Volkswagen Group of America is issuing an extension of recalls for ignition-switch defects in 20,676 Routan minivans for the 2009 and 2010 model years.
The automaker is calling back the minivans built by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles because some vehicles may experience inadvertent ignition key displacement from the run position, which would shut off the engine and depower safety systems, such as airbags, power steering and braking, according to a Volkswagen filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
No accidents or injuries have been reported, Volkswagen spokesman Mark Gillies said in an interview.
Until the vehicles are inspected, owners should remove all items except the ignition key from their key rings. The key fob also should be removed, the filing said.
The recall is an extension of two recalls: a 2011 recall of 2010 Routans and a 2014 recall of 2009 Routans.
In 2011, Volkswagen replaced the ignition switches on most of the vehicles, but parts supply issues prevented replacements on all affected vehicles, Gillies said. Of the 2010 models affected, 2,155 had a detent plunger fitted. Vehicles that received new ignition switches are excluded from this recall, he said.
Last year, when Volkswagen announced the 2009 model recalls, the automaker said it would put a new detent plunger on the ignition switches of the approximately 18,520 recalled vehicles.
Now, NHTSA has said that replacing the detent plunger is not sufficient -- the entire ignition switch needs to be replaced.
Volkswagen expects 2009 model-year replacement parts to be available this month and 2010 model-year vehicle parts to be available in August.
Fiat Chrysler said in February that it will replace Continental ignition-switch modules and key fobs with Marquardt modules, according to the NHTSA filing.
In June, Fiat Chrysler said it would recall nearly 700,000 more 2008-10 Town & Countrys, Dodge Caravans and Dodge Journeys because of ignition-switch defects. An earlier recall covered 196,000 units from the 2010 model year.
The recalls follow in the wake of General Motors’ safety crisis last year. GM recalled 2.6 million vehicles for faulty ignition switches that now have been blamed for 84 fatalities. In all, GM recalled a record 27 million U.S. vehicles last year.
