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EnginePart report

2012 Volkswagen Routan Engine Problems

Complaints
21about this part
Share
33%of 63 total for the year
Median mileage
89,015miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Volkswagen Routan, 33% of the 63 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,015 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“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

“As I am accelerating from 25-35 MPH the vehicle almost feels like it doesn't want to shift into next gear. The vehicle sort of jiggles/jolts while trying to gear up. Once reaching 35/40 MPH then vehicle runs normal. If I push down on gas peddle to make car go through that gear, the engine revs up and the vehicle kind of jolts a get up and go feeling and the rpms go above 4k, which then vehicle gets up in speed and moves. Once at 35/40 MPH, then the vehicle runs smoothly.”

NHTSA complaint #11122887, filed 2018-08, 50,000 miles

“The engine will die as I'm driving down the highway. This causes me to lose power steering, all my digital guages on dash,etc. When I pull over stop and put it in neutral I can then turn the key and it will start right back up. This has happened at least 6 times while driving on the highway or in town but always while moving and for no apparent reason. Possible touched the key chain with my knee but I can't say anything triggered it. First thing I notice is I'm slowing down and have to power steering. …”

NHTSA complaint #11173391, filed 2019-01, 144,729 miles

“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

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2013343%
20122133%
20114827%
20104519%
20097827%

Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Routan

Electrical system
39 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology