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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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2,800 miles · Jan 15, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2011. WE TOOK A FAMILY VACATION IN JUNE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT ITSELF OFF A FEW TIMES WHILE IN MOTION; CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND ALL STEERING. ON THE SAME TRIP, WHEN USING THE KEY FOB, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD FREEZE AND SHUT ITSELF OFF. IT EVEN…

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PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2011. WE TOOK A FAMILY VACATION IN JUNE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT ITSELF OFF A FEW TIMES WHILE IN MOTION; CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND ALL STEERING. ON THE SAME TRIP, WHEN USING THE KEY FOB, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD FREEZE AND SHUT ITSELF OFF. IT EVENTUALLY TURNS BACK ON AFTER 5 OR SO MINUTES. THE WYNN MODULE WAS REPLACED. BEFORE DEPARTING FOR THE VACATION, WE HAD BRAKE ISSUES WITH THEM MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND , SOMETIMES NO STOPPING POWER. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. THE PASSENGER SLIDER DOORS HAVE ISSUES. WHEN CLOSING, THE DOOR'S SAFETY MECHANISM WOULD NOT BACK TRACK THE DOORS WHEN IT HIT SOMETHING COMING OR GOING INTO/OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR SHUT ON MY SON! THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MORE TIMES THAN A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD.... DID I MENTION THAT WE STILL HAVE BRAKE ISSUES AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE DEALERSHIP CAN SAY IS THAT WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE SITUATION. EACH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE GOES TO THE DEALER, THEY HAVE IT FOR A WEEK OR MORE! I HAVE OWNED CHRYSLER/DODGE PRODUCTS BEFORE THIS AND THIS IS WHY I WENT TO A VW. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DIDN'T DO MY HOMEWORK BEFORE PURCHASING. IT SEEMS THAT THIS VW IS A "CHRYSLER". AS OF TODAY, 15 JANUARY, I AM LOOKING INTO THE "LEMON LAW" AND POSSIBLY SEEKING LEGAL ACTION. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THIS VW VEHICLE CAUSES SERIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PERSON AND MAYBE EVEN DEATH BEFORE THE NHTSA LOOKS INTO THE VW SITUATIONS?

NHTSA ODI #10443872

12,606 miles · Nov 3, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE REAR ROTORS ARE FOUND TO BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION FROM THE FACTORY. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 3,500 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A TIRE PRESSURE PROBLEM AND THAT THE ROTORS WERE FINE. …

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THE REAR ROTORS ARE FOUND TO BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION FROM THE FACTORY. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 3,500 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A TIRE PRESSURE PROBLEM AND THAT THE ROTORS WERE FINE. I COMPLAINED AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. FINALLY AT 12,606 MILES I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED THAT THEY TEST THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH, AS ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS THEY HAD DRIVEN IT IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT MANIFEST AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR ROTORS IN THAT THE WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION, I.E. THE WRONG ONES HAD BEEN INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. MY CONCERN IS THAT AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE INCORRECT ROTORS AND I NOW WONDER HOW MANY OTHER ROUTAN VANS LEFT THE FACTORY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THE DEALERSHIP AND DONE A PROPER JOB WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WOULD NOT BE CONCERNED AT THE MOMENT. VW COULD HAVE FACED A SEVERE LIABILITY LAWSUIT IF I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THE OUT OF SPECIFICATION ROTORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434164

9,000 miles · Feb 24, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

2010 ROUTAN WITH LESS THAN 10K MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF LEAVING US WITH NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING AND VERY LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE CAR TO STOP. HE THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. WE TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVI…

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2010 ROUTAN WITH LESS THAN 10K MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF LEAVING US WITH NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING AND VERY LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE CAR TO STOP. HE THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. WE TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE. THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO ME THE DAY BEFORE AND AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES BEFORE THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS DOING. VW SERVICE CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY CAN KEEP IT UNTIL THEY DO. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE AND WILL NOT TRUST OUR LIVES OR THE LIVES OF OUR CHILD AND FRIENDS IN THIS CAR. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND WAITING FOR A CALL BACK. ALSO WAITING FOR NEWS ON OUR VEHICLE..DAY 2 AT THE SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384398

10,646 miles · Jan 19, 2011
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

ROUTAN SEEMED TO JOLT/SKID WHEN BRAKE WAS PRESSED. THIS WOULD HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3RD DAY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE ROTORS WERE WORN. THIS I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHEN IT IS A NEW 2010 WHICH I PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2010. I DO NOT COMPREHEND AND UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPLANATION. THE DESCRIBED HOW THE ROTOR WOR…

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ROUTAN SEEMED TO JOLT/SKID WHEN BRAKE WAS PRESSED. THIS WOULD HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3RD DAY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE ROTORS WERE WORN. THIS I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHEN IT IS A NEW 2010 WHICH I PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2010. I DO NOT COMPREHEND AND UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPLANATION. THE DESCRIBED HOW THE ROTOR WORKS ALONG WITH THE BRAKE. BOTTOM LINE IS A MORE SENSIBLE MATERIAL IS BEING USED. THEY WERE NOT REPLACED ONLY TOUCHED UP. MAKES NO COMPLETE SENSE AND TO ME IS ALREADY A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO THERE IS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT THEY COULD NOT DETECT/FIND IT. I'M TO GO BACK AND DO A TEST DRIVE WITH THEIR TECHNICIAN SO THAT I CAN POINT OUT TO THEM THE SOUND. WELL TODAY WHEN I STARTED THE ROUTAN IT HAS MORE OF A CLICKING SOUND WHICH WAS NOT THERE BEFORE. I WOULD HEAR THE SOUND ONLY WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING USED. WHEN GAS PEDAL WOULD BE RELEASED IT WOULD GO AWAY BUT NOW IT IS A CONSTANT SOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10377944

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.