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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

240 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2019
Electrical System

VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS OTHER REPAIR SHOPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE SINCE IT WAS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE HAD THE BATTERY AND STARTER REPLACED IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THE UNDERLYING ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ALSO STALLE…

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VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS OTHER REPAIR SHOPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE SINCE IT WAS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE HAD THE BATTERY AND STARTER REPLACED IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THE UNDERLYING ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ALSO STALLED ONCE WHILE SLOWING DOWN. THE VARIOUS LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE FLASHED AND THE DVD PLAYER QUIT WORKING AFTER THIS EPISODE. AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH WE NOW BELIEVE IT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TIPM AND WILL HAVE THIS TESTED.

NHTSA ODI #11217484

164,000 miles · May 31, 2019
Electrical System

THE KEY ON MY VEHICLE (2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN) HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE PARKED AND HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK ON START (CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CRANK CONSISTENTLY). MY VEHICLE HAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER (GERALD JONES VOLKSWAGEN IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA). I WAS TOLD …

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THE KEY ON MY VEHICLE (2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN) HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE PARKED AND HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK ON START (CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CRANK CONSISTENTLY). MY VEHICLE HAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER (GERALD JONES VOLKSWAGEN IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA). I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE MANAGEMENT REFUSES TO PURCHASE THE PARTS FOR MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE COST OF THE PARTS. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER 1-2 HOURS AWAY. I AM NOW HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THE DISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI #11217028

131,200 miles · May 15, 2019
EngineService BrakesSteering

REPORTED ISSUE TO VW RECALL GROUP VIA TELEPHONE 5/13/2019. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO A RECALL THAT TOOK PLACE FOR VW ROUTAN 2009-2010 THAT WERE CREATED BETWEEN THE DATES OF OCTOBER 2019 TO JUNE 2010. OUR VEHICLE WAS CREATED IN AUGUST OF 2010, AND I SUSPECT THE SAME PARTS WERE STILL USED. TWO ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED WITH 2010 V…

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REPORTED ISSUE TO VW RECALL GROUP VIA TELEPHONE 5/13/2019. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO A RECALL THAT TOOK PLACE FOR VW ROUTAN 2009-2010 THAT WERE CREATED BETWEEN THE DATES OF OCTOBER 2019 TO JUNE 2010. OUR VEHICLE WAS CREATED IN AUGUST OF 2010, AND I SUSPECT THE SAME PARTS WERE STILL USED. TWO ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED WITH 2010 VW ROUTAN SEL MINIVAN 4.0L ISSUES STARTED OCCURRING AFTER REPLACING A LOST KEY FOB. KEY FOB WAS ORDERED THROUGH LOCAL VW DEALER (BOB KING VW) AND REPLACED. FIRST ISSUE: CAR WOULD NOT START. PUT KEY INTO IGNITION SWITCH, TURN KEY, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IN ORDER TO START CAR, WAIT AND REPEAT STEPS UNTIL CAR ACTUALLY STARTS. SECOND ISSUE: (HIGHLY DANGEROUS) INTERMITTENT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POWER STEERING TO TURN OFF AS WELL AS BRAKES. VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT TURNING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AS WELL AS BRAKING. IN ORDER TO BRAKE YOU HAVE TO APPLY GREAT FORCE TO BREAK SINCE THERE IS NO POWER TO THE CAR. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERED OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS AT LEAST FOUR (4) TIMES WHILE THE PRIMARY DRIVER HAS BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE LAST TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURRED 5/13/2019 THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A MAJOR ROAD WAY NEAR AN INTERSECTION. EVASIVE MANEUVERS WERE TAKEN TO GET VEHICLE OFF OF ROAD AND INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT OFF THE STREET.

NHTSA ODI #11207706

127,000 miles · May 3, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

I BELIEVE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY BUT MY VIN DOES NOT COME UP UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALLS (15V194000 OR 11V151000). ONE TIME WHEN ACCELERATING UP A BUMPY HILL GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND POWER STEERING WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN IT OFF, PUT…

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I BELIEVE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY BUT MY VIN DOES NOT COME UP UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALLS (15V194000 OR 11V151000). ONE TIME WHEN ACCELERATING UP A BUMPY HILL GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND POWER STEERING WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN IT OFF, PUT IT IN PARK, AND TURN IT BACK ON. ANOTHER TIME ON A FLAT BUMPY ROAD, ACCELERATING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN WITH NO POWER STEERING AVAILABLE. I AGAIN PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT.

NHTSA ODI #11205482

105,000 miles · Apr 23, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOBBY BECKS VOLKSWAGEN (8…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOBBY BECKS VOLKSWAGEN (893 S STEMMONS FWY, LEWISVILLE, TX 75067, (855) 315-4505) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE COMPUTER COULD NOT READ THE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #11203151

129,000 miles · Mar 30, 2019
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

VAN CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. INABILITY TO STEER, LIMITED BRAKING. CAR GOES COMPLETELY DEAD BUT STILL START BACK ONCE I HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR DRIVING OVER 45 WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11192547

115,000 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Electrical System

THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DIES, SOMETIMES WHEN HITTING A BUMP. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS UP, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, AND OF COURSE, POWER STEERING GONE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3-4 MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY, THE LIGHTNING BOLT SAFETY LIGHT LIT UP, WHICH RELATES TO A ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT, OR ETC. THAT DISAPPEARED, THEN THE…

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THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DIES, SOMETIMES WHEN HITTING A BUMP. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS UP, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, AND OF COURSE, POWER STEERING GONE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3-4 MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY, THE LIGHTNING BOLT SAFETY LIGHT LIT UP, WHICH RELATES TO A ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT, OR ETC. THAT DISAPPEARED, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP. THAT ALSO DISAPPEARED. 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. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ' IGNITION ' SWITCH

NHTSA ODI #11189688

78,737 miles · Feb 24, 2019
Unknown Or Other

TAKARA RECALL I WAS DRIVING (THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION) ON A COTT STREET AND THE VAN STARTED SHAKING THEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. THEN THE VAN WOULD TURN ON, BUT WOULD SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE VAN OFF THE ROAD. I COULD HAVE CRASHED AND NOW I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY KIDS IN THAT VEHICLE ANYMOR…

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TAKARA RECALL I WAS DRIVING (THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION) ON A COTT STREET AND THE VAN STARTED SHAKING THEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. THEN THE VAN WOULD TURN ON, BUT WOULD SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE VAN OFF THE ROAD. I COULD HAVE CRASHED AND NOW I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY KIDS IN THAT VEHICLE ANYMORE. I JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE. ALSO I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 4 DAYS EARLIER FROM A USED CAR DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #11182178

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2019
EngineCrash

CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11181437

64,000 miles · Jan 21, 2019
Electrical System

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES A WELL-MAINTAINED MINIVAN WITH 65,000 MILES AND AN ENGINE THAT QUITS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IN MOTION, DISABLING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AS DESCRIBED IN THE DEFECT NOTICE (PART 573 FILING), PUBLISHED 3/1/2011 AND AMENDED 5/10/2011, CITING RECALL CODE 28G/U8, THIS MINIVAN FALLS WITHIN THE APPLICABLE VI…

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THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES A WELL-MAINTAINED MINIVAN WITH 65,000 MILES AND AN ENGINE THAT QUITS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IN MOTION, DISABLING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AS DESCRIBED IN THE DEFECT NOTICE (PART 573 FILING), PUBLISHED 3/1/2011 AND AMENDED 5/10/2011, CITING RECALL CODE 28G/U8, THIS MINIVAN FALLS WITHIN THE APPLICABLE VIN RANGE AND BUILD DATES HOWEVER, VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT NUMEROUS TIMES, MOSTLY WHEN STATIONARY, RIGHT AFTER STARTING, BUT TWICE WHEN IN MOTION IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. IN ALL CASES, THE KEY WAS UNTOUCHED AND REMAINED IN THE ON POSITION AND THE DASH LIGHTS REMAINED ON. LIKEWISE, IN ALL CASES, AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, A NEW PROBLEM SURFACED WHEREBY THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START UNTIL WE WIGGLED THE KEY FOR BETWEEN TWO AND TWENTY MINUTES. MOST RECENTLY, AT THE END OF A TRIP, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN, EVEN WITH THE KEY REMOVED. THIS PROBLEM PROMPTED US TO DELIVER THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL VW DEALER ON 12/26/2018 AND THEIR DIAGNOSTIC NOTES INCLUDE 'FOUND INTERNAL SEPARATION OF WIN MODULE.' THEIR ESTIMATE IS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE RECALLED ITEM, THE WIN MODULE. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THE PART NEEDED, BOTH MIRROR EXACTLY THAT WHICH IS DETAILED IN THE PART 573 NOTICE AND AS SUCH, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COVERED REPAIRS. MOREOVER, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ACCURATELY ASSESS THE EXTENT OF THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE RANGE. I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO INTERVENE AND FORCE THIS MANUFACTURER TO PROPERLY ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVING IN, OR AROUND, THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11171239

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.