RoadVitals

2010 Volkswagen Routan Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Feb 12, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 240 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Volkswagen Routan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 12, 2024

Battery failure due to parasitic draw from Ignition IOD fuse ( J13fuse) reads 0.9 draw and M11 fuse ( hvac system) reads 0.6 draw. First occurrence 2/10/24 and second occurrence 2/11/24. Informed auto repair shop on 2/12/24 and goes in for diagnostic 2/15/24. Abs control module failure( intermittent ) Egr valve replacement (8/9/24 due to overheating but no warning lights due to overheating was displayed which is strange) Speed control sensor was replaced as well 8/9/24 but still has problems getting stuck or not reading the right speed . Consumes fuel faster than normal as well . Getting about 9 miles to the gallon.

NHTSA ID
11571385
Incident
Feb 10, 2024
Driver assistanceElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 12, 2020

THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING IN LIMESTONE COUNTY ALABAMA. KEYS DON'T START IT NONE OF AUTOMATIC DOORS WILL OPEN.

NHTSA ID
11363943
Incident
Oct 2, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 6, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11253574
Incident
Sep 4, 2019
Mileage
155,800 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 19, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11245041
Incident
Aug 13, 2019
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Mar 30, 2019

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 ID
11192547
Incident
Mar 29, 2019
Mileage
129,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Nov 8, 2018

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 30MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE AS WELL AS MY ABILITY TO BRAKE WELL. LOOKING ONLINE THEIR WAS A RECALL ON MY MODEL YEAR AND MAKE OF VAN FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT PULL UP A RECALL. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY ALSO STATED MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY.

NHTSA ID
11150122
Incident
Nov 8, 2018
Mileage
177,300 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 7, 2018

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#.

NHTSA ID
11076779
Incident
Mar 7, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 8, 2018
Fire reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11071699
Incident
Jan 17, 2018
Mileage
148,845 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 25, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11039881
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
Mileage
66,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 14, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11033333
Incident
Jul 3, 2017
Mileage
100,590 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 12, 2017

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!

NHTSA ID
11022870
Incident
May 1, 2017
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 6, 2016

CAR FLASHES ABS ESP SKID CONTROL MONITOR, SHUTS CAR OFF WHILE DRIVING. GOES BACK OFF, DOES IT AGAIN.LOCKS THE CAR, WON'T START, THEN STARTS A BIT LATER. COOLING SYSTEM , HEATER HOSE ISSUES, BRAKE ISSUES, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. COULD KILL SOMEONE. INTERNET SEARCH ESP VOLKSWAGENDDEFECT.COMVOLKSWAGEN_ROUTAN_PROBLEMS.HTM ALL EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE A YEAR AGO. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. UPDATED 04/05/2017 *JS

NHTSA ID
10883101
Incident
Jul 5, 2016
Mileage
70,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 6, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10818389
Incident
Dec 11, 2015
Mileage
64,000 mi
Driver assistanceInterior & seats
Filed Aug 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UPON ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE DOOR LOCK. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE RELATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10535480
Incident
Aug 10, 2013
Mileage
29,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 25, 2011

I HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNING A 2010 ROUTAN. (THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM, RATHER THAT I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WORK.) WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET NEAR 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE GOES DOWNHILL IT WILL DOWNSHIFT AUTOMATICALLY AND THE ENGINE WILL INCREASE ITS RPMS, ESSENTIALLY CREATING A MOTOR-BRAKE THAT KEEPS THE SPEED LESS THAN ABOUT 55 MPH. I ACCEPTED THEIR EXPLANATION AND THEIR ASSURANCE THAT IT WAS SAFE AND WOULD NOT DAMAGE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY OBSERVED THIS HAPPENING AT SPEEDS NEAR 50MPH. HOWEVER, THIS SUNDAY WHEN IT HAPPENED ON A PARTICULARLY LONG, WINDING HILL, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD PREFER TO MANUALLY USE THE BRAKE, SO AFTER IT BEGAN DOWNSHIFTING I PRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF. IT DID NOT TURN OFF. I PRESSED THE BUTTON SEVERAL MORE TIMES, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. I PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE STAYED IN THE LOWER GEAR WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AND IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE WERE WORKING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. I DECIDED TO LET THE VEHICLE CONTROL ITSELF UNTIL WE RETURNED TO LEVEL GROUND. ONCE WE REACHED LEVEL GROUND AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE BEGIN TO REDUCE ITS RPMS, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED. THIS WAS SCARY BUT CONTROLLABLE BECAUSE THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE ROAD, THOUGH STEEP, WAS WIDE AND EASY TO NAVIGATE. HOWEVER, ON A SNOWY OR WET ROAD, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND IF IT HAPPENS TO ANYONE ELSE THEY MAY PANIC AND DO SOMETHING EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. THEN, AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR WILL NOT REALIZE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE, AS IN MY CASE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE TURNED OFF. BUT THE DRIVER WILL NOT HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS, I BELIEVE IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS SUNDAY'S INCIDENT TO THE DEALER OR TO VW.

NHTSA ID
10403451
Incident
May 22, 2011
Mileage
44,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .