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2011 Volkswagen Routan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Routan years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 63.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

147 reports with mileage · 28 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

48 reports
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90,000 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING CONSISTENTLY AND WOULD SPUTTER. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIPM RELAY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING CONSISTENTLY AND WOULD SPUTTER. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIPM RELAY ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. CAPITAL VOLKSWAGEN (3963 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 692-5609) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11292576

98,000 miles · Nov 13, 2019
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2018. THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING ON PA I-76. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS THE VAN SHIFTED ERADICALLY, STALLED WHILE IN MOTION, AND STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY SENT IT TO THE TRANSMISSION PLAC…

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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2018. THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING ON PA I-76. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS THE VAN SHIFTED ERADICALLY, STALLED WHILE IN MOTION, AND STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY SENT IT TO THE TRANSMISSION PLACE THAT ORIGINALLY DID THE TRANSMISSION WORK. THEY REPLACED A DEFECTIVE PART. EVER SINCE THE REPAIR THE VAN SHIFTS HARD AND AT ODD TIMES. THREE WEEKS AGO IT BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND BEGAN TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AGAIN. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AGAIN THEY SAID IT WAS OUR BREAKS, WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC, IT'S NOT THE BREAKS. IT IS AGAIN AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP. THIS HAS COST US TIME, MONEY AND OUR SAFETY. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR VW TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VAN- WHO HAS TO DIE FOR ANYTHING TO BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #11279757

127,000 miles · Nov 4, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES, OFTEN IN TRAFFIC MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY. CHRYSLER (WHO ACTUALLY MADE THIS VEHICLE) HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT VW WILL NOT HONOR IT.

NHTSA ODI #11278020

147,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, DECELERATED TO 25 MPH, AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STARTING…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, DECELERATED TO 25 MPH, AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STARTING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. *DT*JB*DT

NHTSA ODI #11269896

184,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED IN A LOT. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED IN A LOT. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURERS FOR BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND CHRYSLER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO EACH OTHER AND DID NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

NHTSA ODI #11269893

9,819 miles · Aug 12, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM NATIONAL VOLKSWAGEN (2223 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546, (844) 872-2972), THE CONTACT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS KEPT ILLU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM NATIONAL VOLKSWAGEN (2223 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546, (844) 872-2972), THE CONTACT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER FOR THE POWER TRAIN. THE FAILURES RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE POWER TRAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE SIDE DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT MOVED TO A DIFFERENT STATE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF RENO (7063 S E VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511, (775) 800-5704). THE DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE FAILURES; HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FROM A CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE RESULTS DETECTED THAT A TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTART. THE 2011 TOWN AND COUNTRY VEHICLES WERE RECALLED REGARDING THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE). THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT RESPOND. THE RECALL WAS NOT EXTENDED TO VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH CHRYSLER ENGINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,819.

NHTSA ODI #11243327

52,000 miles · Jun 20, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I HAD THE CODE CHECKED IT INDICATED THAT O2 SENSORS NEEDED REPLACED THEN THE CODE INDICATED A CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE? IHAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL PACK, CHECKED CYLINDER COMPRESSION, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL INJECTOR AND I STILL HAVE THE PO304 CODE ENGINE MISFIRE CYLINDER #4??? I AM SO FRUSTR…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I HAD THE CODE CHECKED IT INDICATED THAT O2 SENSORS NEEDED REPLACED THEN THE CODE INDICATED A CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE? IHAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL PACK, CHECKED CYLINDER COMPRESSION, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL INJECTOR AND I STILL HAVE THE PO304 CODE ENGINE MISFIRE CYLINDER #4??? I AM SO FRUSTRATED WHAT ELSE COULD I BE MISSING TO CLEAR THIS CODE ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11221448

85,000 miles · Mar 26, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

CAR SHUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN STEERING WHEEL IT JUST STOPS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP IT RUNNING HOPEFULLY NO ONE IS TAILING ME BECAUSE IF NOT I WILL DEFINITELY CRASH. MECHANIC CAN'T SEEM TO FIND PROBLEM. MAYBE TIPM OR KEY FOB? CHANGED KEY FOB NO LUCK

NHTSA ODI #11191746

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

TIPM MODULE ISSUE. MY 2011 VW ROUTAN WAS BUILT BY CHRYSLER WITH THE SAME PARTS AS ANY OTHER CHRYSLER CAR AT THAT TIME. CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES MADE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART AS IT IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! IMAGINE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH…

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TIPM MODULE ISSUE. MY 2011 VW ROUTAN WAS BUILT BY CHRYSLER WITH THE SAME PARTS AS ANY OTHER CHRYSLER CAR AT THAT TIME. CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES MADE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART AS IT IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! IMAGINE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. BECAUSE THE CAR IS BRANDED AS A VW, CHRYSYLER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE RECALLED PART WHICH I WAS QUOTED AT $1300 FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND VW SAYS IT IS A CHRYSLER PART AND ISSUE. THIS THIN GRAY LINE IS COSTING PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND POSSIBLY EVEN LIVES. ALSO THE FUEL PUMP RUNS WITHOUT CAR TURNED ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO RUN AND DRAIN THE BATTERY DEAD ALONG WITH OTHER SAFETY ISSUES LIKE CAR STOPPING DEAD. THIS CAR CANNOT RUN WITHOUT THE NEW TIPM AND THIS RECALL MUST BE HONORED BY VW. THEY ARE MAKING US PAY FOR A NEW MODULE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE ROUTANS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO ONE IS LISTENING. SO I ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP AFTER ISSUES WITH ENGINE REFUSING TO TURN OVER. NEXT DAY AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. SO I HAVE EXPLORED THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND FIND MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE NEED TO REPLACEMENT TIPM. THIS VAN HAS AN ENGINE BUILT BY CHRYSLER WHICH RECALLED ITS 2011 VANS TO REPLACE THIS DEVICE. PLEASE FORCE VW TO DO THE SAME! ITS TRULY ABSURD THAT VW WILL NOT CREATE A RECALL FOR THE TIPM AS CHRYSLER DID.

NHTSA ODI #11183238

5 miles · Sep 26, 2018
EnginePower Train

FAULTY TRANSMISSION: THE SPEED CHANGES WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR HAS ONLY 57000 MILES MOSTLY ON CITY STREETS. JERKS ARE FELT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11131817

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.