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2012 Volkswagen Routan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan do not stand out strongly from 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

45 reports with mileage · 18 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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

21 reports
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151,246 miles · Mar 6, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE CAR HAS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I AM DRIVING. VEHICLE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. IN PAST HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG

NHTSA ODI #11184564

107,760 miles · Feb 12, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

MY 2012 VW ROUTAN CUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR CAR IS NO LONGER RUNNING. ALSO SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT CRANKS. VW NEEDS A FIX FOR THIS!

NHTSA ODI #11176601

144,729 miles · Jan 31, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

THE ENGINE WILL DIE AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSES ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING, ALL MY DIGITAL GUAGES ON DASH,ETC. WHEN I PULL OVER STOP AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL I CAN THEN TURN THE KEY AND IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN BUT ALWAYS WHILE MOVING …

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THE ENGINE WILL DIE AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSES ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING, ALL MY DIGITAL GUAGES ON DASH,ETC. WHEN I PULL OVER STOP AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL I CAN THEN TURN THE KEY AND IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN BUT ALWAYS WHILE MOVING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. POSSIBLE TOUCHED THE KEY CHAIN WITH MY KNEE BUT I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING TRIGGERED IT. FIRST THING I NOTICE IS I'M SLOWING DOWN AND HAVE TO POWER STEERING. ALSO, WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE IGNITION REGULARLY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT I'VE TURNED THE KEY. REQUIRES THAT I PUSH THE KEY IN WITH FORCE UP AND TO THE RIGHT WHILE ROTATING FOR THE KEY TO ACTIVATE THE IGNITION. SOMETIME THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO START BUT STOP WHEN I LET GO OF THE KEY. MY DEALER SAID IT COULD BE THE BATTERY OR THE REMOTE CAR STARTER. I'VE REPLACED BOTH AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THEY ARE QUOTING ME ABOUT $700 TO REPLACE THE KEY FOBS AND IGNITION. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THIS IS THE EXACT TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT ALL THE TOWN & COUNTRIES & ROUTANS HAVE HAD AND THERE WAS A RECALL. IT'S A PLASTIC KEY THAT WEARS OUT AND STOPS WORKING PROPERLY. CHECKING ON-LINE VW ROUTAN, DODGE CARAVAN & CHYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY ALL HAD A RECALL ON THEIR IGNITIONS, BUT IT WAS LIMITED TO 2009 & 2010. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL "INADVERTENT IGNITION KEY DISPLACEMENT FROM THE RUN POSITION, WHICH WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND DEPOWER SAFETY SYSTEMS, SUCH AS AIRBAGS, POWER STEERING AND BRAKING"

NHTSA ODI #11173391

95,000 miles · Jan 31, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2012 VW ROUTAN LATELY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, MY VAN HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE DASHBOARD, ENGINE, POWER STEERING, EVERYTHING COMPLETELY TURNS OFF AND I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE FI…

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I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2012 VW ROUTAN LATELY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, MY VAN HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE DASHBOARD, ENGINE, POWER STEERING, EVERYTHING COMPLETELY TURNS OFF AND I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT SHUT DOWN, I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY DRIVING AT 35 MPH. OUT OF NO WHERE, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, SIMULTANEOUSLY THE DASHBOARD TURNED OFF AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON. BUT THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, DRIVING IN THE RAIN, AT 60 MILES/HR. THE SCARIEST PART IS NOT HAVING CONTROL OF THE WHEEL AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE RESTARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC I CONTACTED WAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON, I DON'T GET ANY TYPE OF WARNING AND NO "CODES" COME UP. I AM TERRIFIED OF DRIVING MY VAN ANYMORE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND A RECALL FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM, BUT FOR OLDER MODELS (UP TO 2011). I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CANNOT HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE 2012 MODELS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHY THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE 2011 VW ROUTAN REACALL IF IT IS FOR THE EXACT SAME SAFETY DEFECT. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO GET HURT OR WORSE BEFORE THE ISSUE GETS ADDRESSED?

NHTSA ODI #11173298

60,000 miles · Jan 13, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

SAME ISSUES AS OTHERS AS REPORTED FOR TIPM FAILURES IN VW ROUTAN / CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THE UNDERLYING COMMON PART IS THE THE PART NUMBER FOR THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE IN THE 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN IS VW 7B0937049. THE PART NUMBER IN THE VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN TRANSLATES TO CHRYSLER'S PART NUMBER 68105507 AC/AD. ALTHOUG…

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SAME ISSUES AS OTHERS AS REPORTED FOR TIPM FAILURES IN VW ROUTAN / CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THE UNDERLYING COMMON PART IS THE THE PART NUMBER FOR THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE IN THE 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN IS VW 7B0937049. THE PART NUMBER IN THE VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN TRANSLATES TO CHRYSLER'S PART NUMBER 68105507 AC/AD. ALTHOUGH CHRYSLER HAS DONE A SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THE ACTUAL VEHICLES RECALLED ARE LIMITED AND ABOUT 1MM OF THE 7MM AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH FAULTY TIPMS. I AM CURRENTLY IN A SMALL CLAIM'S COURT CASE AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN TRYING TO GET REIMBURSED FOR MY REPAIR COSTS.

NHTSA ODI #11166727

87,030 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN HAS ONLY 87K MILES AND THE CAR WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT START, AND OR WHILE DRIVING THE CAR'S IDLE BECOMES ROUGH AND DROPS TO THE POINT OF SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR WITH MY DAUGHTER AND IF THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND BODILY HARM TO OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #11163901

50,000 miles · Aug 28, 2018
EngineVehicle Speed Control

AS I AM ACCELERATING FROM 25-35 MPH THE VEHICLE ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR. THE VEHICLE SORT OF JIGGLES/JOLTS WHILE TRYING TO GEAR UP. ONCE REACHING 35/40 MPH THEN VEHICLE RUNS NORMAL. IF I PUSH DOWN ON GAS PEDDLE TO MAKE CAR GO THROUGH THAT GEAR, THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE VEHICLE KIND OF JOLTS A …

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AS I AM ACCELERATING FROM 25-35 MPH THE VEHICLE ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR. THE VEHICLE SORT OF JIGGLES/JOLTS WHILE TRYING TO GEAR UP. ONCE REACHING 35/40 MPH THEN VEHICLE RUNS NORMAL. IF I PUSH DOWN ON GAS PEDDLE TO MAKE CAR GO THROUGH THAT GEAR, THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE VEHICLE KIND OF JOLTS A "GET UP AND GO" FEELING AND THE RPMS GO ABOVE 4K, WHICH THEN VEHICLE GETS UP IN SPEED AND MOVES. ONCE AT 35/40 MPH, THEN THE VEHICLE RUNS SMOOTHLY.

NHTSA ODI #11122887

50,000 miles · Jul 16, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON. SOMETIME IT WILL START BACK UP WHEN PUSHING START BUTTON AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING UNDER 10 MPH. IT IS ALSO SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN OFF. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTER…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON. SOMETIME IT WILL START BACK UP WHEN PUSHING START BUTTON AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING UNDER 10 MPH. IT IS ALSO SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN OFF. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER AND THAT HASN'T FIXED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11111544

5 miles · Dec 20, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

FOR PAST 2 YEARS I NOTICED MY THE VAN WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. FIGURED IT WAS A FLUKE. IN PAST YEAR, MY VAN HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR NOT STARTING AFTER 10-15 TRIES. OF COURSE, AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES THE GET IT TO START. THANKFUL UNDER WARRANTY. NOV 2017 WIRING HARNESS AND STARTER REPLACED. DEC 2017 FAILED TO START AGA…

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FOR PAST 2 YEARS I NOTICED MY THE VAN WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. FIGURED IT WAS A FLUKE. IN PAST YEAR, MY VAN HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR NOT STARTING AFTER 10-15 TRIES. OF COURSE, AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES THE GET IT TO START. THANKFUL UNDER WARRANTY. NOV 2017 WIRING HARNESS AND STARTER REPLACED. DEC 2017 FAILED TO START AGAIN. BACK TO DEALER AND WORKING FINE FOR THEM. THANKFUL UNDER WARRANTY., BUT COME ON VM!! THIS IS NUTS. WHY WON'T THEY RECALL AND RE PLACE THE TIPEM LIKE CHRYSTAL DID. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES AND HAD TO 3 CAR SEATS EACH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11055756

76,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECALL IF A WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECALL IF A WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND CREATED A HOLE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI #11021507

Official recalls

1

12V147000 · Suspension:rear

Apr 5, 2012

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ROUTAN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT FULLY MACHINED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE IN DURABILITY, WHICH MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.