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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

12 reports
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71,000 miles · Aug 8, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

THIS VEHICLE IS BASICALLY A CHRYSLER/DODGE WITH VW BRANDING, AND ONE OF THE KEYS IS EVEN A DODGE KEY. IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TIPM AND FUEL RELAY MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE 2011 CHRYSLER AND DODGE VANS. SEE FUEL PUMP RELAY RECALL NHTSA 14V-530. I'M ASKING THAT IT ALSO BE RECALLED FOR THE 2011 VW ROUTAN SINCE IT'…

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THIS VEHICLE IS BASICALLY A CHRYSLER/DODGE WITH VW BRANDING, AND ONE OF THE KEYS IS EVEN A DODGE KEY. IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TIPM AND FUEL RELAY MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE 2011 CHRYSLER AND DODGE VANS. SEE FUEL PUMP RELAY RECALL NHTSA 14V-530. I'M ASKING THAT IT ALSO BE RECALLED FOR THE 2011 VW ROUTAN SINCE IT'S VERY DANGEROUS THAT MY CAR COULD STOP AT ANY MOMENT. I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN NEW JERSEY WHO NEGLECTED TO EVEN INFORM ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH I INFORMED THEM THAT I'D BE DRIVING THE CAR CROSS COUNTRY. WHEN I WAS IN GEORGIA THE CAR STARTED CRANKING, BUT WOULDN'T START AND IT HAS HAD THIS SAME INTERMITTENT ISSUE SINCE I ARRIVED IN FL. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS EVEN WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE WHEN THE AUTO SHOP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, NO CODES WERE RETURNED. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT THE ISSUE TO OCCUR AGAIN, THEY FOUND THAT TAPPING ON THE FUEL RELAY MODULE IN THE TIPM WOULD ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THEY ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO CHRYSLER BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A CHRYSLER VAN UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER, THEY TURNED ME AWAY BECAUSE THE VIN IS FOR A VW. WHEN I CALLED VW, THEY SAID NO RECALL EXISTED FOR THIS VAN EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. SO, I'M ASKING THAT A RECALL ALSO BE DONE ON 2011 VW ROUTAN'S SINCE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE CALLED OUT IN THE CHRYSLER RECALL. LASTLY, I EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE BOTH WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE IT WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11344079

85,000 miles · Mar 26, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

CAR SHUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN STEERING WHEEL IT JUST STOPS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP IT RUNNING HOPEFULLY NO ONE IS TAILING ME BECAUSE IF NOT I WILL DEFINITELY CRASH. MECHANIC CAN'T SEEM TO FIND PROBLEM. MAYBE TIPM OR KEY FOB? CHANGED KEY FOB NO LUCK

NHTSA ODI #11191746

117,545 miles · Nov 10, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

MY TIPM MODULES OF THE CAR IS CAUSING A LOTS OF PROBLEMS AND THAT HAS AFFECTED MY FUEL PUMP, BATTERY, AND STARTER.I HAVE TO REPLACE A NEW FUEL PUMP,A NEW BATTERY AND A NEW STARTER AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM IS STILL PERSISTING.

NHTSA ODI #11150748

5 miles · Jul 28, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

AFTER THE CAR IS PARKED BACK LIFT GATE OPENS SUDDENLY, ALSO AUTOMATIC SIDE DOORS SUDDENLY OPENS. LOTS OF OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WON'T START. AT ONE TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY IT JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT START. NO SIGN OF EMPTY GAS OR ENGINE LIGHTS WARNINGS. AFTER THE BEING TAKEN TO THE SHOP …

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AFTER THE CAR IS PARKED BACK LIFT GATE OPENS SUDDENLY, ALSO AUTOMATIC SIDE DOORS SUDDENLY OPENS. LOTS OF OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WON'T START. AT ONE TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY IT JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT START. NO SIGN OF EMPTY GAS OR ENGINE LIGHTS WARNINGS. AFTER THE BEING TAKEN TO THE SHOP DIAGNOSE IS SENSORS NOT WORKING AND LOTS OF TIME SENSORS WERE REPLACED BUT THE HARD START KEEPS ON DOING IT TO THIS DATE. SOMETIME IT STARTS SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT.

NHTSA ODI #11114329

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…

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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

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 …

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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

79,000 miles · Jul 18, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CAR WON'T START. LOW CHARGE, LIGHTS NOT WORKING, HORN NOT WORKING, OVER HEATING. FIRST IT HAPPANED WHILE PARKED AND THEN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11006056

100,000 miles · Mar 25, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN 2011 BUILT BY CHRYSLER IN A CANADA FACTORY. THIS VEHICLE IS SHUTTING OFF WHEN DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. THE GEARS AND SREERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THE LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. AFTER PURCHASING A NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR THE CAR IN THE M…

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I HAVE A VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN 2011 BUILT BY CHRYSLER IN A CANADA FACTORY. THIS VEHICLE IS SHUTTING OFF WHEN DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. THE GEARS AND SREERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THE LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. AFTER PURCHASING A NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR THE CAR IN THE MORNING WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND DRAINED. WITH NOTHING ON IT INTERMITTENTLY HAS A DEAD BATTERY AND SHUTS OF AFTER STARTING THE CAR. WHEN I CALL THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN STOCKTON CA TO EXPLAIN THE SERVICE GUY HUNG UP ON MY HUSBAND AND I AND STATED IT'S NOT A RECALL. WE EXPLAIN THAT THOUSANDS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND IT'S RECORDED AND ALL OVER YOU TUBE. WE ARE HAVING THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES OR POSSIBLE TIPM ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #10968462

45,126 miles · Dec 21, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

INTEGRATED BODY CONTROL/ECU:TIPM MODULE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI #10936830

105,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH STARTING MY VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN ON THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE KEY, THE PROBLEM STARTED WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IN THE SAME TIME FRAME, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN THAT IN 2009 AND 2010 MODEL THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT SHOWED SIMILA…

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I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH STARTING MY VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN ON THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE KEY, THE PROBLEM STARTED WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IN THE SAME TIME FRAME, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN THAT IN 2009 AND 2010 MODEL THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT SHOWED SIMILAR ISSUES. MY CAR DOES HAVE 10000 MILES, SO I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS AN INITIAL FAULTY ITEM OR A PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIPM MODULE, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUES. I WANT TO SEE IF OTHER 2011 MODELS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES, AND WHETHER THE 2011 MODELS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE RECALL FOR THE 2009/2010 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10934732

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.