2012 Volkswagen Routan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the van shutting off or refusing to start, frequently traced to the integrated power module (TIPM) and its fuel pump relay, along with intermittent instrument panel and wiper failures. A separate, less common but well-documented theme is engine top-end and transmission trouble reported under 90,000 miles, while several complaints note difficulty getting a diagnosis from dealers.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalls or shuts off while driving; no-start episodes

   • 43 complaints (68%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 6.7 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out with no warning at city and highway speeds, with the dashboard, power steering and power brakes going dead at the same time; drivers say they coast to a stop and the van restarts. Others report cranking but not starting, or repeated failed start attempts, sometimes with wipers or gauges acting up. Several owners say the dealer replaced the totally integrated power module (TIPM) or its fuel pump relay after diagnosis, while others report that shops could not find a cause or that no codes were stored. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 15,000 miles to well past 150,000, and occurring at all speeds including on the highway.

   What to check: Ask whether the TIPM or its fuel pump relay has been replaced and request any repair invoices. During a test drive, note whether the van starts reliably and whether dash lights, wipers or gauges behave normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I've been experiencing major safety problems with my 2012 vw Routan lately. On several occasions, while driving, my van has completely shut down. The dashboard, engine, power steering, everything completely turns off and I am unable to do anything until the vehicle comes to a complete stop and I start the engine again. The first time it shut down, I was driving in the city driving at 35 MPH. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11173298, filed 2019-01, 95,000 miles

   “My 2012 vw Routan cuts off while in motion. It is very scary when you are driving down the highway and your car is no longer running. Also sometimes I have to turn the key multiple times before it cranks. Vw needs a fix for this!”

   NHTSA complaint #11176601, filed 2019-02, 107,760 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Hard starting, battery drain and fuel pump relay issues

   • 24 complaints (38%)
   • median 87,030 mi at 7.1 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2023

   Owners describe the van failing to start on the first attempt, sometimes needing many tries, and batteries going flat overnight even with nothing left on. Some reports tie this to the fuel pump relay inside the TIPM, which owners say cannot be replaced separately, so the whole module is replaced. A dealer reportedly advised that the vehicle had been seen before with the same fault. Mostly reported between roughly 46,000 and 116,000 miles, with symptoms sometimes appearing intermittently for months before diagnosis.

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system tested and ask specifically whether the fuel pump relay or TIPM has been serviced. A cold-start test after the van has sat overnight is useful.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2012 Volkswagen Routan has only 87k miles and the car will crank but will not start, and or while driving the car's idle becomes rough and drops to the point of shutting off while driving. My wife drives this car with my daughter and if this car shuts off while driving it can cause accidents and bodily harm to others.”

   NHTSA complaint #11163901, filed 2018-12, 87,030 miles

   “Takata recall. Having problems starting van on first try. Van will stall a few times before starting. Sometimes the battery is drain. Battery has been tested=good! This has been happening for 3 months. I after reading and researching I come to a conclusion that it is the tipm fuel relay!”

   NHTSA complaint #11041088, filed 2017-10, 60,800 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine tick, cylinder head and oil filter housing leaks

   • 15 complaints (24%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2023

   Complaints describe a ticking sound from the engine that led to flywheel and cylinder head work, with one owner reporting that a connecting rod came through the engine block and required replacement. Others report cylinder head replacement after a stall and no-restart, and oil filter housing leaks found during the same repair. Owners note that the engine is a shared V6 design and ask about coverage for the cylinder head repair. Reported from about 45,000 to 97,000 miles, often noticed as noise at various speeds or after a stall.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for ticking at idle and on revs, check for oil residue around the filter housing and head gaskets, and ask whether any cylinder head or engine work has been done under warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When getting off highway while at light my car sputtered and stalled. The car would not restart and I had to have towed. The right side cylinder head had to be replaced at a cost of over $4000. Vw is replacing the left side under warranty for 10 years but not the right side for some reason so I have to pay. There have been many problems with this engine and I have only 89000 miles. The engine in the vw is a chrysler 3.6 liter pentastar. While fixing that it was found that the oil filter housing unit was leaking and needed to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354796, filed 2020-09, 91,000 miles

   “The car will just shut down while driving. No warning, no lights, no check engine, no power steering or power breaks (I have to put all I got into trying to steer the car to just pull over!). I have to bring the car to a complete stop and restart it. It has happened about 3 times. Took it to 3 garages and they could not figure out the problem because the car never gave any computer codes when it would shut down. There are similar complaints and I'm wonder how vw knows of this issue and has failed to inform the owners of these vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11217412, filed 2019-06
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering loss and wheel bearing noise

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • median 78,750 mi at 5.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2021

   Complaints describe loss of power steering when the engine shuts off, making the wheel very hard to turn, and one owner reports a cracked hydraulic line at the rack that left the van without steering in the driveway. Another reports grinding rear wheel bearings replaced on both sides. Reported from about 60,000 to 150,000 miles, with bearing noise developing gradually and steering loss occurring suddenly.

   Recall 12V147000

   What to check: Check for steering assist at low speed and listen for grinding from the rear wheels on a test drive. Ask whether the rear hub and bearing assemblies were inspected under the related recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “10,000 miles, full warranty, bought new less than a year ago. While driving approximately 55 miles per hour on the highway with my mother and two children in the vehicle, the van lost all power mid-drive. Brakes, steering, everything stopped functioning. Thankfully it was late and my husband was able to coast to a stop. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. This had happened once before, but not at that speed, and we'd assumed it an anomaly. We were heading out of town, but concerned for safety we turned around. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10510839, filed 2013-05, 10,300 miles

   “Had to replace right rear wheel bearing at approximately 60,000 miles. Had to replace left rear wheel bearing at 80,500 miles. Both wheel bearings were making grinding noises. Rack and pinion hydraulic line cracked at elbow and had to be replaced. Rack and pinion problem occurred while driving close to home. Lost all steering in driveway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327207, filed 2020-06, 79,500 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough or delayed transmission engagement and limp mode

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report harsh or delayed shifting between roughly 25 and 40 mph, with the engine revving and the van lurching before it engages; some describe a jerk when shifting into reverse. One complaint states the transmission stuck in limp mode and was quoted for replacement, and another reports a complete loss of gear engagement. In one case the dealer said the behavior was normal. Reported from around 17,000 miles up to about 85,000 miles, typically during light acceleration or reversing.

   What to check: Test drive slowly through the 25-40 mph range and reverse, feeling for shudder or delayed engagement, and ask whether any transmission software updates or repairs have been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have noticed that the new car has being problem shifting gears and have been taking it to the shop several times just to be told that they do not see any problems. May 2013 we have received a recall mentioning harsh 1-3 up shifts and error in the torque management software, which will apply more pressure to the clutch. We took it in and were told they have not received the recall letter yet. At some point they agreed to update the software, however that made the problem worse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10577107, filed 2014-04, 700 miles

   “On Thursday January 6, 2022, I took my car Volkswagen Routan 2012 to the service center because the check engine light went on and the engine revving. The service center took a week for diagnostic it, then they informed me on January 13, after charging me $180 that it needs a new transmission because it stuck in limp mode (see attached report). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11451803, filed 2022-02

Buying note. Because most complaints center on stalling and no-start behavior tied to the power module, ask for service records covering that part and budget for diagnosis, since several owners report the fault left no codes. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cold start, a highway drive and a check of the rear bearings gives a better picture than a short test drive.

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.