Volkswagen Routan Best and Worst Years (2010–2014)
The 2010 and 2011 Volkswagen Routan are the years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 100 and 75 and heavy electrical system complaints (63% of all complaints). 2012 warrants caution, while 2013 and 2014 show far fewer complaints and lower complaint index scores of 25 and 0.
- Model years
- 5
- 2010–2014
- NHTSA complaints
- 487
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 5
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Routan Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Volkswagen Routan problems and recalls by year
Routan years to avoid: what went wrong
2010 Volkswagen Routan Index 100 · 240 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2010 Routan has the highest complaint volume in the lineup, with 240 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the worst of any year. Electrical System issues dominate, making up 63% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 79,650 miles for that system. Owners reported ignition and key-related problems, including sudden engine shutdowns while driving. Engine and brake issues were also common, with brake complaints showing a median mileage of 85,000. Two recalls target the ignition switch and key fob, plus a wiring module tied to inadvertent ignition key displacement. The year saw 5 crashes, 3 fires, and 12 injuries reported to NHTSA.
2010 electrical system problems →2010 engine problems →2010 brakes problems →
2011 Volkswagen Routan Index 75 · 175 complaints · 0 recalls
The 2011 Routan carries a complaint index of 75 and ranks second-worst, with 175 total complaints. Electrical System problems again lead, at 63% share and a median failure mileage of 71,000 miles. Owners described sparking and smoke from under seats and airbags failing to deploy in crashes. Engine complaints followed, with a median mileage of 68,500. No recalls were issued for this model year despite the complaint volume. NHTSA data shows 4 crashes, 2 fires, and 21 injuries linked to 2011 Routan complaints, the highest injury count in the lineup.
2011 electrical system problems →2011 engine problems →2011 fuel system problems →
Most common Volkswagen Routan problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System306 (63%)
- Engine138 (28%)
- Brakes70 (14%)
- Fuel System56 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain50 (10%)
- Other44 (9%)
- Steering42 (9%)
- Structure & Body26 (5%)
- Airbags16 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (2%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Volkswagen Routan should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2010 and 2011 Volkswagen Routan are the years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 100 and 75, the two highest in the lineup.
- Is the 2012 Volkswagen Routan reliable?
- The 2012 Routan is marked Caution, with 63 complaints and a complaint index of 50, better than 2010 and 2011 but still showing electrical system issues as the top problem area.
- What is the most common problem with the Volkswagen Routan?
- Across all model years, the Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 306 of 487 total complaints, or 63%.
- Are there recalls on the 2010 Volkswagen Routan?
- Yes, the 2010 Routan has 2 recall campaigns, both tied to the Electrical System: an ignition switch and key fob replacement, and a wiring module fix for inadvertent ignition key displacement.
- Which Volkswagen Routan year has the fewest complaints?
- The 2014 Routan has the fewest complaints, with only 2 reported and a complaint index of 0, though this may reflect low sales volume as much as reliability.