2010 Volkswagen ROUTAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
240 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 197 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 145 of 240 complaints (60.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 26.7% |
| Engine operation | 54 | 22.5% |
| Braking behavior | 44 | 18.3% |
| Steering behavior | 42 | 17.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 145 |
| Engine | 45 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Steering | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
Electrical System: 145; Engine: 45; Service Brakes: 23; Steering: 23; Unknown Or Other: 18; Power Train: 16; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 9; Exterior Lighting: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 38 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 45 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 45; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 7; 2011: 22; 2012: 9; 2013: 15; 2014: 29; 2015: 31; 2016: 20; 2017: 27; 2018: 19; 2019: 19; 2020: 14; 2021: 11; 2022: 5; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 64 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10332677 · 2010-05-28 (May 28, 2010)
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING MY NEW 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN, THE CAR IS UNDER TWO MONTHS OLD. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND LEFT THE KEYS IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO RUN INTO OPEN THE GARAGE.... I WANTED TO GET A PUPPY OUT OF THE REAR OF THE CAR FIRST SO I WENT AND STOOD BEHIND THE CAR BUT IT WAS LOCKED (CLEARLY IN PARKED.) I THEN WENT TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TO HIT THE UNLOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR AND THE CAR STARTED REVERSING AND I WAS JUST CAUGHT REALLY OFF GUARD SO I TRIED TO JUMP IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10332677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356966 · 2010-09-22 (September 22, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING GOES OUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE STEERING WILL FAIL. IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED THE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT VERY HARD AND THERE IS A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE GIVES NO WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURES OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 659 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359061 · 2010-10-04 (October 4, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY PULLING TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE A WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AS HIS WITH COMPLAINTS OF THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF A POTENTIAL CRASH INVOLVED WITH THE FAILURE O…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359146 · 2010-10-04 (October 4, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TWICE AND THE REAR AXLE WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4.
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361903 · 2010-10-23 (October 23, 2010)
JUST OVER 2 MONTHS AFTER HAVING MY 2010 VW ROUTAN, ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS I STARTED THE CAR AND IT IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. I ALSO NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE STRUGGLING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. I EVENTUALLY TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. TODAY, WHICH IS ABOUT 1 WEEK SINCE GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 3 KIDS IN THE BACK AND WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AL…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367104 · 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH WOULD RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS RE-FLASHED AND THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED; THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT HAD YET TO BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369603 · 2010-12-08 (December 8, 2010)
THE CAR FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO BRAKES AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. HAD TO TURN IGNITION OFF IN ORDER TO HAVE CAR SLOW DOWN AND THAN EVENTUALLY STOP. ALSO FAILED TO BACK UP WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL AT FIRST AND THAN JUMPED INTO GEAR WHEN FOOT WAS RELEASED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND IT WAS TAKEN TO BE FIXED. THE CODES THAT CAME UP WERE PO731 AND PO935. WAITING ON PARTS TO COME IN. ALSO, THE TIRE SENSOR ON THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 43 DAYS NOW. I HAVE ASKED FOR THE PARTS FROM VOLKSWAGEN NOW TO SAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,438 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10377944 · 2011-01-19 (January 19, 2011)
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 F…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,646 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377944 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V151000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2011-03-01 (March 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V194000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2015-04-01 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗