2011 Volkswagen Routan Problems
Compared with other Volkswagen Routan years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
17/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.5× that of a typical Volkswagen Routan year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 13 of its 175 complaints were filed by the end of 2013.
- Most reported problem: Hard starting and battery drain (74 complaints, median 74,000 mi).
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 175filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 69,000miles, 147 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.6L 6-cyl · flex-fuel FWD · 17 city / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints for this model year cluster heavily around electrical problems: owners describe hard starting, stalling while driving, and battery drain that many trace to the integrated power module (TIPM) and its fuel pump relay. The second theme is repeated front brake vibration and shudder under braking. Most sampled reports involve vehicles between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 miles, with the stalling and no-start reports spread across that range rather than tied to a narrow mileage window.
- Electrical system
TIPM / fuel pump relay — stalling and no-starts
- 64 complaints (37%)
- median 74,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (55 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 15 quotes)
- filed 2014–2022
Owners describe a van that cranks but will not start on the first few attempts, and then shuts off without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed. Several say the engine restarts after a short wait and that the problem returns. Complaints frequently report that a dealer or independent mechanic traced the behavior to the TIPM or the fuel pump relay built into it, and some report the fuel pump runs on after the key is off and drains the battery. A number of owners note the repair was quoted in the four-figure range and that replacing the fuel pump alone did not resolve it. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly 20,000 to 150,000 miles, with many between 70,000 and 110,000.
What to check: Ask whether the TIPM has been replaced or repaired and keep the receipt; on a test drive, start the van several times and listen for the fuel pump running after shutdown.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“This vehicle is basically a chrysler/dodge with vw branding, and one of the keys is even a dodge key. It has the same issue with the tipm and fuel relay module that was recalled on the 2011 chrysler and dodge vans. See fuel pump relay recall NHTSA 14v-530. I'm asking that it also be recalled for the 2011 vw Routan since it's very dangerous that my car could stop at any moment. …”
NHTSA complaint #11344079, filed 2020-08, 71,000 miles“Tipm problem - well known but not addressed. Some chrysler vehicles have a recall on the tipm. The Routan should as well given that it is based on the chrysler brand. It is outrageous that I have to pay for this repair. To add insult to injury I have been told that it could take up to 6 days to get the part in-house. We are both working parents with 3 children so this makes our day to day extremely difficult. …”
NHTSA complaint #10904263, filed 2016-09, 70,000 miles - Engine
Engine stalls and loses power while driving
- 36 complaints (21%)
- median 69,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (33 state mileage)
- filed 2013–2024
Complaints describe the engine shutting down at speed or after hesitation, with loss of power steering and power brakes at the same time. Owners often say the van restarts after being shifted to neutral or after a short wait, and that the condition repeats. Some were told by dealers that the WIN module or the TIPM needed replacement; others report the dealer could not reproduce the problem and no repair was made. Mostly between roughly 29,000 and 115,000 miles, with several at highway speed.
What to check: Ask if the van has ever stalled and whether the WIN module or TIPM was replaced; a scan for stored codes before purchase is worth the cost.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While driving approximately 35 to 40mph on a busy road en route to get on the highway, my Routan shut off. The engine shut off, the steering wheel locked up, and the car came to a stop. Luckily I was able to pull off the road. I turned the key to the off position after putting the car in park and the car cranked back up shortly after. I drove it slowly home approximately 10 miles. Both of my young children (10 months and 5years) were in the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #11030433, filed 2017-09, 114,000 miles“My 2011 Routan suddenly lost power while I, with my kid on board, was driving on a highway in march 2014. Can you imagine a vehicle stopping in a flow of vehicles at 70+ MPH? All lights were on. I managed to restart the engine and was able to drive but the check engine light was still on. The dealership from whom I bought the vehicle repaired it and told me that everything is fine by having a brand-new set of wiring. A month later, the same life-threatening issue happened again while I was driving. …”
NHTSA complaint #10585581, filed 2014-04, 30,000 miles - Electrical system
Hard starting and battery drain
- 74 complaints (42%)
- median 74,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (60 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 14 quotes)
- filed 2013–2025
Owners report intermittent no-starts where the engine turns over but does not catch, or where only a click is heard, followed by normal starting on a later attempt. Several describe the battery going flat repeatedly even after replacement, and one found the fuel pump running with the ignition off. Complaints mention dealers replacing batteries, starters and the WIN module without resolving the condition, and some report no diagnostic codes being stored. From about 20,000 to 117,000 miles; several owners describe it getting worse over weeks.
What to check: Start the van cold and repeat the start a few times; ask whether the battery drains when parked and whether any parts were replaced for a no-start.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Our van has just over 40k miles on it, and last week it wouldn't start. We jumped it and went out to run errands, but we had to get another jump from a stranger to get home. We charged the battery fully overnight, and it started again for a day, only to have the battery drained again. We bought this car for our growing family (twins on the way!) and I'm reading the horror stories about this year and model stalling while driving on the freeway. …”
NHTSA complaint #11062643, filed 2018-01, 43,000 miles“Engine hard started for a couple of weeks, then it died while my wife was driving in our neighborhood. Mechanic said it was an issue with the fuel pump relay and rigged a bypass in the fuse box. All seemed to be working ok, but then the car died again about months later. Next time we started it, the dash lit up with all kinds of warning lights, the radio power went out, and the A/C was not working. We'll see if it is the same issue or another. …”
NHTSA complaint #10991156, filed 2017-05, 59,000 miles
Buying note. The most common complaint theme here is electrical — hard starting, stalling and battery drain that owners link to the power module and fuel pump relay — so a pre-purchase scan and a record of any module repair are worth more than cosmetic condition. Also check for brake shudder on a firm test drive and ask how many times the front brakes have been replaced.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 175 consumer complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan. 147 of the complaints include a mileage, and 23% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 21 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 453 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 3 Volkswagen Routan model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 17 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system111 63%
- Engine48 27%
- Fuel system41 23%
- Other or unknown18 10%
- Brakes15 8.6%
- Electronic stability control12 6.9%
- Steering11 6.3%
- Vehicle speed control8 4.6%
- Air bags6 3.4%
Also reported: Body and structure (5), Engine cooling (2), Seats (2), Exterior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seat belts (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “I own a 2011 Volkswagen Routan minivan and the ignition switch stops working I know there are a few recalls for this on the 2009 and 2010 years I call vw corporation and they said they can't help me just because there's no recalls on my vehicle the part they used in the previous years is the same that is damage in my vehicle so I don't think is fair and I would like to get some help for this thank you”
NHTSA complaint #11375679, filed 2020-11, 55,000 milesEngine: “My check engine light came on so I had the code checked it indicated that o2 sensors needed replaced then the code indicated a cylinder 4 misfire? Ihave replaced the ignition coil pack, checked cylinder compression, changed spark plugs and fuel injector and I still have the po304 code engine misfire cylinder #4??? I am so frustrated what else could I be missing to clear this code issue?”
NHTSA complaint #11221448, filed 2019-06, 52,000 milesFuel system: “My tipm modules of the car is causing a lots of problems and that has affected my fuel pump, battery, and starter.I have to replace a new fuel pump,a new battery and a new starter and still the same problem is still persisting.”
NHTSA complaint #11150748, filed 2018-11, 117,545 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The van will shut off without warning. This most recent time I was driving at about 63 MPH with cruise control on. I notice the van shake, the cruise control disengaged and the vehicle slowed to a stop. The same thing happend about 1 year ago. Vw changed out some parts and said it was fixed. Judging from the threads I'm reading it's a prevalent problem that they have not properly addressed. The van is at the dealer this morning...I'm waiting for diagnostics results”
NHTSA complaint #10826133, filed 2016-02, 50,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
23% of the 147 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 85,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routan · VAN FWD | not rated | — | — | — | 4 · 16.4% risk |
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2011 Volkswagen Routan version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routan FWD | 3.6L 6-cyl · flex-fuel | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 453 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11030826Mar 2, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used vehicles.
- 11014949Feb 12, 2025Engine. Identifying and Mixing Engine Coolant
- 11012460Dec 2, 2024Other or unknown. Multiple Emissions service action closures
- 11010011Oct 7, 2024Other or unknown. Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available
- 11008861Sep 17, 2024Transmission and drivetrain. Fluid requirements
- 11008846Sep 12, 2024Body and structure. Wind & Water Leak Checking
- 10249138Jan 9, 2024Other or unknown. Airbag / Pyrotechnic Safety Belt Deployment Inquiries, update to contact information due to retirement.
- 10245617Nov 13, 2023Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number
- 10241198Aug 3, 2023Equipment. Helpline & Parts Dept. contact information.
- 10238310Jun 21, 2023Transmission and drivetrain. Automatic Transmission Fluid Requirements
Other model years of the Volkswagen Routan
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7 | 90,000 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 63 | 76,000 | 1 | — | 20 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 175 | 69,000 | 0 | — | 20 | 17 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 240 | 70,000 | 2 | — | 20 | 68 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 294 | 65,000 | 6 | — | 20 | 100 · More | Falling |
All Volkswagen Routan model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
Complaints for this model year cluster heavily around electrical problems: owners describe hard starting, stalling while driving, and battery drain that many trace to the integrated power module (TIPM) and its fuel pump relay. The issues reported most often: TIPM / fuel pump relay — stalling and no-starts; Engine stalls and loses power while driving; Hard starting and battery drain.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have?
NHTSA recorded 175 consumer complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2011 Volkswagen Routan is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 111 complaints (63% of the total), followed by engine with 48.
Has the 2011 Volkswagen Routan been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan get?
The EPA rates the 2011 Volkswagen Routan (Routan, 3.6L 6-cyl · flex-fuel) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Routan reported?
Among the 147 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,000 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 85,000 miles; 23% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.