Volkswagen Routan Problems by Year
NHTSA has 784 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Volkswagen Routan, across 7 model years (2008–2014). The 2009 model year has the most complaints (294). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Volkswagen Routan years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Routan year: 2009, 2010, 2011. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2009 Routan: 294 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2010 Routan: 240 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2011 Routan: 175 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2014 Routan: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2008 Routan: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2013 Routan: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volkswagen Routan problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 455 | 7 | 4 |
| Engine problems | 195 | 5 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 83 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 76 | 4 | 2 |
| Power Train | 70 | 5 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 55 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 35 | 4 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 34 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 | 4 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 23 | 4 | 5 |
| Wheels | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Seats | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Volkswagen Routan problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2011: electrical system (111)
- 2010: electrical system (150)
- 2009: electrical system (151) · engine (78)
All Volkswagen Routan model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Routan | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2013 Routan | 7 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2012 Routan | 63 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Routan | 175 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Routan | 240 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 Routan | 294 | 6 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Routan | 3 | 0 | — | Child Seat |
More from Volkswagen: all Volkswagen models · Volkswagen VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Routan years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2009 (294), 2010 (240), 2011 (175) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Routan year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volkswagen Routan?
Electrical System, with 455 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Routan have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.