2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,495 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Volkswagen Routan Owner Comments

problem #17

Jun 252021

Routan

  • miles

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

My 2011 VW Routan completely lost power on the freeway while driving in heavy traffic. The steering completely locked up (not lost power steering), locked up and all components died while moving. It took two people to break the steering wheel loose so that the van could be pushed out of the road by TDOT. We had the van towed and once removed from the truck it started and ran like normal. Our 3 kids were also in the van which makes the situation extremely hazardous. Previous to this, we paid $1,500 to the VW dealer to replace the TIPM unit because the van wouldn-??t start on many occasions. The dealer stated that he knew Chrysler had issued a recall on their vehicles with these same issues but VW hadn-??t taken any action. Other info-?? no dash lights are/were on. Dealer can-??t seem to reproduce the issue. TDOT Officer said he-??d never seen a vehicle that locked the steering while the car was in motion. This was worse than it loosing all power.

- Cleveland, TN, USA

problem #16

May 172021

Routan

  • miles
When driving for about 25 and then getting to a stop light. As I slow down and start to come to a stop the car shakes very roughly and turns right off. The first time this happened was 3 days after getting car from Carmax. It had not happened again until this week.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #15

Nov 232020

Routan

  • 0 miles
Intermittent starting - from what I understand this vehicle is basically a Chrysler Town & Country. Chyrsler issued a recall on the faulty tmpi fuel pump relay but VW refuses. Is this allowed"?" it is the same vehicle. It is not fair that I have to pay to fix a part that is known to be faulty from the start.

- York, PA, USA

problem #14

Oct 242020

Routan

  • 100,000 miles

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

The vehicle looses all power while driving. If you hit a bump or touch the key it causes the key connection to stop and loss of all power. Have to put car in neutral while driving and restart it. This has happened while driving on the interstate and driving on rural roads. All areas. This has happened multiple times.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #13

Jan 082020

Routan

  • 65,000 miles
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.

- Goodyear, AZ, USA

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problem #12

Jul 012017

Routan

  • 80,000 miles
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!

- Hilton, NY, USA

problem #11

May 012019

Routan

  • 78,800 miles

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

Van intermittent starts, had the win replaced and it's still doing it, dealership can't figure it out. Same year and make has many of the same problem and complaints. Frustrating that the manufacturer will not take responsibility.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #10

Mar 152017

Routan

  • 5 miles
After the car is parked back lift gate opens suddenly, also automatic side doors suddenly opens. Lots of occasions the vehicle won't start. At one time my wife was driving and suddenly it just stops in the middle of the road and could not start. No sign of empty gas or engine lights warnings. After the being taken to the shop diagnose is sensors not working and lots of time sensors were replaced but the hard start keeps on doing it to this date. Sometime it starts sometimes it does not.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #9

Sep 042017

Routan

  • 78,200 miles
The vehicle will randomly not start and the battery is drained. All the research I have done appears very similar to the fuel pump relay not shutting off and could be related to the tipm not working properly. It starts after I give it a jump. I had battery, starter, and alternator tested. They are all in perfect working condition. It started happening on Sept 4, 2017 and continues randomly.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #8

Jun 262017

Routan

  • 68,483 miles
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.

- Troutville, VA, USA

problem #7

May 292017

Routan

  • 61,800 miles

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

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 #6

May 152017

Routan

  • 115,000 miles
The van was my mothers which she passed away about year ago. I inherited the van I drive it for couple months when I noticed that sometimes when I would try to start it that it wouldn't start. It would only make a clicking noise. I would turn key off & try it again it would start. Then in month or so I noticed that when I would be driving 55-70 mph that it would like stall. It wouldn't shift down or accelerate. I would have to pull over & restart it. It began doing that quite often until one night I was driving down the road & went to turn in somewhere when it died & wouldn't start back. My husband had to come pull me home. We have researched what it was doing & a lot of people has had this happen to them. They claim it's a $1200 tpim board. The VW Routan is Chrysler made under the hood. Chrysler is aware of this dangerous problem & has already issued a recall but VW said they wasn't going to recall it. They are aware of it too. I feel as if someone is going to get hurt if this isn't addressed because a lot of people have said that they would be driving down road at 70mph & it just dies which mean that they don't have any power steering. Please do something before someone gets hurt. I have kids & I would've hated for us to be on the interstate when that happened. Luckily I was in town & no kids was with me. Thank you!!

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #5

Dec 192016

Routan

  • 45,126 miles
Integrated body control/ECU:tipm module malfunction.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #4

Aug 162016

Routan

  • 52,000 miles
Car wont start, only sometimes. Just turns over repeatedly, until you turn the key off. Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes it starts normally. Once it stalled. Usually this happens on the first start, but sometimes it doesn't matter.

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #3

Aug 232016

Routan

  • 74,000 miles
Problem started about 4 weeks ago with car not starting. Would turn over but never crank up/start. Local VW dealer said issue was fuel pump and replaced. Symptoms continued with longer than normal cranking before starting. Sometimes vehicle acts like the battery is dead and will "click" until after multiple attempts it will finally turn over and start. Certain times after having vehicle in reverse and placing into drive it just dies, have to place in park and restart. While slowing for a traffic light, vehicle has hesitated as if to die, but thankfully it has continued. While slowing for a stop, transmission miss shifted into 1st and made a loud bang. Since then at slow speeds if you lifting off the gas the transmission makes loud noises. All of these issues have happened in the last 4 weeks. It has been to the dealership 2 twice and I am awaiting contact via the dealership for a 3 visit in 4 weeks. Since original purchase, I have installed 3 batteries in this vehicle. We have lost all confidence in this vehicle, and find ourselves hoping nothing serious happens if it dies while traveling. This intermittent electrical issue while traveling at speed is a concerning safety issue.

- Panama City Beach, FL, USA

problem #2

May 092016

Routan

  • 77,000 miles
Takata recall.I bought a VW Routan in March of this year with 77,000 miles on it. The first week I had it I went out to start it and it would not turn over. I tried it again and it started. Next day it did the same thing. Now its gotten so bad it takes 20 trys before it starts. Now my trans. Is jerking when I put it N gear.im taking it in tomorrow so I will let you know what happens.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #1

Jan 102016

Routan

  • 65,000 miles
Multiple instances. Vehicle shuts off while driving and will restart after sitting for an hour or two. The first instance occurred while traveling on a busy interstate at 65 mph. I had a semi to the right and another semi behind me when the vehicle stalled. Very scary! I took it to the dealership that I bought it from and they could not get the problem to repeat. No repair was made. This problem recurs every 6-10 days. I just purchased this vehicle about a month ago with 65,000 miles on it.

- Silverhill, AL, USA

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