There are 5 stored owner reports matching the air bags & restraints leading-label group for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 5 of 5 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Driver steering wheel airbag deployed while parking van at work. Nothing was hit just went off causing burns and wrist pain and swelling. Wife stated that the front windshield wipers started turning on randomly while driving to work and then airbag blew while parking.
The ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which then depowers various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. This has happened to me several times including while driving on the interstate and in traffic. I was able to pull over but it is very difficult when power steering and power breaking goes out. I had children in the vehicle several times when this has happened. Per Volkswagon website, I removed all keychains or anything that would cause the key fob to be weighed down. When I contacted them, they said my van is not under recall even though it is the same exact issue previous models had been recalled for. The only symptom prior was the check engine light was on.
THE DRIVERS HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE HAD JUST BEEN STARTED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE STARTLED DRIVER TO THE POINT OF LOSS OF CONTROL.
I WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE DRIVER HEADREST EXPLODED FORWARD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT FROM THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT AND LOUD NOISE STARTLING ME.
I WAS IN A PRETTY BAD CAR ACCIDENT 4/5/2019 WITH 6 KIDS IN THE CAR AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.. WE WERE I MOTION WHEN CAR INFRONT OF ME TRIED TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. I SAW HIM AND I TRIED TO AVOID HIM SO MY LEFT FRONT HIT HIS REAR RIGHT SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND NOW I HAVE A HORRIBLE CONCUSSION IN THE HOSPITAL!
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.