RoadVitals

2013 Volkswagen Routan

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Jun 6, 2023
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Routan, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and powertrain (other) categories. 410 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine337.5%
  • Electrical225.0%
  • Powertrain (other)225.0%
  • Seat belts112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly shut off. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. During the failure, no warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11525585
Incident
May 15, 2023
Mileage
130,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-50 MPH, the passenger’s side front headrest prematurely deployed without impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11522689
Incident
May 12, 2023
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, he started to hear an abnormal sound. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact stated that he replaced the intake manifold and the check engine warning light disappeared. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also called a second local dealer Volkswagen of St. Augustine (3235 US-1, St. Augustine, FL 32086:(904) 467-8880), and made them aware of the failure. The contact stated that currently the vehicle was shifting into gear incorrectly. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

NHTSA ID
11426930
Incident
Jul 28, 2021
Mileage
128,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2019

THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE CONSTANTLY MOVING TO 220 THERMOSTAT WATER PUMP AND SENSOR WAS CHANGED WITH NEW ANTIFREEZE. ITS STILL DOING YHE SAME THING. I NOTIVED SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM STATIONARY OR MOVING II WILL MOVE.

NHTSA ID
11222514
Incident
Jun 21, 2019
Engine
Filed Nov 9, 2018

VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER SOMETIMES HARSHLY UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE AT 45-60MPH AND SMALL HILL OR ACCELERATION. DEALER DIAGNOSED A LEFT CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE AND CYLINDER MISFIRES. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. NOT INCLUDED BY VIN AND FALLS JUST OUTSIDE THE MANUFACTURING DATE, WHICH RESULTED IN A MANUFACTURERS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SIMILAR FAILURES. REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM VW DUE TO THE SIMILARITY OF FAILURE AND CLOSE MANUFACTURING DATE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. VW DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. HARD TO BELIEVE A VEHICLE JUST PRODUCED OUTSIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WINDOW WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR FAILURE AND NOT BE A PART OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. REVIEW THE DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS... MANY 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY AND VW ROUTAN VANS HAVE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD FAILURES THAT ARE DOCUMENTED YET ARE NOT INCLUDED BY THE MANUFACTURERS IN THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
11150364
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, JERKED, AND MISFIRED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (HAWK VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 2861 W JEFFERSON ST JOLIET, IL 60435 815-741-1100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID
11000862
Incident
Jun 20, 2017
Mileage
74,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2016

ENGINE WON'T START WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WHILE VAN IS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, GARAGE, AT GAS STATION, AT SORE PARKING LOT; ALARM HORN SOUNDS FOR NO REASON WHEN VAN IS PARKED; DOORS LOCK WHEN EXITING VEHICLE YET NO LOCK/FOB HAS BEEN PRESSED LOCKING BOTH ELDERLY PARENTS INSIDE VAN WHEN TEMPS. WERE -5 DEGREES OUTSIDE; ENGINE ONLY STARTS WHEN REMOTE START BUTTON ON KEY FOB IS USED, THEN THE ALARM HORN SOUNDS UNTIL VAN IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE ISSUE IS CLEARLY THE T.I.P.M. MODULE WHICH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON SEVERAL CHRYSLER-BASED PRODUCTS (WHICH THIS ROUTAN IS.) VW HAS RUN DIAGNOSTIC CODES TWICE AND NOTHING TURNS UP BECAUSE THE VAN ISN'T RUNNING TO TRIGGER A CODE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY SAY THE T.I.P.M. IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE NO CODES ARE TRIGGERED. MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NO.: TB-15-11-04. NHTSA NUMBER: 10043276. THE DATE LISTED BELOW (01/06/2015) IS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF ENGINE FAILURE, IT HAS BEEN ONGOING AS OF LAST WEEK, 7/6/2016.

NHTSA ID
10886240
Incident
Jan 6, 2015
Mileage
9,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

VOS-26-21

ENGINE

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, SVM updates for any control module(s) etc.

VOS-26-15

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct multiple test plans: All basic settings test for the following components - Fill and bleed cooling system issue, N493, J338, Camshaft, V465 etc. Use this test for all the basic setting. You will need to select the component you need to run the basic settings. But there are also stand-alone tests for each of those components.

DC_VW_CF_Airbag

AIR BAGS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used vehicles.

VOS-26-01

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct a test that is not reading any information from the battery data module (BDM) and will output:

V1917012022548_14

ENGINE

Identifying and Mixing Engine Coolant

CampTip_RNA_VW

Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Routan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015000—
2014200—
2013Viewing700—
2012631035.4
20111750034.0
20102402046.4
20092936049.1
2008300—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.