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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.

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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

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

Engine complaints

48 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2025
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

loss of steering while driving, fluid loss multiple times since late september 2024(all while driving and no lights or warnings came on), 2 snapped serpentine belts, key ignition sticking(would not turn), dashboard not lighting up, rpm no longer rests below 1.5 - 2, car struggles to accelerate(especially uphill), car turns over …

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loss of steering while driving, fluid loss multiple times since late september 2024(all while driving and no lights or warnings came on), 2 snapped serpentine belts, key ignition sticking(would not turn), dashboard not lighting up, rpm no longer rests below 1.5 - 2, car struggles to accelerate(especially uphill), car turns over and struggles to start, even though has newer battery. 1/9/25 driving to an appointment, upon reaching destination, a pop sound. No smell, no warnings came up on dashboard. Upon leaving, saw fluid leak, headed straight to dealership, at which a massive amount of fluid began pouring out of vehicle..in exact same area as original issue from 8/31/24.

NHTSA ODI #11635180

190,000 miles · May 7, 2024
Engine

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the deal…

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The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #11587480

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2022
EngineService BrakesSteering

While driving on a highway at 65 Mph, vehicle shut down, lost brakes, steering, and all power, had to coast to a stop, narrowly avoiding a collision. Upon exhaustive review, TIPM was faulty, causing starting issues, intermittent power loss, and fuel pump issues. As this van is manufactured by Chrysler (for VW) and their (identic…

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While driving on a highway at 65 Mph, vehicle shut down, lost brakes, steering, and all power, had to coast to a stop, narrowly avoiding a collision. Upon exhaustive review, TIPM was faulty, causing starting issues, intermittent power loss, and fuel pump issues. As this van is manufactured by Chrysler (for VW) and their (identical) model has the same issue, it was known and recalled, it is appalling that no recall exists for this VW model. These vans are being financed and bought by families, and like us driven daily with children in them. The issue is widespread, very well known, but as in our case, not disclosed by dealerships as no official action has ever been taken, and no official record exists. We have learned all about it through trial and error, and are having to pay for possibly fatal errors committed on the part of the manufacturer - who, to state again, has in fact already recalled the vehicles due to it being such a wide spread and dangerous issue with a primarily family vehicle. Again, for clarity, the VW Routan is no longer in production, but when it was it was manufactured by Chrysler for VW, and is part for part a Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country. Why is this critical recall in existence for only a portion of the vehicles? This has become a major issue as we have to continue reducing this van until we can sell or trade it.

NHTSA ODI #11457492

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2021
Air BagsEngine

Thé engine malfunction was observed and confirmed by the Mecanicien and the cause was from the manufacture. I'm willing to submit the car for any inspection. The car is still drivable, but I have to report it. I have been trying to call since longtime in vain. Thank

NHTSA ODI #11442427

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2021
Engine

The van totally looses all power while driving. It happens multiple times per week. While driving the van dies, it takes about 3-5 seconds then the power comes back, we can then drive again. When it happens, sometimes the power doesn't come back on its own, we then have to put it in neutral and restart it, then can drive as …

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The van totally looses all power while driving. It happens multiple times per week. While driving the van dies, it takes about 3-5 seconds then the power comes back, we can then drive again. When it happens, sometimes the power doesn't come back on its own, we then have to put it in neutral and restart it, then can drive as normal.

NHTSA ODI #11426965

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

When driving for about 25 and then getting to a stop light. As I slow down and start to come to a stop the car shakes very roughly and turns right off. The first time this happened was 3 days after getting car from Carmax. It had not happened again until this week.

NHTSA ODI #11417965

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED TRIES. IT WOULD START AS NORMAL AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE TIPM IS FAULTY. FAULTY TIPMS IN THESE VEHICLE WITH 55K-70K MILEAGE SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY SHOPS WHO WILL REBUILT THESE TIPMS…

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THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED TRIES. IT WOULD START AS NORMAL AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE TIPM IS FAULTY. FAULTY TIPMS IN THESE VEHICLE WITH 55K-70K MILEAGE SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY SHOPS WHO WILL REBUILT THESE TIPMS AS ITS A VERY KNOWN ISSUE. THIS IS ALSO A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS IT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND HOW START, LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED

NHTSA ODI #11376951

75,060 miles · Nov 23, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRANKED UP HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUSE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) FAILED AND NEED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRANKED UP HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUSE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO DREYER & REINBOLD VW (1301 SOUTH, US-31 STE 3, GREENWOOD, IN 46143) AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED THE REPORT OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONBOARD SUPPLY CONTROL UNIT IN THE TIPM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,060.

NHTSA ODI #11375950

110,000 miles · Oct 8, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RELAY CONTINUED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RELAY CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF MARIETTA (1860 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THREE OTHER UNKNOWN DEALERS BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11363447

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

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.