10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,807 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Volkswagen Routan engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Volkswagen Routan Owner Comments

problem #6

Aug 192019

Routan

  • 64,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Clock spring failure causing the cruise control to not work. Search indicated the same clock spring issue with other VW models in the same year. It is an ongoing problem and the dealer is not willing to help without authorizing hundreds of dollars for troubleshooting.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #5

Sep 112017

Routan

  • 59,000 miles
No acceleration up hills. Car cranked but didn't turn over engine, randomly. Almost stalled out on the highway during storm by using headlights, wipers, A/C all at once. I had to turn off headlights, wipers and A/C (that kept windshield from fogging) in order to keep from stalling out on the highway with three kids in the car. While driving in neighborhoods (5 mph-25 mph) the car would sputter and jerk forward. I was told the cars trouble could be just water in the gas and so we poured a solution that would clean the gas tank of impurities, if only it was that simple. While driving on the highway using cruise control, the cruise suddenly stopped working, cruise light stayed on but the car just physically slowed down. Our family is scared to get into our vehicle for safety reasons and right now it's our only means of transportation. The tire sensor also has been on constantly and fixed 3 times only to light up 20 minutes later after leaving the VW service department. The sliding passenger door window is having electrical problems and we only used it 5 times from 2011-2017. We paid to have the fuel pump and the tipm sensor replaced last week which cost us approx. $1800 and replaced front brake pads and rotors because our rotors had gouges in them. We replaced a car battery in 2016, while we were on vacation, the car would start and it locked the key in the ignition and wouldn't give it back.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #4

May 292017

Routan

  • 61,800 miles
The minivan suddenly gave away on the transmission. At speeds of around 70mph, the transmission was in "D" (auto transmission vs manual) but there was no engagement from the engine. Giving more gas the engine was just revving up as if it was in neutral. Moved it to neutral and back to drive and still the engine revved up without engagement. Had to move over to the right lane and started slowing down to stop. After about 2-3 minutes, tried again and then the car suddenly revved up to 5000rpm or so as if it was in the 2nd or 3rd gear. It then re-adjusted itself and started picking up speed. Please investigate asap since this happened during peak traffic on a highway when trying to overtake a truck with the van full of passengers.

- Herndon, VA, USA

problem #3

Oct 092016

Routan 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My complaint is a that my vehicle started out giving me problems getting started then got to the point the engine would just stop while driving and would not allow me to press the break to stop the vehicle. I found that Chrysler had recalled the tipm in their vehicles and VW Routans (made by the Chrysler group) were just no longer made and pushed under the rug...this is my primary mode of transportation and I am a single mother of five minor children...I don't have $1300 to invest in the repair and I reported the issue to VW and to no avail. I'm afraid for mine and my children's lives...the next time we may not be so lucky....I am in hopes that this reaches someone that can help. My children and I were in the vehicle and in a rural area on a straight-away when the engine shut off (without warning) and I could not engage the brakes. I was always advised that VW vehicles were the way to go because VW stood behind their brand...but I find that now that my family is in this situation they can care less. I did report the issue to them and was told they would not stand behind the vehicle.

- Lynchburg, SC, USA

problem #2

Aug 022013

Routan

  • 58,300 miles
1st incident-parking car in a stall, car shuts off before parked. P0111 replace air temp sensor 2nd incident-exiting the freeway on a single lane just under 35mph engine shuts off, steering wheel locks right, apply brakes lightly, shift into neutral to turn wheel to pull on shoulder. P0300 and P0302 code. Dealer replace bank #2 cylinder head and necessary parts.(incident posted information) 3rd incident-merging on freeway up the hill, engine bogs and shuts off, was on far right lane pulled to side. Dealer says misfire on cylinder #6 with no dtc code, says ignition coil problem on #6.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #1

Jun 082011

Routan

  • 242 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph and parking the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning with the brakes depressed. The vehicle then crashed into metal poles and another vehicle. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where the contact was awaiting the results of a pending investigation. The failure and current mileages were approximately 242.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

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