2010 Volkswagen ROUTAN problems and owner complaints
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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10389619 · 2011-03-09 (March 9, 2011)
I PURCHASED A 2010 VW ROUTAN IN MAY 2010. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THAT TIME - ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE SLIDING DOORS, TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY, THE VEHICLE'S STRAINED ABILITY TO BACK UP WHEN STOPPED/PARKED ON A DECLINE. THE ONLY ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN SATISFACTORILY ADDRESSED TO DATE IS THE SLIDING DOOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE. MY MOST PRESSING CONCERN, HOWEVER, INVOLVES A STALLING ISSUE WHICH OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR PATTERN. ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010, WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398128 · 2011-04-28 (April 28, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE WIND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL NUMBER 11V151000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398128 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 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 11220888 · 2019-06-18 (June 18, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED HATFIELD VOLKSWAGEN (1495 AUTO MALL DR, COLUMBUS, OH 43228, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO A FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.*DT
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354495 · 2020-09-11 (September 11, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APPROX. 30-35 MILES PER HOUR AND MY VAN DIED. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. LUCKILY I WASN'T SERIOUSLY INJURED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. WITHIN A SPAN OF LESS THAN 2 YEARS IVE ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE BATTERY, AND THE ALTERNATOR IS STILL NEW AND UNDER WARRANTY. THE IGNITION/POWER WINDOWS FUSE CONSTANTLY NEEDS ADJUSTING SO I CAN ROLL MY WINDOW UP OR DOWN. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY AS WELL. SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON. NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DIE ON ME WHIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354495 at NHTSA ↗