2011 Volkswagen Routan Owner Complaints

The brakes randomly stop working. At random times you go to brake and have to push the pedal all the way to the floor to start stopping. 2nd issue. The car dies and looses all power at intermittent times while driving. The car has to be restarted while driving. Could be driving 70 on a hwy or 30 on a residential street. Either coast to the side of the road to restart... or quickly put the car in neutral and restart it while driving. Both of these have almost caused wrecks several times. Unknown own causes to both as they happen at random and different times.

NHTSA ID

11643273

Incident

Feb 15, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11635180

Incident

Aug 31, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11587480

Incident

May 3, 2024

Mileage

190,000 mi

Car has issues starting as if fuel pump isnt coming on... also vehicle shut down in middle of driving down highway would not restart

NHTSA ID

11483423

Incident

Aug 23, 2022

The vehicle is shutting off while driving.

NHTSA ID

11474428

Incident

Jul 17, 2022

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. We have learned all about it through trial and error, and are having to pay for possibly fatal errors committed on the part of the manufacturer - who, to state again, has in fact already recalled the vehicles due to it being such a wide spread and dangerous issue with a primarily family vehicle. Again, for clarity, the VW Routan is no longer in production, but when it was it was manufactured by Chrysler for VW, and is part for part a Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country. Why is this critical recall in existence for only a portion of the vehicles? This has become a major issue as we have to continue reducing this van until we can sell or trade it.

NHTSA ID

11457492

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11442717

Incident

May 11, 2021

Thé engine malfunction was observed and confirmed by the Mecanicien and the cause was from the manufacture. I'm willing to submit the car for any inspection. The car is still drivable, but I have to report it. I have been trying to call since longtime in vain. Thank

NHTSA ID

11442427

Incident

Jun 15, 2021

The van totally looses all power while driving. It happens multiple times per week. While driving the van dies, it takes about 3-5 seconds then the power comes back, we can then drive again. When it happens, sometimes the power doesn't come back on its own, we then have to put it in neutral and restart it, then can drive as normal.

NHTSA ID

11426965

Incident

Jul 28, 2021

My 2011 VW Routan completely lost power on the freeway while driving in heavy traffic. The steering completely locked up (not lost power steering), locked up and all components died while moving. It took two people to break the steering wheel loose so that the van could be pushed out of the road by TDOT. We had the van towed and once removed from the truck it started and ran like normal. Our 3 kids were also in the van which makes the situation extremely hazardous. Previous to this, we paid $1,500 to the VW dealer to replace the TIPM unit because the van wouldn’t start on many occasions. The dealer stated that he knew Chrysler had issued a recall on their vehicles with these same issues but VW hadn’t taken any action. Other info… no dash lights are/were on. Dealer can’t seem to reproduce the issue. TDOT Officer said he’d never seen a vehicle that locked the steering while the car was in motion. This was worse than it loosing all power.

NHTSA ID

11423178

Incident

Jun 25, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11417965

Incident

May 17, 2021

INTERMITTENT STARTING - FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS VEHICLE IS BASICALLY A CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. CHYRSLER ISSUED A RECALL ON THE FAULTY TMPI FUEL PUMP RELAY BUT VW REFUSES. IS THIS ALLOWED??? IT IS THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX A PART THAT IS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY FROM THE START.

NHTSA ID

11377088

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED TRIES. IT WOULD START AS NORMAL AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE TIPM IS FAULTY. FAULTY TIPMS IN THESE VEHICLE WITH 55K-70K MILEAGE SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY SHOPS WHO WILL REBUILT THESE TIPMS AS ITS A VERY KNOWN ISSUE. THIS IS ALSO A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS IT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND HOW START, LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED

NHTSA ID

11376951

Incident

Nov 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRANKED UP HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUSE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO DREYER & REINBOLD VW (1301 SOUTH, US-31 STE 3, GREENWOOD, IN 46143) AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED THE REPORT OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONBOARD SUPPLY CONTROL UNIT IN THE TIPM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,060.

NHTSA ID

11375950

Incident

Nov 14, 2020

Mileage

75,060 mi

I OWN A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN MINIVAN AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPS WORKING I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS ON THE 2009 AND 2010 YEARS I CALL VW CORPORATION AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THE PART THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS IS THE SAME THAT IS DAMAGE IN MY VEHICLE SO I DON'T THINK IS FAIR AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME HELP FOR THIS THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11375679

Incident

Nov 18, 2020

Mileage

55,000 mi

FAULTY TIPM MODULE. ENGINE WILL CRANK JUST FINE, BUT HAS BIG TROUBLE STARTING. ONCE IT RUNS ALL IS GOOD. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE PART. OTHER OEMS RECALLED THE ITEM (CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY / DODGE GRAND CARAVAN)

NHTSA ID

11373919

Incident

Nov 8, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR TOUCH THE KEY IT CAUSES THE KEY CONNECTION TO STOP AND LOSS OF ALL POWER. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND RESTART IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS. ALL AREAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11372790

Incident

Oct 24, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

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. VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING AND WILL NOT START ON MANY OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

11364829

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RELAY CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF MARIETTA (1860 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THREE OTHER UNKNOWN DEALERS BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11363447

Incident

Oct 6, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 VW ROUTAN AT 45 MPH SPEED SUDDENLY THE SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL MY VEHICLE OVER TO A LOCAL ROAD. AFTER SHOWING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS TIMP ISSUE AND REPAIR WOULD COST $1500. LUCKILY IT WASN'T A FREEWAY WITH 65 MPH ROAD, I COULDN'T THINK OF THIS THING HAPPENS ON SUCH ROAD WITH KIDS INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE CAME ACROSS CHRYSLER GOT SAME SORT OF ISSUES AND THEY RECALLED SUCH VEHICLES. VW ROUTAN IS ALSO SAME BUILT AS CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTY AND VW DIDN'T OFFER ANY RECALLS FOR THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11348466

Incident

Apr 22, 2020

Mileage

1 mi

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. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT THE ISSUE TO OCCUR AGAIN, THEY FOUND THAT TAPPING ON THE FUEL RELAY MODULE IN THE TIPM WOULD ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THEY ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO CHRYSLER BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A CHRYSLER VAN UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER, THEY TURNED ME AWAY BECAUSE THE VIN IS FOR A VW. WHEN I CALLED VW, THEY SAID NO RECALL EXISTED FOR THIS VAN EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. SO, I'M ASKING THAT A RECALL ALSO BE DONE ON 2011 VW ROUTAN'S SINCE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE CALLED OUT IN THE CHRYSLER RECALL. LASTLY, I EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE BOTH WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE IT WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11344079

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

71,000 mi

HARD START CAUSED BY FUEL PUMP NOT ENGAGING. ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT STOPLIGHTS. ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP RELAY. FUEL PUMP RELAY IS FULLY INTEGRATED AND IS COSTLY TO REPLACE. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT SUPPORT THE VEHICLE AND CHRYLSTLER WHO MADE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE FIRMWARE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11340223

Incident

Jul 10, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY 2011 VE TOUTAN MINIVAN WILL RANDOMLY CUT OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. VW ROUTANS ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING IGNITION AND TIPM ISSUES BUT VW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11328804

Incident

May 4, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN ENGINE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN NO ENGINE POWER, NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED AND IN ANY DRIVING CONDITION FROM STATIONARY IDLING UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE.*DT*DT*DT*JB *TP

NHTSA ID

11301548

Incident

Nov 10, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN ILLINOIS AND WAS PUSHING THE GAS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. FINALLY IT KIND OF JOLTED FORWARD AND STARTING MOVING BUT IN A JERKY KIND OF WAY. BROUGHT IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEY SAID IT WAS A WARRANT ISSUE TAKE IT THE THE DEALER. DID THAT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANT AND I PAID 1000 BUCKS TO GET IT FIXED SO I THOUGHT. HAPPENED AGAIN AND WENT BACK AND THEY SAID IT WILL NOT DO IT SO IT IS FINE. DROVE TO ARIZONA TO MOVE HERE AND AFTER A WEEK OF BEING HERE HAPPENED AGAIN. HUSBAND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. 2ND TIME SAID IT WAS A KNOWN RECALL THEY COULD NOT GET THE CODE FROM CORPORATE, 3RD TIME SAME EXCUSE. AND NOW TRYING AGAIN AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN NOT GET THE CODE FROM CORPORATE. IT IS A PCM SOFTWARE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11297883

Incident

Jan 8, 2020

Mileage

65,000 mi