JUNE 2010 -- 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. Contact with a 12V power feed circuit within the harness may cause a high resistive short circuit within the latch mechanism located inside of the sliding door. This could result in an overheated latch and a fire within the rear sliding door could occur. 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 under the sliding door weather strip. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during July 2010.  10V-252

JULY 2009 -- Volkswagen is recalling 18,500 MY 2009 Routan vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The owner's manual was printed without the FMVSS No. 208 required information explaining that no objects should be placed over the or near the air bag on the instrument panel. Any such objects could cause injury to the vehicle's occupants in the event of a crash severe enough to cause the air bag to inflate. Dealers will send an owner's manual insert containing the required air bag information for owner installation or dealers will install in the event the owner prefers assistance from the dealer. The recall began on July 31, 2009.  09V-244