AI Damage2011 Volkswagen Routan: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Volkswagen Routan filed 175 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 175
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 63% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 27% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 22% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 6 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 111 complaints (63% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 48 complaints (27% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 39 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 19 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 15 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 175 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 111 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 48 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 39 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Most days it will not start. I have had a vw mechanic take a look and they advised its the fuel pump relay same that was recalled on the dodge and jeep vehicles. Because this is the same one but in vw body
Unfortunately my 2011 vw routan was involved in an accident where it was struck on the passenger side by another vehicle moving at approximately 30mph. As a result of the collision the routan spun 270 degrees and rolled over. None of the multiple airbags in my vehicle deployed!
My concerns are that the airbags never deployed in this crash and that my wife and children could have been spared some emotional and physical distress if they had deployed.
loss of steering while driving, fluid loss multiple times since late september 2024(all while driving and no lights or warnings came on), 2 snapped serpentine belts, key ignition sticking(would not turn), dashboard not lighting up, rpm no longer rests below 1.5 - 2, car struggles to accelerate(especially uphill), car…
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic.
Upon exhaustive review, TIPM was faulty, causing starting issues, intermittent power loss, and fuel pump issues. As this van is manufactured by Chrysler (for VW) and their (identical) model has the same issue, it was known and recalled, it is appalling that no recall exists for this VW model.
The contact stated that the engine cranked up however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that a fuse warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the totally integrated power module (tipm) failed and needed to be replaced.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,306 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Routan has 112 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 175, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 175. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (26%), won't start (24%), fuel system, fuel smell (22%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2011 Volkswagen Routan from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2011 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.