YearToAvoid

2010 Volkswagen Routan Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 23 steering complaints for the 2010 Volkswagen Routan, 10% of its 240 total complaints for the year, the highest count of any Routan model year. Median mileage at failure was 98,000 miles. No steering-specific recall is listed.

Steering complaints
23
10% of 240
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
98,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle pulls abnormally to the right at highway and city speeds, sometimes persisting after repeated wheel alignments and rear axle replacement.
  • Steering wheel seizes or becomes difficult to turn without warning while driving, coinciding with reported electrical system failures.
  • Steering effort is lost simultaneously with a stall or shutdown, leaving owners with reduced brake and steering control while in motion.
  • Steering wheel makes a cranking or grinding sound during left and right turns, described by an owner as persisting over multiple years despite dealer visits.
  • Dealers perform front-end alignments and tire rotations multiple times without resolving the pulling complaint, with some owners suspecting the steering rack or sub frame.

When 2010 Volkswagen Routan steering complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 22, 2010, latest Aug 23, 2021.

2010 Volkswagen Routan steering complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2010May 2012Sep 2015Nov 2016Nov 2018May 2019Aug 2021
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2010 to Aug 2021; peak Dec 2018 (3).

Steering recalls for the 2010 Volkswagen Routan

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Routan model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201023 (10%)
  2. 201111 (6%)
  3. 20128 (13%)
  4. 20130 (0%)
  5. 20140 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are steering complaints on the 2010 Volkswagen Routan?
NHTSA lists 23 steering-related complaints for the 2010 Routan, accounting for 10% of the 240 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for steering issues on the 2010 Volkswagen Routan?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2010 Routan's steering complaints.
At what mileage do steering problems typically appear on the 2010 Routan?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2010 Routan is 98,000 miles.
Which Routan model year has the most steering complaints?
The 2010 Routan has the most steering complaints at 23, compared to 11 for 2011 and 8 for 2012, with 2013 and 2014 reporting none.
Did steering problems on the 2010 Routan cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to the reported steering complaints for the 2010 Routan.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.