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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.

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

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

What owners actually said

63 reports
50,000 miles · Jul 16, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON. SOMETIME IT WILL START BACK UP WHEN PUSHING START BUTTON AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING UNDER 10 MPH. IT IS ALSO SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN OFF. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTER…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON. SOMETIME IT WILL START BACK UP WHEN PUSHING START BUTTON AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING UNDER 10 MPH. IT IS ALSO SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN OFF. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER AND THAT HASN'T FIXED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11111544

64,000 miles · Mar 30, 2018
Exterior Lighting

DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS BLOWING OUT,WHEN TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THEM TO REPLACE FRONT WIRING HARNESS, I WAS TOLD WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE WITH THEM FOR TWO DAYS. VAN IS UNDER WARRANTY,WOULD COST ME A 100.00 DEDUCTABLE. VAN ONLY HAS 65 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL …

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DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS BLOWING OUT,WHEN TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THEM TO REPLACE FRONT WIRING HARNESS, I WAS TOLD WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE WITH THEM FOR TWO DAYS. VAN IS UNDER WARRANTY,WOULD COST ME A 100.00 DEDUCTABLE. VAN ONLY HAS 65 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BEEN FILED. THIS VAN WAS LAST JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN DODGE AND VOLKSWAGON. THEY COULDNT ORDER WIRING HARNESS IT HAD TO BE MADE AS I WAS TOLD THEY DIDNT MAKE PARTS ANYMORE FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11082240

79,000 miles · Mar 14, 2018
Electrical System

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET OR WHEN SITTING STILL. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN

NHTSA ODI #11079099

106,000 miles · Mar 8, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

MILEAGE 106,000 2012 ROUTAN BUT ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASE AT 96000. VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE HAS STARTING PROBLEMS AS WELL, WILL NOT REACT TO START COMMAND. THE AFOREMENTIONED OCCURENCES ARE RANDOM AND MOST LIKELY RELATED TO TIPM WHICH IS WELL KNOWN DEFECT AT CHRYSLER AND A…

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MILEAGE 106,000 2012 ROUTAN BUT ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASE AT 96000. VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE HAS STARTING PROBLEMS AS WELL, WILL NOT REACT TO START COMMAND. THE AFOREMENTIONED OCCURENCES ARE RANDOM AND MOST LIKELY RELATED TO TIPM WHICH IS WELL KNOWN DEFECT AT CHRYSLER AND ACTUALLY WAS RECALLED BUT NOT BY VW. IN ADDITION ISSUES WITH CAM/CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND MISFIRE FAULT CODES. NHTSA HAS ALLOWED VOLKSWAGON TO SWEEP AND HIDE THE TIPM ISSUE UNDER THE RUG, MEANWHILE CHRYSLER AND DODGE ADDRESSED THE DEFECTIVE PART A PART WHICH IS ALSO IN THE ROUTAN AS WELL. STALLING AND LOSING POWER RANDOMLY IS A POTENTIAL "DEATH" EVENT. CAN'T BELIEVE THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THIS. WHERE IS THE REGULATION??

NHTSA ODI #11078248

5 miles · Dec 20, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

FOR PAST 2 YEARS I NOTICED MY THE VAN WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. FIGURED IT WAS A FLUKE. IN PAST YEAR, MY VAN HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR NOT STARTING AFTER 10-15 TRIES. OF COURSE, AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES THE GET IT TO START. THANKFUL UNDER WARRANTY. NOV 2017 WIRING HARNESS AND STARTER REPLACED. DEC 2017 FAILED TO START AGA…

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FOR PAST 2 YEARS I NOTICED MY THE VAN WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. FIGURED IT WAS A FLUKE. IN PAST YEAR, MY VAN HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR NOT STARTING AFTER 10-15 TRIES. OF COURSE, AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES THE GET IT TO START. THANKFUL UNDER WARRANTY. NOV 2017 WIRING HARNESS AND STARTER REPLACED. DEC 2017 FAILED TO START AGAIN. BACK TO DEALER AND WORKING FINE FOR THEM. THANKFUL UNDER WARRANTY., BUT COME ON VM!! THIS IS NUTS. WHY WON'T THEY RECALL AND RE PLACE THE TIPEM LIKE CHRYSTAL DID. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES AND HAD TO 3 CAR SEATS EACH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11055756

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

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

HAVE HAD THE COILS REPLACED AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND OTHER WORK DONE AND THE CAR STILL SHAKES ON IDLING. VERY FRUSTRATING AND THIS IS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON? WHEN IS THE RECALL HAPPENING, THERE ARE TONS OF ISSUES TO OTHER ROUTANS!

NHTSA ODI #11045721

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

76,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECALL IF A WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECALL IF A WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND CREATED A HOLE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI #11021507

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.