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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

Engine complaints

48 reports
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70,000 miles · Aug 21, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTING WAS OPERATIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF DES MOINES (5200 MERLE H…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTING WAS OPERATIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF DES MOINES (5200 MERLE HAY RD, JOHNSTON, IA 50131, (515) 446-3579), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11121207

50,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
EnginePower TrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE THREE CHILD PASSENGERS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE THREE CHILD PASSENGERS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT PRESENT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURNT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (NEFTIN WESTLAKE VOLKSWAGEN, 3550 AUTO MALL DRIVE, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA 91362) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED PROGRAM MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11114596

122,000 miles · Jan 7, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

VEICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT 40 MILES PER HOUR POSING A DANGER TO MY SELF AND CHILDREN LEAVING ME AND MY CHILDREN PANICKING FROM SUCH INCIDENT, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE BY HANGING TO STEERING WILL, TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN WHEN I TURNED IT ON VEICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF IT WAS GOING CRAZY, …

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VEICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT 40 MILES PER HOUR POSING A DANGER TO MY SELF AND CHILDREN LEAVING ME AND MY CHILDREN PANICKING FROM SUCH INCIDENT, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE BY HANGING TO STEERING WILL, TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN WHEN I TURNED IT ON VEICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF IT WAS GOING CRAZY, TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND VEICLE STARTED AS NORMAL, TOOK ONLY 3 MILES FOR SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO BATTERY GETS DRAINED IF LEFT OFF FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS.

NHTSA ODI #11061079

80,000 miles · Dec 21, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE BATTERY APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE BATTERY APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE EIGHT MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER (RUSTY WALLIS, 12635 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, GARLAND TX 75041) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER PAID FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HENDRICKS VOLKSWAGEN (5010 STATE HWY 121, FRISCO, TX 75034) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE, TWO CAM SHAFT SENSORS, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID WERE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 1-800-822-8987 AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11055877

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE VAN HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE AND THE TIPEM PART HAS BEEN RECALLED UNDER THE CHRYSLER HOWEVER VW HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART THIS IS A 1300 FIX

NHTSA ODI #11052996

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

RECENTLY THE VAN HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE UPON STARTUP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD START FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN ITSELF OFF. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD BE LIKE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CHARGE TO TURN THE STARTER, AN…

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RECENTLY THE VAN HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE UPON STARTUP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD START FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN ITSELF OFF. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD BE LIKE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CHARGE TO TURN THE STARTER, AND OTHER TIMES, WHEN IT WOULD START THEN DIE, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, MY VAN ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE IS THE CULPRIT OF THESE ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, IT IS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY THAT CAN INTERMITTENTLY NOT TURN ON, OR TURN OFF RANDOMLY. IT IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VANS AND ITS DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN N COUNTRY, UPON WHICH THE VW ROUTAN IS BASED. FCA HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND ISSUED A RECALL ON MANY OF ITS VEHICLES FOR FAULTY TIPM'S. VW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM BUT HAS YET TO RECALL OR FIX THE CARS, INSTEAD THE CONSUMER HAS TO SHELL OUT $300 TO $1500 FOR THE REPAIR OF A KNOWN FAULTY EQUIPMENT. WHY WERE THESE PARTS USED KNOWING THE HISTORY? THERE IS ANOTHER WEBSITE WITH THOUSAND OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2011/VOLKSWAGEN/ROUTAN/FUEL_PROPULSION_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX

NHTSA ODI #11051067

103,000 miles · Nov 2, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemCrashInjury

MY CHILDREN AND I WERE STATIONARY AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VAN STARTED SPUTTERING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE VAN CUT OFF. I HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS NOW HAPPENS OFTEN AND I NEVER KNOW WHERE OR WHEN IT WILL CUT OFF. MOST DAYS IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD A VW MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AND TH…

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MY CHILDREN AND I WERE STATIONARY AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VAN STARTED SPUTTERING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE VAN CUT OFF. I HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS NOW HAPPENS OFTEN AND I NEVER KNOW WHERE OR WHEN IT WILL CUT OFF. MOST DAYS IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD A VW MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AND THEY ADVISED ITS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SAME THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE DODGE AND JEEP VEHICLES. BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAME ONE BUT IN VW BODY

NHTSA ODI #11042282

85,000 miles · Oct 15, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

OUR TRANSMISSION ISSUE STARTED AS WE'RE GOING DOWN I-75 AT ABOUT 65-70. WHAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FALLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKING A KLANKING SOUND AT IF IT WAS FALLING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE. OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR STORE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT SO WE HAD TO TAKE…

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OUR TRANSMISSION ISSUE STARTED AS WE'RE GOING DOWN I-75 AT ABOUT 65-70. WHAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FALLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKING A KLANKING SOUND AT IF IT WAS FALLING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE. OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR STORE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT SO WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE VW DEALER. TURNS OUT NOT ONLY DID WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT WE ALSO NEEDED A NEW TIPM. TOTAL COST INCLUDING LABOR WAS OVER $7000.00. WE HAD ROUGHLY 85,000 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11033454

114,000 miles · Sep 28, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40MPH ON A BUSY ROAD EN ROUTE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ROUTAN SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR CRANKED BACK UP SHORTLY …

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40MPH ON A BUSY ROAD EN ROUTE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ROUTAN SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR CRANKED BACK UP SHORTLY AFTER. I DROVE IT SLOWLY HOME APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. BOTH OF MY YOUNG CHILDREN (10 MONTHS AND 5YEARS) WERE IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING HOME I BEGAN TO RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM LEAD TO A RECALL OF WIN MODULES FOR 2009 AND 2010 ROUTANS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL DESPITE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT NUMEROUS OTHER ROUTAN DRIVERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN THEIR 2011 VEHICLES. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AND I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILY SHOULD WE DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11030433

104,000 miles · Sep 18, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

THE CAR WILL NOT START UP THE ENGINE NO MATTER HOW LONG I CRANK. BATTERY AND STARTER SEEM OK. THE PROBLEM HAS NO WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD WHATSOEVER.

NHTSA ODI #11024052

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.