2010 Volkswagen Routan Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Routan most often report the engine cutting out while driving, and many describe intermittent no-start conditions, with the ignition switch and related electrical parts named repeatedly. These reports span a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well over 150,000, and often appear without warning. Smaller groups of complaints concern delayed or harsh transmission shifts, corroded tire valve stems, and power sliding doors that open or close on their own.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine shuts off while driving

   • 104 complaints (43%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (93 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners describe the van losing power without warning at speeds from parking-lot pace to highway speed, usually with no check-engine light; power steering and brake assist go away with the engine, and the vehicle often restarts after shifting to park or cycling the key. Several complaints tie this to the ignition switch or a power module, and some note their VIN was not covered by the ignition-switch recalls. Dealers sometimes replaced the ignition switch or a control module, and in some cases the symptom returned. Reported from roughly 2,800 to 200,000 miles, at all speeds and in both cold and warm weather.

   Recall 11V151000Recall 15V194000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition-switch recalls (11V151000 and 15V194000) were performed and check the VIN with a dealer, since some owners reported being excluded. During a test drive, note any stalling, flickering dash lights, or unusual ignition-key feel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Volkswagen Routan (2010) stalls while driving. This has happened 3 times while I am driving. Twice I am driving 55 miles an hour, another time driving about 35 MPH. It does restart after I put the car in neutral, but could have been very dangerous as the steering wheel locks until I can restart it! Dangerous.”

   NHTSA complaint #10411586, filed 2011-07, 13,000 miles

   “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 complaint #11182178, filed 2019-02, 78,737 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start and key stuck in ignition

   • 132 complaints (55%)
   • median 78,737 mi at 6.5 yrs old (105 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners report turning the key and getting nothing, or a single click, then having the van start normally minutes or hours later; battery, starter and alternator replacements often did not change it. Some describe the key sticking in the ignition or staying in the accessory position so the engine could not be shut off. Complaints mention dealers finding no fault codes or replacing the ignition switch without a lasting fix, and one owner said a dealer declined to obtain recall parts. Reported across a broad range from about 2,800 to 200,000 miles, typically as an intermittent fault.

   Recall 15V194000Recall 11V151000

   What to check: Try several cold and warm starts during the test drive and check that the key turns freely and releases from the ignition. Ask whether the ignition switch has been replaced and whether any recall work was completed under 15V194000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car battery is in good shape because I recently replaced it with a new one. The problem is occasionally I try to start the vehicle and it will not start when the electronic throttle control light is blinking but if I use my car keys to lock and unlock the car, then the electronic throttle control light will go off and car will start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10638703, filed 2014-09, 38,000 miles

   “On august 14th, 2014, I placed my key in the ignition of my 2010 Volkswagen Routan. The car/engine made an odd sound when the key was turned and all the lights went out. Additionally, the dash lights started flashing and my key became permanently stuck in the ignition. I heard a very rapid clicking noise under the hood so I opened it and discovered the fuse box under the hood was the source. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10622245, filed 2014-08, 45,400 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks or hangs between gears

   • 14 complaints (6%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners describe harsh shifting in the lower gears, with 2nd and 3rd reported as the most noticeable, sometimes feeling like the van will not shift at all when hot or at a stop. Some complaints say the behavior is similar in economy mode and that a dealer attributed it to the transmission programming rather than a mechanical failure. Others mention delayed engagement when accelerating from a stop. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 155,000 miles, often after the van has been driven for a while.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the van long enough to reach operating temperature and cycle through the gears from a stop, watching for harsh or delayed shifts. Ask about transmission fluid service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car recently started having issues shifting into the next gear. Typically happens when I have been driving for a while. All of a sudden it will get stuck in a gear and it won't shift. The car can be in motion or even stationary (stop light) when it happens.”

   NHTSA complaint #11331811, filed 2020-06, 140,000 miles

   “Around 108000 miles, my 2010 Routan automatic transmission started jerking into gears 2, 3, 4. Sometimes it shifts smoothly but more often it's hard enough to jerk all passengers while driving. I have tried eco mode with same results. Driving normal it seems to be worse than when speeding up quickly. 3rd gear is the worst and is hard enough to throw you forward causing you to swerve sometimes. It's the same results in town, on highway, and in stop and go traffic. Now has 129000 miles and getting worse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323785, filed 2020-05, 108,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection check the ignition switch and recall status and confirm both sliding doors latch and open correctly. A long test drive at various speeds and in stop-and-go traffic will show whether the van stalls or the transmission shifts harshly.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.