?

Short answer: A click with no cranking, on and off, is usually electrical: loose or dirty battery connections, a weak battery, or worn contacts inside the starter's solenoid (the switch on the starter). Clean and tighten the battery cables first and have the battery tested. If it still clicks, worn solenoid contacts are a common age-related fault and can be replaced or the starter swapped. Remember the Routan is built by Chrysler on the Town & Country/Grand Caravan platform, so a Chrysler shop knows these vans well.

Symptom: You turn the key and hear a click, but the engine doesn't turn over. It may start after several tries, work fine for weeks, then act up again, often on hot days.

What to check first

1. Clean and tighten both battery terminals and check where the cables attach at the other end.
2. Have the battery load-tested, especially if it's original or several years old.
3. Note where the click comes from. A click at the starter with no crank points to worn solenoid contacts.
4. Check whether it's every time or only when hot, and whether it's the first start of the day.
5. If the van ever shuts off while driving, get that diagnosed separately and ask a Chrysler dealer about known fixes for the matching Chrysler minivans.

Likely causes

1. Loose or corroded battery connections. Cheapest and most common fix for clicking.
2. Weak or aging battery. A battery can test OK and still fail under the starter's load.
3. Worn starter solenoid contacts. Members said the van is the right age for this; the contacts or the whole starter can be replaced.
4. Relay, ignition switch or wiring. Less common; needs testing while it's failing.

What it usually costs

No owner in these threads posted a repair cost.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A van that sometimes won't start can strand you but isn't dangerous by itself. If it also shuts off while driving, treat that as urgent: you lose power steering and brake assist. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for cleaning terminals and replacing the battery. Starter work is doable for an experienced home mechanic, but a shop can test the solenoid and circuit first.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists no recall for starting problems on the Volkswagen Routan in the model years we could check on 2026-10-24 (the recall lookup returned an error for 3 model-year queries). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Ignition recalls to check: NHTSA lists ignition-switch recalls 11V151000 (some 2010 Routans) and 14V396000 and 15V194000 (some 2009–2010 Routans), where the key can be bumped out of the run position while driving, shutting off the engine and possibly the airbags. That's not the same as a no-crank click, but it's worth checking. Until the recall is done, keep only the ignition key on the ring. If your car is part of this recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• NHTSA complaints: 386 keyword-matched complaints for Volkswagen Routan 2009–2014 (of 781 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-24; keywords: won't start, won't crank, no start, click, starter, ignition switch, stall, shut off, dies). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 2009 Volkswagen Routan - Won't start - sometimes on Car Talk, a '09 sometimes only clicked when the key was turned and needed many tries, mostly on hot days, then worked fine for a week or two. Members suggested cleaning and tightening the battery connections, and said worn starter solenoid contacts are common at that age.
• In 2010 Volkswagen Routan sometimes won't start on Car Talk, members asked whether it cranks, whether the battery was original and whether the connections were clean, and said worn copper contacts in the starter solenoid are possible if it doesn't turn over.
• In 2009 VW Routan SEL car turns off while driving on Car Talk, an owner's van shut off while driving and the VW dealer couldn't find the cause. Members pointed out the Routan is a Chrysler-built minivan and suggested a Chrysler dealer and Chrysler service bulletins. The owner opened a case with VW, and the van finally died with the dealer's technician driving it, so the dealer escalated it.

Quick tip

Start at the battery cables. It's free, and it's the most common reason for a random click. And use the Chrysler connection: a Chrysler minivan shop has seen your problem many times.

Vehicle focus: 2009–2014 Volkswagen Routan (built by Chrysler, related to the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan).

Safety / mechanic note

If the van shuts off while driving, get it diagnosed right away. Verify with a mechanic.