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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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64,000 miles · Mar 30, 2018
Exterior Lighting

DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS BLOWING OUT,WHEN TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THEM TO REPLACE FRONT WIRING HARNESS, I WAS TOLD WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE WITH THEM FOR TWO DAYS. VAN IS UNDER WARRANTY,WOULD COST ME A 100.00 DEDUCTABLE. VAN ONLY HAS 65 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL …

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DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS BLOWING OUT,WHEN TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THEM TO REPLACE FRONT WIRING HARNESS, I WAS TOLD WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE WITH THEM FOR TWO DAYS. VAN IS UNDER WARRANTY,WOULD COST ME A 100.00 DEDUCTABLE. VAN ONLY HAS 65 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BEEN FILED. THIS VAN WAS LAST JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN DODGE AND VOLKSWAGON. THEY COULDNT ORDER WIRING HARNESS IT HAD TO BE MADE AS I WAS TOLD THEY DIDNT MAKE PARTS ANYMORE FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11082240

55,000 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Exterior LightingService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FOG LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FOG LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE FOR THE FRONT FOG LIGHTS WAS UNKNOWN. THE FRONT FOG LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10779828

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.