THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING IN LIMESTONE COUNTY ALABAMA. KEYS DON'T START IT NONE OF AUTOMATIC DOORS WILL OPEN.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Routan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
9 reportsWHILE DRIVING (CAR IN MOTION)THE CAR TO PICK UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DRAINING. THE ALERT LIGHT BEEPED SO I LOOKED AT DASH THE LIGHTS/INFO ON CAR STARTED BLINKING THEN THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NO POWER WOULD WORK I COULDN'T ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS OR TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS, I HA…
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WHILE DRIVING (CAR IN MOTION)THE CAR TO PICK UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DRAINING. THE ALERT LIGHT BEEPED SO I LOOKED AT DASH THE LIGHTS/INFO ON CAR STARTED BLINKING THEN THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NO POWER WOULD WORK I COULDN'T ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS OR TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS, I HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT START FROM A JUMP. THE CAR HAD NO WARNING SIGNS AND WAS RECENTLY INSPECTED AND CHECKED ON COMPUTER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET ANY CODES OR SEE ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. CAR WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO NEUTRAL TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME AND STILL NOT ABLE TO JUMP BATTERY AND CAR WON'T START. ALL POWER REMAINS OFF AND CAN'T LOCK CAR WITH KEY EITHER.
THE ENGINE STALLS AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND IT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 24 MONTHS. WE DISCOVERED THAT 12,000 AND MORE ROUTAN 2009 AND 2010 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH SOME FATALITIES REPORTED DUE TO THIS DEFECT: IGNITION MODULS AND ELECTRONIC MODULS. VW AND GM…
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THE ENGINE STALLS AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND IT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 24 MONTHS. WE DISCOVERED THAT 12,000 AND MORE ROUTAN 2009 AND 2010 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH SOME FATALITIES REPORTED DUE TO THIS DEFECT: IGNITION MODULS AND ELECTRONIC MODULS. VW AND GM-CHRYSLER ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE VW. DEALER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AS MY VW ROUTAN SEEMS NOT HAVING BEEN TRACKED DOWN DURING INITIAL RECALLS.
2010 VOLKSWAGON ROUTAN HAS STOPPED IN MID TRAFFIC GOING 30-40 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD. LIGHTS AND AUDIO HAVE FLICKERED, THEN TURN OFF. CAR SPONTANEOUSLY STARTS AND STOPS ANY GIVEN TIME IN MOTION AND STANDING STILL, AND CANNOT BE JUMPED TO REVIVE. HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR WITH MY CHILDREN AND HAVE HAD IT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD…
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2010 VOLKSWAGON ROUTAN HAS STOPPED IN MID TRAFFIC GOING 30-40 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD. LIGHTS AND AUDIO HAVE FLICKERED, THEN TURN OFF. CAR SPONTANEOUSLY STARTS AND STOPS ANY GIVEN TIME IN MOTION AND STANDING STILL, AND CANNOT BE JUMPED TO REVIVE. HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR WITH MY CHILDREN AND HAVE HAD IT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE HAVE HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR, COMPLETELY UNSAFE. TOLD THE EXACT RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO MY VIN#.
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, SNOW FELL ONTO THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH. AFTER THE CONTACT CLEANED THE SNOW OFF THE SWITCH, SHE LATER SMELLED A BURNING ODER COMING FROM THE DOOR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE WINDOW LATER IN THE DAY, BUT THE WINDOW FAILED TO GO DOWN. T…
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TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, SNOW FELL ONTO THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH. AFTER THE CONTACT CLEANED THE SNOW OFF THE SWITCH, SHE LATER SMELLED A BURNING ODER COMING FROM THE DOOR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE WINDOW LATER IN THE DAY, BUT THE WINDOW FAILED TO GO DOWN. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE FUSES AND OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT WATER FROM THE MELTED SNOW CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,845.
ESP ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHEN STOPPED AS IF THE BREAK IS NOT DETECTED. HAVE TO SHUT CAR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR DROP OF LINES AND TURN BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES TO CLEAR ERROR AND GET SHIFTER TO SHIFT TO DRIVE GEAR. USED SNAP ON READER TO CHECK CODES AND DOES NOT…
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ESP ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHEN STOPPED AS IF THE BREAK IS NOT DETECTED. HAVE TO SHUT CAR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR DROP OF LINES AND TURN BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES TO CLEAR ERROR AND GET SHIFTER TO SHIFT TO DRIVE GEAR. USED SNAP ON READER TO CHECK CODES AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE CAR AS VW, INSTEAD IT PULLS UP CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. TRIED TO REPLACE A BREAK LIGHT MODULE, THE PART WAS ACTUALLY FOR A DODGE NEON. (I AM ONLY OWNER, BOUGHT VAN BRAND NEW). SYMPTOM CAME BACK AFTER TWO DAYS. CODE READER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING CAUSING CODE TRIGGER. ALSO KEY DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK IN IGNITION SWITCH, MUST SOMETIMES TRY TO TURN ON 3 TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE. AMAZED AT ALL THESE SAFETY ISSUES AND YET VW DOES NOTHING. $34,000 CAR AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT ALREADY. ONLY 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR. TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY VW AT 12,000 MILES, ROTORS CHANGED AT 9,000 MILES, MOTOR PARTS REBUILT AT 35,000 MILES. CAR BURNS 6 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 4,000 MILES. VAN DOORS WILL SHUT ON KIDS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO STOP WHEN SOMETHING IS IN THE WAY. WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT, AND VW DOESN'T CARE TO RESOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES CUSTOMERS HAVE.
VAN WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WITHOUT NOTICE; WHEN DRIVEN INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, AUDIO SYSTEM CUTS OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND HAD TIPM WAS REPLACED AND ISSUE STILL PERSISTS.
VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN 2010 WILL TURN OFF WHILE IN MOTION, ON HIGHWAY, STREET, OR WHEN STATIONARY. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC AND WILL NOT ADJUST TO THE PROPER GEAR WHEN DRIVING. WHEN IN DRIVE THE CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL BACKWARDS AND WILL NOT KICK INTO FIRST GEAR. THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM NEVER WORKS PROPERLY AND IS CONST…
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VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN 2010 WILL TURN OFF WHILE IN MOTION, ON HIGHWAY, STREET, OR WHEN STATIONARY. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC AND WILL NOT ADJUST TO THE PROPER GEAR WHEN DRIVING. WHEN IN DRIVE THE CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL BACKWARDS AND WILL NOT KICK INTO FIRST GEAR. THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM NEVER WORKS PROPERLY AND IS CONSTANTLY NEEDING NEW BATTERIES VERY FEW MONTHS. THIS CAR IS UNSTABLE, UNSAFE, AND UNRELIABLE! THE VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN 2010 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ESP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ESP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Official recalls
215V194000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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