Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The battery started dying randomly several months ago. I have called multiple dealerships and had diagnostics ran twice on the car. Initially I was told there is no draw on the battery. Then it was discovered that the TIPM module needs to be replaced. I then started researching this problem with this vehicle only to find multiple forums full of people having the same exact issue or worse! As in, their car stalls on the highway randomly while driving!! Someone could die! This module fails and in my case causes the fuel pump to continue running even when the car is off which completely drains the battery overnight! …
Car is stalling out while driving with no warning. Doesn't matter the rate of speed I'm going it just cuts out. Can't turn steering wheel. No codes pop up. No mechanics can pinpoint issue. I have seen quite a few thousand people complaining of the same issue and reported it to vw as well as nhtsa and NO ONE will do a recall. Chrysler did a recall for this same issue but NOT vw. This is a safety issue for not only the owner but other drivers on the road. If I get into an accident or cause one I WILL BE suing nhtsa as well as vw for no recall being done. I have printed out over 100 pages of complaints from others for evidence of complaints. I have already entered the class action lawsuit with others having the same issue. RECALL THE ISSUE OR FACE LAWSUITS.
loss of steering while driving, fluid loss multiple times since late september 2024(all while driving and no lights or warnings came on), 2 snapped serpentine belts, key ignition sticking(would not turn), dashboard not lighting up, rpm no longer rests below 1.5 - 2, car struggles to accelerate(especially uphill), car turns over and struggles to start, even though has newer battery. 1/9/25 driving to an appointment, upon reaching destination, a pop sound. No smell, no warnings came up on dashboard. Upon leaving, saw fluid leak, headed straight to dealership, at which a massive amount of fluid began pouring out of vehicle..in exact same area as original issue from 8/31/24.
When driving for about 25 and then getting to a stop light. As I slow down and start to come to a stop the car shakes very roughly and turns right off. The first time this happened was 3 days after getting car from Carmax. It had not happened again until this week.
The contact owned a 2010 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle independently caught on fire. There was no crash nor injury due to the fire. The air bags did not deploy. The fire department was contacted and was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed. The contact had an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle and deemed the vehicle as a total loss. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact stated that numerous unknown warning lights were illuminated and blinking. The contact was attempting to maintain lane when the vehicle independently restarted and the contact pulled off the road safely. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and all the functions returned. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V151000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the failure was a recurring issue. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V194000 (Electrical System) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch failed and needed to be replaced; however, the dealer confirmed that parts were not available for the recall repair. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V194000 (Electrical System); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not available. The local dealer was contacted to schedule the recall repair, but the part remained unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Related recalls (4)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
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.
Electrical system › Ignition
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. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1- 800-822-8987. An interim notice was mailed to owners on August 29, 2014.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
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.
Electrical system › Wiring
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 routan vehicles manufactured from June 2008 through July 2009. These vehicles May have been built with an improper routed wire harness that May have a condition where the lower sliding door hinge bracket can make contact and wear through the wire insulation.
Remedy: Volkswagen will inspect the sliding door wire track wire assembly and the sliding door power drive unit wire assembly for damage, repair/replace as necessary, tie strap the two harnesses together and route the harnesses…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Routan years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (151), 2010 (150), 2011 (111) and 2012 (39) model years. Electrical complaints make up 51% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Routan electrical problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 15V-194 (switch, Apr 1, 2015); 14V-396 (ignition, Jul 1, 2014); 11V-151 (switch, Mar 1, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Routan electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition (5 mentions), followed by the ignition › switch (3).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.