Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
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. …
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. …
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. …
This vehicle is basically a Chrysler/Dodge with vw branding, and one of the keys is even a Dodge key. It has the same issue with the TIPM and fuel relay module that was recalled on the 2011 Chrysler and Dodge vans. See fuel pump relay recall NHTSA 14v-530. I'm asking that it also be recalled for the 2011 vw Routan since it's very dangerous that my car could stop at any moment. I recently purchased my van from a used car dealer in new jersey who neglected to even inform me that this was a known issue even though I informed them that I'd be driving the car cross country. When I was in georgia the car started cranking, but wouldn't start and it has had this same intermittent issue since I arrived in fl. It took a while for us to figure out what was even wrong with it because when the auto shop ran a diagnostic, no codes were returned. …
Car wouldn't start, hard cranks over several days. The engine would finally start after multiple attempts. Over the course of 5 days it got worse and worse. Took to mechanic - code said Dodge caravan r09. My mechanic said it is a common fuel pump relay inside the TIPM, and that Chrysler has issued a recall, but vw hasn't. Took it to vw dealer, performed and charged me a complete diagnostic test - to tell me the same thing. Called vw corporate - said they were aware of the issue, but it is not a Chrysler and it is a vw rebagged car, and that I am responsible for a $1300 fix. Further issues, is that the part not readily available, and my family of 5 is out of transportation for 5 days. Our 2011 vw has only 61,000 and this is not the first issue. Upon researching it on the internet, I am not the only one with this problem. …
Check tire light on dash came on and off- had it checked out- nothing came up. Then we started having issues with the vehical starting- long starts and not starting on the first, second, sometimes third try. Next, the engine would intermittently turn off when shifted into reverse. Lastly, it started shutting off while driving!!! All of these things occurred within 1.5 months and in order. Brought it in to vw dealer- requires new TIPM module at 1000.00 dollars. Totally unsafe and should have been included in the recall along with the Chrysler and Dodge models when they recalled the TIPM modules. This car was made by Chrysler- so I've discovered. It is essentially a Chrysler with a vw badge on it- that's what the mechanics I've spoken with call it. They also call it a frankenstein van! …
Our van has had on and off weird electrical things happening for a few months - wipers come on by themselves, air turns off by itself, lights, etc. Then the van started not always starting. Sometimes it would start, then shut off by itself shortly after starting. It got to the point where it was not easily starting 2-3 times a day. The weird electrical stuff would happen when stationary or in motion. The starting problem was while stationary. Sometimes it died when I put it in gear to move. Sometimes when driving, I felt like the car was giving itself more gas even though my foot had been taken off of the pedal. Took it to vw when it simply would not easily or reliably start anymore. They said the TIPM module needed to be replaced. We just got it replaced. Cost us $924.77!
Vehicle engine would do the extended crank, and not turn over, or would turn over and die instantly, check engine light would flash 10 times. Took vehicle to the dealer to find out that the TIPM module had failed, the repair was $1200, and took a week. Chrysler had built the vehicle for Volkswagen from their town and country line, however unlike Chrysler, Volkswagen doesn't honor the recall although the part is physically the same mopar part across the board. Volkswagen also stated they offer no assistance after the base warranty is gone as well. Isn't there some federal mandate that requires these devices to be warranted further than the normal 36,000 miles? I guess it will take someone getting severely injured or killed in one of these vans for Volkswagen to open there eyes...
Fuel System complaints in other Routan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2011 Volkswagen Routan, 23% of the model year's 175 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Volkswagen Routan fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.