2011 Volkswagen Routan Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING CONSISTENTLY AND WOULD SPUTTER. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIPM RELAY ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. CAPITAL VOLKSWAGEN (3963 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 692-5609) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11292576

Incident

Dec 30, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2018. THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING ON PA I-76. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS THE VAN SHIFTED ERADICALLY, STALLED WHILE IN MOTION, AND STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY SENT IT TO THE TRANSMISSION PLACE THAT ORIGINALLY DID THE TRANSMISSION WORK. THEY REPLACED A DEFECTIVE PART. EVER SINCE THE REPAIR THE VAN SHIFTS HARD AND AT ODD TIMES. THREE WEEKS AGO IT BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND BEGAN TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AGAIN. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AGAIN THEY SAID IT WAS OUR BREAKS, WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC, IT'S NOT THE BREAKS. IT IS AGAIN AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP. THIS HAS COST US TIME, MONEY AND OUR SAFETY. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR VW TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VAN- WHO HAS TO DIE FOR ANYTHING TO BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11279757

Incident

Oct 26, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES, OFTEN IN TRAFFIC MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY. CHRYSLER (WHO ACTUALLY MADE THIS VEHICLE) HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT VW WILL NOT HONOR IT.

NHTSA ID

11278020

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, DECELERATED TO 25 MPH, AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STARTING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. *DT*JB*DT

NHTSA ID

11269896

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED IN A LOT. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURERS FOR BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND CHRYSLER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO EACH OTHER AND DID NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

NHTSA ID

11269893

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

184,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM NATIONAL VOLKSWAGEN (2223 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546, (844) 872-2972), THE CONTACT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER FOR THE POWER TRAIN. THE FAILURES RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE POWER TRAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE SIDE DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT MOVED TO A DIFFERENT STATE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF RENO (7063 S E VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511, (775) 800-5704). THE DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE FAILURES; HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FROM A CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE RESULTS DETECTED THAT A TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTART. THE 2011 TOWN AND COUNTRY VEHICLES WERE RECALLED REGARDING THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE). THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT RESPOND. THE RECALL WAS NOT EXTENDED TO VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH CHRYSLER ENGINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,819.

NHTSA ID

11243327

Incident

Apr 1, 2012

Mileage

9,819 mi

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I HAD THE CODE CHECKED IT INDICATED THAT O2 SENSORS NEEDED REPLACED THEN THE CODE INDICATED A CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE? IHAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL PACK, CHECKED CYLINDER COMPRESSION, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL INJECTOR AND I STILL HAVE THE PO304 CODE ENGINE MISFIRE CYLINDER #4??? I AM SO FRUSTRATED WHAT ELSE COULD I BE MISSING TO CLEAR THIS CODE ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

11221448

Incident

Jun 12, 2019

Mileage

52,000 mi

CAR SHUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN STEERING WHEEL IT JUST STOPS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP IT RUNNING HOPEFULLY NO ONE IS TAILING ME BECAUSE IF NOT I WILL DEFINITELY CRASH. MECHANIC CAN'T SEEM TO FIND PROBLEM. MAYBE TIPM OR KEY FOB? CHANGED KEY FOB NO LUCK

NHTSA ID

11191746

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

TIPM MODULE ISSUE. MY 2011 VW ROUTAN WAS BUILT BY CHRYSLER WITH THE SAME PARTS AS ANY OTHER CHRYSLER CAR AT THAT TIME. CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES MADE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART AS IT IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! IMAGINE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. BECAUSE THE CAR IS BRANDED AS A VW, CHRYSYLER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE RECALLED PART WHICH I WAS QUOTED AT $1300 FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND VW SAYS IT IS A CHRYSLER PART AND ISSUE. THIS THIN GRAY LINE IS COSTING PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND POSSIBLY EVEN LIVES. ALSO THE FUEL PUMP RUNS WITHOUT CAR TURNED ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO RUN AND DRAIN THE BATTERY DEAD ALONG WITH OTHER SAFETY ISSUES LIKE CAR STOPPING DEAD. THIS CAR CANNOT RUN WITHOUT THE NEW TIPM AND THIS RECALL MUST BE HONORED BY VW. THEY ARE MAKING US PAY FOR A NEW MODULE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE ROUTANS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO ONE IS LISTENING. SO I ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP AFTER ISSUES WITH ENGINE REFUSING TO TURN OVER. NEXT DAY AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. SO I HAVE EXPLORED THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND FIND MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE NEED TO REPLACEMENT TIPM. THIS VAN HAS AN ENGINE BUILT BY CHRYSLER WHICH RECALLED ITS 2011 VANS TO REPLACE THIS DEVICE. PLEASE FORCE VW TO DO THE SAME! ITS TRULY ABSURD THAT VW WILL NOT CREATE A RECALL FOR THE TIPM AS CHRYSLER DID.

NHTSA ID

11183238

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

FAULTY TRANSMISSION: THE SPEED CHANGES WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR HAS ONLY 57000 MILES MOSTLY ON CITY STREETS. JERKS ARE FELT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11131817

Incident

Sep 11, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTING WAS OPERATIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF DES MOINES (5200 MERLE HAY RD, JOHNSTON, IA 50131, (515) 446-3579), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11121207

Incident

Aug 13, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE THREE CHILD PASSENGERS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT PRESENT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURNT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (NEFTIN WESTLAKE VOLKSWAGEN, 3550 AUTO MALL DRIVE, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA 91362) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED PROGRAM MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11114596

Incident

Jun 24, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

VEICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT 40 MILES PER HOUR POSING A DANGER TO MY SELF AND CHILDREN LEAVING ME AND MY CHILDREN PANICKING FROM SUCH INCIDENT, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE BY HANGING TO STEERING WILL, TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN WHEN I TURNED IT ON VEICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF IT WAS GOING CRAZY, TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND VEICLE STARTED AS NORMAL, TOOK ONLY 3 MILES FOR SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO BATTERY GETS DRAINED IF LEFT OFF FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS.

NHTSA ID

11061079

Incident

Jan 7, 2018

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE BATTERY APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE EIGHT MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER (RUSTY WALLIS, 12635 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, GARLAND TX 75041) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER PAID FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HENDRICKS VOLKSWAGEN (5010 STATE HWY 121, FRISCO, TX 75034) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE, TWO CAM SHAFT SENSORS, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID WERE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 1-800-822-8987 AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11055877

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE VAN HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE AND THE TIPEM PART HAS BEEN RECALLED UNDER THE CHRYSLER HOWEVER VW HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART THIS IS A 1300 FIX

NHTSA ID

11052996

Incident

Dec 1, 2017