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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

Service Brakes complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2025
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

The brakes randomly stop working. At random times you go to brake and have to push the pedal all the way to the floor to start stopping. 2nd issue. The car dies and looses all power at intermittent times while driving. The car has to be restarted while driving. Could be driving 70 on a hwy or 30 on a residential street…

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The brakes randomly stop working. At random times you go to brake and have to push the pedal all the way to the floor to start stopping. 2nd issue. The car dies and looses all power at intermittent times while driving. The car has to be restarted while driving. Could be driving 70 on a hwy or 30 on a residential street. Either coast to the side of the road to restart... or quickly put the car in neutral and restart it while driving. Both of these have almost caused wrecks several times. Unknown own causes to both as they happen at random and different times.

NHTSA ODI #11643273

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

98,000 miles · Nov 13, 2019
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2018. THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING ON PA I-76. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS THE VAN SHIFTED ERADICALLY, STALLED WHILE IN MOTION, AND STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY SENT IT TO THE TRANSMISSION PLAC…

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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2018. THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING ON PA I-76. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS THE VAN SHIFTED ERADICALLY, STALLED WHILE IN MOTION, AND STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY SENT IT TO THE TRANSMISSION PLACE THAT ORIGINALLY DID THE TRANSMISSION WORK. THEY REPLACED A DEFECTIVE PART. EVER SINCE THE REPAIR THE VAN SHIFTS HARD AND AT ODD TIMES. THREE WEEKS AGO IT BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND BEGAN TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AGAIN. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AGAIN THEY SAID IT WAS OUR BREAKS, WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC, IT'S NOT THE BREAKS. IT IS AGAIN AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP. THIS HAS COST US TIME, MONEY AND OUR SAFETY. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR VW TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VAN- WHO HAS TO DIE FOR ANYTHING TO BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #11279757

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2017
EngineService Brakes

I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROUTERS 3 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VAN AT OVER $1000 EACH TIME. THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE IS THE FACT THAT THE CAR WON'T START. VERY FREQUENTLY, THE VAN WILL NOT START LEAVING MY KIDS AND I STRANDED. IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AS I COMMUTE TO WORK AND WE LIKE TO DO THINGS OUT OF OUR AREA, NOT TO MENTION JUS…

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I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROUTERS 3 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VAN AT OVER $1000 EACH TIME. THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE IS THE FACT THAT THE CAR WON'T START. VERY FREQUENTLY, THE VAN WILL NOT START LEAVING MY KIDS AND I STRANDED. IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AS I COMMUTE TO WORK AND WE LIKE TO DO THINGS OUT OF OUR AREA, NOT TO MENTION JUST DRIVE IN GENERAL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11011522

68,483 miles · Jun 26, 2017
Air BagsService BrakesUnknown Or Other

DRIVER AIR BAG HAS FAILED TWICE RESULTING IN HIGH DOLLAR REPAIRS. BRAKES GO BAD EXTREMELY FAST. ALREADY REPLACED 2 FULL SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS IN 2 YEARS; LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON EACH SET. VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKS WHEN IN REVERSE ON A HILL. ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF POPPING IN STEERING. DEALER UNABLE TO PINPOINT PROBLEM WITH JERKIN…

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DRIVER AIR BAG HAS FAILED TWICE RESULTING IN HIGH DOLLAR REPAIRS. BRAKES GO BAD EXTREMELY FAST. ALREADY REPLACED 2 FULL SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS IN 2 YEARS; LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON EACH SET. VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKS WHEN IN REVERSE ON A HILL. ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF POPPING IN STEERING. DEALER UNABLE TO PINPOINT PROBLEM WITH JERKING OR POPPING.

NHTSA ODI #11001470

69,000 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Electrical SystemService Brakes

I OWN A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST OF 2014 WITH 50,000 MILES. IN NOVEMBER 2015, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ISSUES. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. THEN WOULD START RIGHT UP THE SECOND TRY. THIS PROBLEM GOT WORSE WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IT TOOK SEVERA…

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I OWN A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST OF 2014 WITH 50,000 MILES. IN NOVEMBER 2015, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ISSUES. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. THEN WOULD START RIGHT UP THE SECOND TRY. THIS PROBLEM GOT WORSE WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO START. I TOOK IT IN TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE A TIMP FAILURE. I GOT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED COSTING ME $1028.17. IT HAD 69,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF REPAIR. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND THERE TO BE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!!!! SINCE THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY THAT HAPPENS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAS A RECALL FOR THE TIMP MODULE. ALSO THE BRAKES SUCK! MY HUSBAND REPLACED THEM SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT THE VEHICLE AND NEED REPLACING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10854489

70,000 miles · Jul 2, 2015
Service Brakes

I AM NOW GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME AND POSSIBLY THE CONTROL ARMS AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10731741

56,752 miles · May 14, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR MOUNTING BRACKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR MOUNTING BRACKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,752.

NHTSA ODI #10716402

61,000 miles · Mar 30, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WHEN ALL THE POWER IN MY VEHICLE SHUTOFF. I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP HAS ATTRIBUTED…

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WHEN ALL THE POWER IN MY VEHICLE SHUTOFF. I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP HAS ATTRIBUTED IT TO A FAILED TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702747

21,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Service Brakes

AFTER BUYING MY CERTIFIED ROUTAN AND ONLY PUTTING AROUND A 1000 MILES ON IT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKING AT A SPEED OF 40MPH OR FASTER. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT FIRST THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE BEEN CA…

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AFTER BUYING MY CERTIFIED ROUTAN AND ONLY PUTTING AROUND A 1000 MILES ON IT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKING AT A SPEED OF 40MPH OR FASTER. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT FIRST THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ME PUSHING TO HARD ON THE BRAKES. COMPLETELY BULL. THEY FINALLY SAID IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 31,000 THE BACK BRAKES ARE SQUEAKY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT AS BEFORE THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. TAKING IT IN TOMORROW TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED. HOPEFULLY WILL BE COVERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592922

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.