← New search

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Routan years →

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

39 reports
Clear category filter
62,300 miles · Dec 27, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

REPLACED FUEL PUMP AFTER ISSUES WITH ENGINE REFUSING TO TURN OVER. NEXT DAY AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START; TOWED TO GARAGE FOR DIAGNOSIS. ONE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO START IT AND ANOTHER NOT. COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. I HAVE EXPLORED THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND FIND MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE NEED…

Read full complaint

REPLACED FUEL PUMP AFTER ISSUES WITH ENGINE REFUSING TO TURN OVER. NEXT DAY AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START; TOWED TO GARAGE FOR DIAGNOSIS. ONE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO START IT AND ANOTHER NOT. COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. I HAVE EXPLORED THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND FIND MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE NEED TO REPLACEMTHE 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! THANKFULLY THE VAN WAS IN PARK WHEN IT REFUSED TO START.

NHTSA ODI #11056826

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE VAN HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE AND THE TIPEM PART HAS BEEN RECALLED UNDER THE CHRYSLER HOWEVER VW HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART THIS IS A 1300 FIX

NHTSA ODI #11052996

89,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

TIPM MODULE. 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 …

Read full complaint

TIPM MODULE. 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. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ONLY DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. 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.

NHTSA ODI #11052235

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

RECENTLY THE VAN HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE UPON STARTUP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD START FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN ITSELF OFF. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD BE LIKE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CHARGE TO TURN THE STARTER, AN…

Read full complaint

RECENTLY THE VAN HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE UPON STARTUP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD START FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN ITSELF OFF. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD BE LIKE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CHARGE TO TURN THE STARTER, AND OTHER TIMES, WHEN IT WOULD START THEN DIE, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, MY VAN ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE IS THE CULPRIT OF THESE ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, IT IS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY THAT CAN INTERMITTENTLY NOT TURN ON, OR TURN OFF RANDOMLY. IT IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VANS AND ITS DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN N COUNTRY, UPON WHICH THE VW ROUTAN IS BASED. FCA HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND ISSUED A RECALL ON MANY OF ITS VEHICLES FOR FAULTY TIPM'S. VW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM BUT HAS YET TO RECALL OR FIX THE CARS, INSTEAD THE CONSUMER HAS TO SHELL OUT $300 TO $1500 FOR THE REPAIR OF A KNOWN FAULTY EQUIPMENT. WHY WERE THESE PARTS USED KNOWING THE HISTORY? THERE IS ANOTHER WEBSITE WITH THOUSAND OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2011/VOLKSWAGEN/ROUTAN/FUEL_PROPULSION_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX

NHTSA ODI #11051067

70,000 miles · Nov 26, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

IT IS VERY HARD TO START THE ROUTAN, AND IT HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. CHRYSLER (WHO MADE THE ROUTAN FOR VW) HAS RECALLED THE TIPM ON ALL OF THEIR TOWN AND COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS THE DODGE CARAVANS FOR THIS SAME REASON. I HAVE A FAMILY OF 7 THAT USES THIS VEHICLE FOR OUT PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSP…

Read full complaint

IT IS VERY HARD TO START THE ROUTAN, AND IT HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. CHRYSLER (WHO MADE THE ROUTAN FOR VW) HAS RECALLED THE TIPM ON ALL OF THEIR TOWN AND COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS THE DODGE CARAVANS FOR THIS SAME REASON. I HAVE A FAMILY OF 7 THAT USES THIS VEHICLE FOR OUT PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ODI #11048527

103,000 miles · Nov 2, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemCrashInjury

MY CHILDREN AND I WERE STATIONARY AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VAN STARTED SPUTTERING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE VAN CUT OFF. I HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS NOW HAPPENS OFTEN AND I NEVER KNOW WHERE OR WHEN IT WILL CUT OFF. MOST DAYS IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD A VW MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AND TH…

Read full complaint

MY CHILDREN AND I WERE STATIONARY AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VAN STARTED SPUTTERING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE VAN CUT OFF. I HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS NOW HAPPENS OFTEN AND I NEVER KNOW WHERE OR WHEN IT WILL CUT OFF. MOST DAYS IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD A VW MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AND THEY ADVISED ITS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SAME THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE DODGE AND JEEP VEHICLES. BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAME ONE BUT IN VW BODY

NHTSA ODI #11042282

85,000 miles · Oct 15, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

OUR TRANSMISSION ISSUE STARTED AS WE'RE GOING DOWN I-75 AT ABOUT 65-70. WHAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FALLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKING A KLANKING SOUND AT IF IT WAS FALLING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE. OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR STORE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT SO WE HAD TO TAKE…

Read full complaint

OUR TRANSMISSION ISSUE STARTED AS WE'RE GOING DOWN I-75 AT ABOUT 65-70. WHAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FALLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKING A KLANKING SOUND AT IF IT WAS FALLING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE. OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR STORE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT SO WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE VW DEALER. TURNS OUT NOT ONLY DID WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT WE ALSO NEEDED A NEW TIPM. TOTAL COST INCLUDING LABOR WAS OVER $7000.00. WE HAD ROUGHLY 85,000 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11033454

59,000 miles · Sep 20, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

NO ACCELERATION UP HILLS. CAR CRANKED BUT DIDN'T TURN OVER ENGINE, RANDOMLY. ALMOST STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY DURING STORM BY USING HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, A/C ALL AT ONCE. I HAD TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS AND A/C (THAT KEPT WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING) IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM STALLING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THREE KIDS IN THE CAR. W…

Read full complaint

NO ACCELERATION UP HILLS. CAR CRANKED BUT DIDN'T TURN OVER ENGINE, RANDOMLY. ALMOST STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY DURING STORM BY USING HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, A/C ALL AT ONCE. I HAD TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS AND A/C (THAT KEPT WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING) IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM STALLING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THREE KIDS IN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING IN NEIGHBORHOODS (5 MPH-25 MPH) THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER AND JERK FORWARD. I WAS TOLD THE CARS TROUBLE COULD BE JUST WATER IN THE GAS AND SO WE POURED A SOLUTION THAT WOULD CLEAN THE GAS TANK OF IMPURITIES, IF ONLY IT WAS THAT SIMPLE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, CRUISE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT THE CAR JUST PHYSICALLY SLOWED DOWN. OUR FAMILY IS SCARED TO GET INTO OUR VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS AND RIGHT NOW IT'S OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THE TIRE SENSOR ALSO HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY AND FIXED 3 TIMES ONLY TO LIGHT UP 20 MINUTES LATER AFTER LEAVING THE VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WE ONLY USED IT 5 TIMES FROM 2011-2017. WE PAID TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP AND THE TIPM SENSOR REPLACED LAST WEEK WHICH COST US APPROX. $1800 AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BECAUSE OUR ROTORS HAD GOUGES IN THEM. WE REPLACED A CAR BATTERY IN 2016, WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION, THE CAR WOULD START AND IT LOCKED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WOULDN'T GIVE IT BACK.

NHTSA ODI #11024579

115,000 miles · May 19, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

THE VAN WAS MY MOTHERS WHICH SHE PASSED AWAY ABOUT YEAR AGO. I INHERITED THE VAN I DRIVE IT FOR COUPLE MONTHS WHEN I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I WOULD TRY TO START IT THAT IT WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD ONLY MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. I WOULD TURN KEY OFF & TRY IT AGAIN IT WOULD START. THEN IN MONTH OR SO I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOU…

Read full complaint

THE VAN WAS MY MOTHERS WHICH SHE PASSED AWAY ABOUT YEAR AGO. I INHERITED THE VAN I DRIVE IT FOR COUPLE MONTHS WHEN I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I WOULD TRY TO START IT THAT IT WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD ONLY MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. I WOULD TURN KEY OFF & TRY IT AGAIN IT WOULD START. THEN IN MONTH OR SO I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING 55-70 MPH THAT IT WOULD LIKE STALL. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT DOWN OR ACCELERATE. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER & RESTART IT. IT BEGAN DOING THAT QUITE OFTEN UNTIL ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD & WENT TO TURN IN SOMEWHERE WHEN IT DIED & WOULDN'T START BACK. MY HUSBAND HAD TO COME PULL ME HOME. WE HAVE RESEARCHED WHAT IT WAS DOING & A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY CLAIM IT'S A $1200 TPIM BOARD. THE VW ROUTAN IS CHRYSLER MADE UNDER THE HOOD. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM & HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL BUT VW SAID THEY WASN'T GOING TO RECALL IT. THEY ARE AWARE OF IT TOO. I FEEL AS IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IF THIS ISN'T ADDRESSED BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 70MPH & IT JUST DIES WHICH MEAN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I HAVE KIDS & I WOULD'VE HATED FOR US TO BE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THAT HAPPENED. LUCKILY I WAS IN TOWN & NO KIDS WAS WITH ME. THANK YOU!!

NHTSA ODI #10990604

98,000 miles · Apr 3, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

CHECK TIRE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND OFF- HAD IT CHECKED OUT- NOTHING CAME UP. THEN WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICAL STARTING- LONG STARTS AND NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST, SECOND, SOMETIMES THIRD TRY. NEXT, THE ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. LASTLY, IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING!!!…

Read full complaint

CHECK TIRE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND OFF- HAD IT CHECKED OUT- NOTHING CAME UP. THEN WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICAL STARTING- LONG STARTS AND NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST, SECOND, SOMETIMES THIRD TRY. NEXT, THE ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. LASTLY, IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING!!! ALL OF THESE THINGS OCCURRED WITHIN 1.5 MONTHS AND IN ORDER. BROUGHT IT IN TO VW DEALER- REQUIRES NEW TIPM MODULE AT 1000.00 DOLLARS. TOTALLY UNSAFE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALONG WITH THE CHRYSLER AND DODGE MODELS WHEN THEY RECALLED THE TIPM MODULES. THIS CAR WAS MADE BY CHRYSLER- SO I'VE DISCOVERED. IT IS ESSENTIALLY A CHRYSLER WITH A VW BADGE ON IT- THAT'S WHAT THE MECHANICS I'VE SPOKEN WITH CALL IT. THEY ALSO CALL IT A FRANKENSTEIN VAN! VW AND CHRYSLER SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT- ADD IT TO THE RECALL BEFORE FOR SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THIS THING!!!

NHTSA ODI #10970280

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.