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2012 Volkswagen Routan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 63.

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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

45 reports with mileage · 18 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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

39 reports
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63,000 miles · Dec 8, 2017
Electrical SystemSeatsUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ROADS MAY HAVE HAD A LITTLE ICE ON THEM. FELT A SHARP SENSATION TO MY OUTER ANKLE AREA (I BELIEVE AT THE TIME I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING TO COME TO A STOP. SHORTLY AFTER FELT THE SAME SENSATION TO MY ANKLE SHARP, BURNING, NOTICED THE SENSATION FELT ELECTRICAL FELT WARM SENSATION NEAR HIP AREA…

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WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ROADS MAY HAVE HAD A LITTLE ICE ON THEM. FELT A SHARP SENSATION TO MY OUTER ANKLE AREA (I BELIEVE AT THE TIME I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING TO COME TO A STOP. SHORTLY AFTER FELT THE SAME SENSATION TO MY ANKLE SHARP, BURNING, NOTICED THE SENSATION FELT ELECTRICAL FELT WARM SENSATION NEAR HIP AREA... I BELIEVE THE SENSATION WAS ELECTRICAL CURRENTS THAT PENETRATED TO MY ANKLE. UPON THIS THOUGHT I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MY SEAT WARMER, NOTICED THE HEEL OF MY BOOT MAY HAVE BEEN SITTING IN A WET AREA ON MY FLOOR MAT FROM THE MELTED SNOW ON MY BOOTS AND MY BOOTS HAD A METAL CLASP ON IT AT THE EXACT LOCATION THE PAINFUL SHARP ELECTRICAL SENSATION FELT ON MY ANKLE. PAIN DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN ONCE THE SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED OFF. NOTICED DULL TINGLING SENSATION IN MY MIDDLE FINGER SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND EPISODE ALONG WITH WHAT FELT A LITTLE LIKE INDIGESTION.

NHTSA ODI #11053442

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

I FILE A COMPLAINT A FEWS MONTHS AGO ABOUT HAVE TROUBLES STARTING MY VAN OR BATTERY DRAINAGE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SHREVEPORT, LA. THE HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE (TIPM)FUEL PUMP.THIS COST MY FAMILY 1700! THIS IS A SERVE SAFTY PROBLEM FOR MANY FAMILIES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL VW AND CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THE VW DEALE…

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I FILE A COMPLAINT A FEWS MONTHS AGO ABOUT HAVE TROUBLES STARTING MY VAN OR BATTERY DRAINAGE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SHREVEPORT, LA. THE HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE (TIPM)FUEL PUMP.THIS COST MY FAMILY 1700! THIS IS A SERVE SAFTY PROBLEM FOR MANY FAMILIES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL VW AND CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THE VW DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WASNT THE FIRST ROUTAN THEY HAD TO FIX WITH SAME ISSSUE. THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE VW SHOULD COVER. COMPLAINT #11061088

NHTSA ODI #11052565

60,800 miles · Oct 30, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

TAKATA RECALL. HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING VAN ON FIRST TRY. VAN WILL STALL A FEW TIMES BEFORE STARTING. SOMETIMES THE BATTERY IS DRAIN. BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED=GOOD! THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS. I AFTER READING AND RESEARCHING I COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT IT IS THE TIPM FUEL RELAY!

NHTSA ODI #11041088

46,615 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Electrical System

ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START WHILE PARKED. OFTEN THE CAR WILL INITIALLY START BUT THEN STALL AS THE RPS DECREASE TO IDLE. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL AFTER 20-30 ATTEMPTS IF LUCKY. ON FEBRUARY 10, 2016 (MILAGE 44,574) I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. (ROSEVILLE , CA). THEY REPLACED THE …

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ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START WHILE PARKED. OFTEN THE CAR WILL INITIALLY START BUT THEN STALL AS THE RPS DECREASE TO IDLE. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL AFTER 20-30 ATTEMPTS IF LUCKY. ON FEBRUARY 10, 2016 (MILAGE 44,574) I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. (ROSEVILLE , CA). THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY BUT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ON JUNE 16, 2016 (MILAGE 46,615) TOOK BACK TO SAME SERVICE DEPT. WHO NOW SAYS THERE IS A BAD TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM). THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE DODGE, CHRYSLER, AND VW FAMILY OF MINIVANS (VW ROUTAN BUILT BY CHRYSLER). WHILE DODGE AND CHRYSLER SEEM TO HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM, VW REFUSES TO DO SO. THIS MODULE CAN POTENTIALLY KILL THE MOTOR WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #10875632

45,600 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Electrical System

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON OUR VACATION TO MONTREAL LAST THURSDAY (7/30). DURING OUR TRIP WE STOPPED BY LAKE GEORGE FOR A QUICK LUNCH WHERE OUR CAR BROKE DOWN. NOW AT FIRST, I WAS HOPING WE COULD STILL GET IT FIXED QUICKLY AND DRIVE IT UP FOR OUR WEEK LONG TRIP IN CANADA BUT INSTEAD WE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FROM THE LOCAL…

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MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON OUR VACATION TO MONTREAL LAST THURSDAY (7/30). DURING OUR TRIP WE STOPPED BY LAKE GEORGE FOR A QUICK LUNCH WHERE OUR CAR BROKE DOWN. NOW AT FIRST, I WAS HOPING WE COULD STILL GET IT FIXED QUICKLY AND DRIVE IT UP FOR OUR WEEK LONG TRIP IN CANADA BUT INSTEAD WE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FROM THE LOCAL ENTERPRISE AND USE THAT VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. IT TURNED OUT CAR WASN'T GETTING TO PARK PROPERLY. VW TOLD US IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO I WAS TOLD ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOO MANY ISSUES AND $1700+ LATER STILL NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10746889

700 miles · Apr 3, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE NEW CAR HAS BEING PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AND HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES JUST TO BE TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS. MAY 2013 WE HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL MENTIONING HARSH 1-3 UP SHIFTS AND ERROR IN THE TORQUE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCH. WE TO…

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WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE NEW CAR HAS BEING PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AND HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES JUST TO BE TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS. MAY 2013 WE HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL MENTIONING HARSH 1-3 UP SHIFTS AND ERROR IN THE TORQUE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCH. WE TOOK IT IN AND WERE TOLD THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER YET. AT SOME POINT THEY AGREED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE, HOWEVER THAT MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AND WHEN WE GIVE MORE GAS IT WILL ACCELERATE LIKE CRAZY NOW AS ADDED BONUS REVERSE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.. MANUFACTURE DOES NOT SEEM TO TAKE US SERIOUSLY OR ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577107

23,000 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,300. THE VIN WAS UN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568775

10,300 miles · May 6, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

10,000 MILES, FULL WARRANTY, BOUGHT NEW LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, THE VAN LOST ALL POWER MID-DRIVE. BRAKES, STEERING, EVERYTHING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THANKFULLY IT WAS LATE AND MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. IT WAS O…

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10,000 MILES, FULL WARRANTY, BOUGHT NEW LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, THE VAN LOST ALL POWER MID-DRIVE. BRAKES, STEERING, EVERYTHING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THANKFULLY IT WAS LATE AND MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. IT WAS ONE OF THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, BUT NOT AT THAT SPEED, AND WE'D ASSUMED IT AN ANOMALY. WE WERE HEADING OUT OF TOWN, BUT CONCERNED FOR SAFETY WE TURNED AROUND. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, WHERE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. WE BROUGHT IT BACK A FEW DAYS LATER SO THEY COULD KEEP IT, BUT AFTER DRIVING IT 400 MILES, AND NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING TRY COULD DO. WE CONTACTED VW, WHO GOT A REGIONAL CLAIMS PERSON TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP, SUPPOSEDLY CONSULTED THEIR ENGINEERS, AND DECIDED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. BUT NOT BEFORE THE CS CASE PERSON LIED TO US AND TOLD US THE VAN HAD BEEN FIXED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND REALIZED IT HADN'T BEEN, WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD AVE TO FIX THE VAN, OR REPLACE WITH SOMETHING COMPARABLE. WE ALSO FOUND AT LEAST 12 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON LINE OF OTHER OWNERS IN EARLIER MODELS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD OR MY FAMILY AND ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WITH US, AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE SAFETY STANDARDS PROMOTED THAT ENCOURAGED US TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510839

10,735 miles · May 6, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

MY HUSBAND WAS AT A LIGHT AND PRESSED THE GAS TO GO, WHEN HE NOTICED THAT HE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAD TURNED OFF. STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALL ELECTRICAL. IT TOOK HIM A WHILE TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THEN HE TRIED TURNING THE VAN OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. HE THOUGHT IT A FREAK OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510832

Official recalls

1

12V147000 · Suspension:rear

Apr 5, 2012

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ROUTAN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT FULLY MACHINED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE IN DURABILITY, WHICH MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.