Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Volkswagen Routan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
This is 2011 VW ROUTAN. When the mileage reached exactly 100k both sliding doors shuts. When I put it on manual control button overhead it's not working in both doors. It's parked when this happens.
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
I have a few concerns about an accident my wife was in on 12/06/2012. She was struck head on by another driver. She had three children in the car. They were on a highway and they were going 55mph and the driver that hit them head on was going around 20mph according to the police report. There was $10,000 damage to the front of the Routan. The body shop says that they have to replace the entire front end. My concerns are that the airbags never deployed in this crash and that my wife and children could have been spared some emotional and physical distress if they had deployed. My wife and children have expressed many times since the accident that they do not feel safe getting back into or driving that same vehicle again. My questions are: 1. Is this something that happens frequently? 2. Is this something that should be reported to the NHTSA?3. …
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. …
Problem started about 4 weeks ago with car not starting. Would turn over but never crank up/start. Local vw dealer said issue was fuel pump and replaced. Symptoms continued with longer than normal cranking before starting. Sometimes vehicle acts like the battery is dead and will "click" until after multiple attempts it will finally turn over and start. Certain times after having vehicle in reverse and placing into drive it just dies, have to place in park and restart. While slowing for a traffic light, vehicle has hesitated as if to die, but thankfully it has continued. While slowing for a stop, transmission miss shifted into 1st and made a loud bang. Since then at slow speeds if you lifting off the gas the transmission makes loud noises. All of these issues have happened in the last 4 weeks. …
In July 2016 our 2011 Routan would not start up immediately. Would sometimes fire up in neutral and sometimes after several trys it would start up in park. After several days we took the battery in to have it checked (after replacing it and the alternator about 6 months ago). Our battery was totally dead. Bought new expensive battery which failed again after a few days. Took car to repair shop and they said no codes came up and starter, battery alternator were all fine. Decided to unhook battery when we weren't using car because something obviously is draining it. That seemed to work but last week while on the interstate the van suddenly cut off completely when slowing down for exit ramp. Managed to pull van to side and not get hit by cars behind us without power steering. Very scary. After several attempts we got it started again. However, this morning it wouldn't start at all. …
The van was my mothers which she passed away about year ago. I inherited the van I drive it for couple months when I noticed that sometimes when I would try to start it that it wouldn't start. It would only make a clicking noise. I would turn key off & try it again it would start. Then in month or so I noticed that when I would be driving 55-70 MPH that it would like stall. It wouldn't shift down or accelerate. I would have to pull over & restart it. It began doing that quite often until one night I was driving down the road & went to turn in somewhere when it died & wouldn't start back. My husband had to come pull me home. We have researched what it was doing & a lot of people has had this happen to them. They claim it's a $1200 tpim board. The vw Routan is Chrysler made under the hood. …
No acceleration up hills. Car cranked but didn't turn over engine, randomly. Almost stalled out on the highway during storm by using headlights, wipers, A/C all at once. I had to turn off headlights, wipers and A/C (that kept windshield from fogging) in order to keep from stalling out on the highway with three kids in the car. While driving in neighborhoods (5 MPH-25 MPH) the car would sputter and jerk forward. I was told the cars trouble could be just water in the gas and so we poured a solution that would clean the gas tank of impurities, if only it was that simple. While driving on the highway using cruise control, the cruise suddenly stopped working, cruise light stayed on but the car just physically slowed down. Our family is scared to get into our vehicle for safety reasons and right now it's our only means of transportation. …
Electrical complaints in other Routan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
NHTSA has 111 complaints about the electrical system of the 2011 Volkswagen Routan, 63% of the model year's 175 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Volkswagen Routan electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Volkswagen Routan electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.