Most common 2011 Volkswagen Routan problems
Share of the 175 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Routan complaints by model year
Best Routan years: 2013, 2012. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010. Compare all years →
What 2011 Volkswagen Routan owners say
Electrical system all 111 →
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 accelerate(especially uphill), car turns over and struggles to start, even though has newer battery. 1/9/25 driving to an appointment, upon reaching destination, a pop sound. No smell, no warnings came up on dashboard. Upon leaving, saw fluid leak, headed straight to dealership, at which a massive amount of fluid began pouring out of vehicle..in exact same area as original issue from 8/31/24.
When driving for about 25 and then getting to a stop light. As I slow down and start to come to a stop the car shakes very roughly and turns right off. The first time this happened was 3 days after getting car from Carmax. It had not happened again until this week.
Engine & cooling all 50 →
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 vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 190,000.
While driving on a highway at 65 Mph, vehicle shut down, lost brakes, steering, and all power, had to coast to a stop, narrowly avoiding a collision. Upon exhaustive review, TIPM was faulty, causing starting issues, intermittent power loss, and fuel pump issues. As this van is manufactured by Chrysler (for VW) and their (identical) model has the same issue, it was known and recalled, it is appalling that no recall exists for this VW model. These vans are being financed and bought by families, and like us driven daily with children in them. The issue is widespread, very well known, but as in our case, not disclosed by dealerships as no official action has ever been taken, and no official record exists. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 41 →
My children and I were stationary at a light when the van started sputtering. When the light turned green I accelerated. Within 5 minutes the van cut off. I have a full tank of gas. This now happens often and I never know where or when it will cut off. Most days it will not start. I have had a vw mechanic take a look and they advised its the fuel pump relay same that was recalled on the Dodge and Jeep vehicles. Because this is the same one but in vw body
On September 15th 2015, I brought my 2011 Volkswagen Routan to pioneer automotive services in oak harbor washington because the vehicle failed to start after several instances. After many hours of trouble shooting, I received word that it was the total integrated power module (TIPM). They could order one and install it, but would have to be towed to burlington washington to the closest Volkswagen dealership to be programmed. This part will cost me $822 with additional costs for installation and programming. After much research, I found there to be recalls for this part in Chrysler vehicles ranging in my year. I own a Volkswagen, but it has a Chrysler motor in it. This indicates that my vehicle should have been recalled for this potentially life threatening defect, but because its a Volkswagen with a Chrysler motor, this was their way to avoid an even larger number of recalled vehicles. …
2011 Volkswagen Routan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Volkswagen Routan a good car?
Based on 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Routan rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Routan at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
The electrical system — 111 complaints, 63% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (50) and fuel & propulsion system (41).
How many recalls does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Routan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009 and 2010. See the full Volkswagen Routan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Volkswagen Routan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.