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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

Other model years Selected 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

What owners actually said

175 reports
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

200,000 miles · Jul 19, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

HARD START CAUSED BY FUEL PUMP NOT ENGAGING. ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT STOPLIGHTS. ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP RELAY. FUEL PUMP RELAY IS FULLY INTEGRATED AND IS COSTLY TO REPLACE. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT SUPPORT THE VEHICLE AND CHRYLSTLER WHO MADE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE FIRMWARE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11340223

140,000 miles · Jun 14, 2020
Electrical System

MY 2011 VE TOUTAN MINIVAN WILL RANDOMLY CUT OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. VW ROUTANS ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING IGNITION AND TIPM ISSUES BUT VW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11328804

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

65,000 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN ILLINOIS AND WAS PUSHING THE GAS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. FINALLY IT KIND OF JOLTED FORWARD AND STARTING MOVING BUT IN A JERKY KIND OF WAY. BROUGHT IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEY SAID IT WAS A WARRANT ISSUE TAKE IT THE THE DEALER. DID THAT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANT AND I PAID 1000 BUCKS TO GET …

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WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN ILLINOIS AND WAS PUSHING THE GAS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. FINALLY IT KIND OF JOLTED FORWARD AND STARTING MOVING BUT IN A JERKY KIND OF WAY. BROUGHT IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEY SAID IT WAS A WARRANT ISSUE TAKE IT THE THE DEALER. DID THAT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANT AND I PAID 1000 BUCKS TO GET IT FIXED SO I THOUGHT. HAPPENED AGAIN AND WENT BACK AND THEY SAID IT WILL NOT DO IT SO IT IS FINE. DROVE TO ARIZONA TO MOVE HERE AND AFTER A WEEK OF BEING HERE HAPPENED AGAIN. HUSBAND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. 2ND TIME SAID IT WAS A KNOWN RECALL THEY COULD NOT GET THE CODE FROM CORPORATE, 3RD TIME SAME EXCUSE. AND NOW TRYING AGAIN AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN NOT GET THE CODE FROM CORPORATE. IT IS A PCM SOFTWARE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11297883

80,000 miles · Jan 6, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

STATIONARY-WILL NOT START. THE VAN WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T START. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED WHEN VW GUESSES WHAT IT COULD BE, AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES, HAD THE CAR TOWED, AND THEN VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM TO FIX BECAUSE THERE IS NO CODE. W…

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STATIONARY-WILL NOT START. THE VAN WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T START. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED WHEN VW GUESSES WHAT IT COULD BE, AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES, HAD THE CAR TOWED, AND THEN VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM TO FIX BECAUSE THERE IS NO CODE. WE HAD THE ENTIRE TIPM MODULE REPLACED AND STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH RANDOM NONSTARTS. WE TOOK IT TO 2 VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WHO CANNOT LOCATE A PROBLEM, JUST GUESSING. WE HAD OUR OWN MECHANIC REPLACE SOME CORRODED WIRES, AND STILL NOT FIXED. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, NEEDING A TOW, IS AWFUL. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT HELPFUL. WE HAVE TAKEN VIDEOS OF THE NONSTARTS JUST TO PROVE THAT THIS HAPPENS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO TRIED TO START THE VAN. IT MAY START AGAIN AFTER TRYING FIVE MINUTES LATER, OR IT MAY NEED TO SIT OVERNIGHT. WINTER, SUMMER, HOT AND COLD, IT STILL HAPPENS. I'VE DEVELOPED SEVERE STRESS OVER THIS AND WE OWE TOO MUCH TO JUST TRADE IT IN. I DO NOT DRIVE IT UNLESS I HAVE TO DUE TO BEING SCARED IT MAY NOT START. PLEASE RECALL THIS VIN. IT IS A LEMON!

NHTSA ODI #11297391

90,000 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING CONSISTENTLY AND WOULD SPUTTER. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIPM RELAY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING CONSISTENTLY AND WOULD SPUTTER. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIPM RELAY ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. CAPITAL VOLKSWAGEN (3963 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 692-5609) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11292576

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY, IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE ON THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY, IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE ON THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11281081

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

127,000 miles · Nov 4, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES, OFTEN IN TRAFFIC MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY. CHRYSLER (WHO ACTUALLY MADE THIS VEHICLE) HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT VW WILL NOT HONOR IT.

NHTSA ODI #11278020

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.