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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

Power Train complaints

19 reports
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55,000 miles · Nov 21, 2020
Electrical SystemPower Train

I OWN A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN MINIVAN AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPS WORKING I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS ON THE 2009 AND 2010 YEARS I CALL VW CORPORATION AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THE PART THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS IS THE SAME THAT IS DAMAGE IN MY VEHICLE SO …

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I OWN A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN MINIVAN AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPS WORKING I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS ON THE 2009 AND 2010 YEARS I CALL VW CORPORATION AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THE PART THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS IS THE SAME THAT IS DAMAGE IN MY VEHICLE SO I DON'T THINK IS FAIR AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME HELP FOR THIS THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11375679

100,000 miles · Jan 24, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN ENGINE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN NO ENGINE POWER, NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED AND IN ANY DRIVING CONDITION FROM STATIONARY IDLING UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE.*DT*DT*DT*JB *TP

NHTSA ODI #11301548

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

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

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

50,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
EnginePower TrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE THREE CHILD PASSENGERS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE THREE CHILD PASSENGERS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT PRESENT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURNT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (NEFTIN WESTLAKE VOLKSWAGEN, 3550 AUTO MALL DRIVE, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA 91362) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED PROGRAM MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11114596

80,000 miles · Dec 21, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE BATTERY APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE BATTERY APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE EIGHT MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER (RUSTY WALLIS, 12635 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, GARLAND TX 75041) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER PAID FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HENDRICKS VOLKSWAGEN (5010 STATE HWY 121, FRISCO, TX 75034) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE, TWO CAM SHAFT SENSORS, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID WERE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 1-800-822-8987 AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11055877

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…

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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

77,700 miles · Aug 30, 2017
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY BEGIN TO JERK AND DECELERATE BEFORE STALLING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GENE LANGAN VW LOCATED IN RASPBERRY, CONNECTICUT WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY BEGIN TO JERK AND DECELERATE BEFORE STALLING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GENE LANGAN VW LOCATED IN RASPBERRY, CONNECTICUT WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,700.

NHTSA ODI #11020535

80,000 miles · Aug 29, 2017
Power Train

ENGINE LIGHT ON. NEED TO REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY, SEALANT, AND TRAN FLUIDS

NHTSA ODI #11020371

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.