← New search

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

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

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
97,000 miles · Mar 29, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THEN IT DIED ON ME MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS UPWARD OF 70 MPH. EVERYTHING WOULD TURN OFF AND THEN I WOULD PULL OVER AND IT WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP. UPON THOSE THINGS HAPPENING I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN. AS I WAS H…

Read full complaint

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THEN IT DIED ON ME MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS UPWARD OF 70 MPH. EVERYTHING WOULD TURN OFF AND THEN I WOULD PULL OVER AND IT WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP. UPON THOSE THINGS HAPPENING I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN. AS I WAS HEADING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 75 MPH THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED AND IT DIED. VERY SCARY. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. $1000 LATER THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. IT WOULDN'T START RIGHT UP AND THEN IT STALLED ON ME WHILE IN REVERSE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10969276

17,000 miles · Oct 19, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT JERKED AND REVERSED ROUGH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT JERKED AND REVERSED ROUGH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10917314

53,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL FILLER CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL FILLER CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10906350

78,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURN THE STARTER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURN THE STARTER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10898509

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 …

Read full complaint

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

55,000 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Exterior LightingService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FOG LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FOG LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE FOR THE FRONT FOG LIGHTS WAS UNKNOWN. THE FRONT FOG LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10779828

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…

Read full complaint

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

19,563 miles · Jul 21, 2015
Service Brakes

VEHICLE SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY ON STOPPING FROM VARIETY OF SPEEDS. THIS IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDDLE, STEERING COLUMN, STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE SHAKES FRONT TO BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE ON BRAKING. VEHICLE STILL APPEARS TO BRAKE ADEQUATELY, THOUGH SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, DOESN'T SEEM SAFE. VEHICLE IS DRI…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY ON STOPPING FROM VARIETY OF SPEEDS. THIS IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDDLE, STEERING COLUMN, STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE SHAKES FRONT TO BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE ON BRAKING. VEHICLE STILL APPEARS TO BRAKE ADEQUATELY, THOUGH SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, DOESN'T SEEM SAFE. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LIGHTLY IN A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS, CARRYING PASSENGERS (KIDS). WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY AND THE DEALER ARE BOTH SAYING IT IS LIKELY A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; THIS ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 20K MILES ON IT. ALSO OF NOTE IS THE VAN IS MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER AND THEY EXTENDED BRAKE WARRANTY FOR 3/36 DUE TO KNOWN AND LONG STANDING ISSUE WITH BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #10735488

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…

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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

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.