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2010 Volkswagen Routan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Routan years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Volkswagen Routan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 63.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

198 reports with mileage · 42 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 150 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

150 reports
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50,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY HAD TO BE PLACED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH FORCE AND TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO USE FORCE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY HAD TO BE PLACED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH FORCE AND TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO USE FORCE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THE PART 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10766476

20,000 miles · Sep 10, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V151000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. ...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF UPDATED 10/20/15*JB UPDATED 11/17/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10762894

58,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Electrical System

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. STRANDED NEXT TO THE INTERSTATE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TIPM MODULE THAT WOULD COST $930 TO INSTALL.

NHTSA ODI #10762371

139,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Electrical System

THIS HAS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AND LUCKILY NOT ON THE FREEWAY. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I AM JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS ARE STILL FUNCTIONING (IE RADIO), BUT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. CAR CAN BE EASILY RESTARTED IN EITHER THE PARK OR NEUTRAL POSITION. T…

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THIS HAS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AND LUCKILY NOT ON THE FREEWAY. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I AM JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS ARE STILL FUNCTIONING (IE RADIO), BUT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. CAR CAN BE EASILY RESTARTED IN EITHER THE PARK OR NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS PROBLEM, WHEN IT HAPPENS, USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR AND DRIVING. HAS NOT HAPPENED DURING A DRIVE (MEANING THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A BIT). THIS CAR WAS PART OF THE RECALL BACK IN 2011 AND HAD THE WIN MODULE REPLACED. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS PART OF THE TARGET GROUP OF 2010 ROUTANS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THE RECALLED PERIOD, I AM NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THE WIN MODULE WAS REPLACED BACK IN 2011. WHAT IS FUNNY IS THAT 2009 MODELS WHO ALSO HAD THEIR WIN MODULES REPLACED DURING THE EARLIER RECALL CAN GET THE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER THIS NEW RECALL (15V194000). I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES AS ME AND ALSO HAD THEIR CAR SERVICED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL, AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN FOR NO REASON. WHY ARE 2010 MODELS REPAIRED UNDER THE EARLIER RECALL EXCLUDED, BUT NOT 2009 RECALL-REPAIRED MODELS NOT?

NHTSA ODI #10746880

139,000 miles · Aug 4, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALOPERATION ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 (ELE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALOPERATION ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH); HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

NHTSA ODI #10746172

65,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015
Electrical System

CAR OCCASIONALLY STALLS BUT COULD BE RESTARTED. THEN SIMPLY WOULD NOT START WITH 'BADKEY' ERROR. AFTER DISCONNECTING/RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED THEN WOULD NOT TURN OFF. YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVE IT, THE VEHICLE WILL STILL RUN. IT APPEARS TO HAVE ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN N…

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CAR OCCASIONALLY STALLS BUT COULD BE RESTARTED. THEN SIMPLY WOULD NOT START WITH 'BADKEY' ERROR. AFTER DISCONNECTING/RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED THEN WOULD NOT TURN OFF. YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVE IT, THE VEHICLE WILL STILL RUN. IT APPEARS TO HAVE ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL HOWEVER VW SAYS THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10733644

87,000 miles · Jun 23, 2015
Electrical System

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE FEW MONTHS WHEN I GO TO START MY VAN I TURN THE KEY AND ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON, ON THE DASH YET THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THERE IS NO NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THE VAN TO START.

NHTSA ODI #10726923

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE IGNITION KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE SINCE IT FAILED TO TUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE IGNITION KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE SINCE IT FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10723610

35,000 miles · May 26, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10721423

80,000 miles · May 26, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10721412

Official recalls

2

15V194000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Apr 1, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles manufactured June 25, 2008, to July 8, 2009, and 2010 Routan vehicles manufactured October 1, 2009, to August 11, 2010. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H1. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 11V151 and 14V396. Vehicles that previously received an ignition switch trim ring as a recall remedy must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign. Vehicles that have already received a new ignition switch are not covered by this campaign.

11V151000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Mar 1, 2011

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ROUTAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2009 THROUGH JUNE 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT IGNITION KEY DISPLACEMENT FROM THE RUN TO ACCESSORY POSITION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN ENGINE SHUTTING OFF SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIN MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.