Summary
The Volkswagen Routan has 13 recalls covering the 2008–2012 production run, with the most serious being a right rear hub and bearing assembly defect on certain 2012 models where an incompletely machined part can lose durability and allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle while driving.
The final model year aside, the most consequential issues across the Routan's run center on the ignition switch and its cascading effects. On 2009 and 2010 models, the ignition key can drift from the run position to accessory while driving, cutting engine power and simultaneously disabling power steering, power brakes, and the airbag system. The 2009 model year carries additional airbag-related concerns: a separate defect in the restraint control module can cause airbags and seatbelt pretensioners to deploy without warning or fail to deploy when needed in a crash, and corrosion in the airbag control unit on early 2009 production vehicles can cause the unit to fail entirely, preventing airbag deployment. Also on 2009 models, the wiring harness for power sliding doors may have been routed so that it contacts the lower hinge bracket, wears through the insulation, and starts a fire inside the sliding door assembly. The 2008 model year has one recall affecting only vehicles modified for wheelchair accessibility by Liberty Motor Company, where the rear axle can fracture from corrosion combined with rough-road stress, compromising vehicle handling. Rounding out the 2009 recalls, the owner's manual was printed without required safety instructions about keeping objects away from the instrument panel airbag area, which is a compliance issue with no mechanical defect involved.
