Volkswagen Routan Engine Problems
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Volkswagen Routan across 5 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (78). The words owners use most often: “stalled without” (8% of reports).
- 195engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Stalled without: mentioned in 16 of 195 complaints (8%)
- Shuts off: mentioned in 14 of 195 complaints (7%)
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 13 of 195 complaints (7%)
- Engine shut: mentioned in 10 of 195 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 166 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 195 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Volkswagen Routan engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Routan | 3 | 43% | 77,000 |
| 2012 Routan | 21 | 33% | 89,015 |
| 2011 Routan | 48 | 27% | 70,750 |
| 2010 Routan | 45 | 19% | 77,000 |
| 2009 Routan | 78 | 27% | 70,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Volkswagen Routan. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
I bought this van just a few weeks ago. One day I was driving and all a sudden it lost power while in motion. This has happened 4xs so far. It could've resulted in the inability to stop my vehicle as the brakes are stiff after the power & engine stop working. It could've resulted in either I hit…
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. 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…
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that the vehicle was started and driven to her destination; however, after arriving at her destination she attempted to shut off the vehicle, but the vehicle remained running. The contact stated that she disconnected the battery to shut…
NHTSA Recall 14v396 is probably the best correction to this issue. My van has shut off mid-driving while my children are in the car with me. It is so dangerous in the road. I can't move the steering wheel. Mechanics can't seem to diagnose the problem because the van doesn't give any computer codes…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volkswagen Routans have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 195 owner complaints about engine for the Volkswagen Routan. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volkswagen Routan engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Volkswagen Routan?
The most frequent phrase is “stalled without”, in 16 of 195 complaints, followed by “shuts off” (14).
Other Volkswagen Routan problems
See all Volkswagen Routan problems.