YearToAvoid

2011 Volkswagen Routan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 Routan years

The 2011 Volkswagen Routan ranks 2nd worst of 5 model years, with a Complaint Index of 75 and 175 complaints, mostly electrical (63%) and engine (33%) issues. It's rated Avoid relative to other Routan years.

Complaints
175
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
4 / 2
Injuries / deaths
21 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy

Top 2011 Volkswagen Routan problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System111 (63%)
  2. Engine57 (33%)
  3. Fuel System41 (23%)
  4. Brakes27 (15%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain19 (11%)
  6. Other18 (10%)
  7. Steering11 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body7 (4%)
  9. Airbags6 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Electrical system failures include sparks and smoke from under the driver's seat shortly after parking.
  • Some vehicles experienced sudden unintended movement or acceleration at very low speed with brakes applied.
  • Owners report the throttle sticking at highway speed with unexpected acceleration before releasing.
  • Fuel pump relay problems caused sputtering, stalling, and difficulty restarting, sometimes linked to a prior recall part.
  • Engine compartment fires with white smoke and flames occurred while driving at moderate speed.
  • Steering components, including the steering boot and pump, failed with very low mileage, causing pulling to one side.
2011 Volkswagen Routan complaints: complaints filed per quarter252011 Q22013 Q32015 Q12016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q22025 Q1
299 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2025 Q1; peak 2016 Q4 (25).

2011 Volkswagen Routan recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Volkswagen Routan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Routan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid100240219
2011Avoid75175020
2012Caution5063120
2013Good257020

All Volkswagen Routan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Volkswagen Routan reliable?
Among the 5 Routan model years with data, 2011 ranks 2nd worst, with a Complaint Index of 75 and 175 owner complaints, mostly tied to the electrical system and engine.
What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Routan?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 111 complaints (63% of the total), with a median failure mileage of 71,000.
Does the 2011 Routan have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2011 Routan, though sample complaints reference a fuel pump relay recall issue on the vehicle.
How does the 2011 Routan compare to other years?
The 2010 Routan has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while 2012 (50), 2013 (25), and 2014 (0) show fewer complaints and better verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Routan?
EPA rates the 2011 Routan at 20 mpg combined (17 city / 25 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $3,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.