2010 Volkswagen ROUTAN
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Volkswagen ROUTAN has 359 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (42% of all complaints), specifically: 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 mod. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
359
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
4.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
151 complaints- • 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 MOD
- • 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 SATISFACT
- • DEATH & INJURY RISK! VOLKSWAGEN 2010 ROUTAN SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THIS HAS HAPPEN MORE THAN A FEW TIMES. TODAY IS THE LAST STRAW AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS. I BARELY SURVIVE THE INCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO VW SERVICE MULTIPLE TIME
“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 MOD”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
50 complaints- • 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 ST
- • WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTEN UP. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT TURNED BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM. A SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 03/09/11 AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT A
- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER PLACING IT IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT TH
“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 ST”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
27 complaints- • 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. T
- • 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 ST
- • 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 AN
“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. T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
23 complaints- • 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 CONTI
- • 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 PER
- • 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 R
“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 CONTI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
22 complaints- • 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
- • 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 CONTI
- • 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
“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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 359 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 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 MOD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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 ST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: 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. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: 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 CONTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Volkswagen ROUTAN — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 359
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 15
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Volkswagen ROUTAN