YearToAvoid

2012 Volkswagen Routan Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 22 of 63 complaints (35%) filed on the 2012 Volkswagen Routan, the highest share of any model year in this range. Owners report stalling, rough idle, and no-start issues, typically around 91,000 miles. No related recall is listed.

Engine complaints
22
35% of 63
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
91,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle stalls suddenly while driving at various speeds, sometimes with the steering wheel seizing and no warning lights.
  • Engine hesitates or jolts when accelerating through the 25-40 mph range, as if it doesn't want to shift.
  • Vehicle fails to start after multiple key attempts, cranking repeatedly before catching, often tied to reported totally integrated power module (TIPM) failures.
  • Engine idle drops and the vehicle shuts off unexpectedly during low-speed driving or while cruising on the highway.
  • One owner reported a rod going through the engine block after the vehicle shook violently and stalled at highway speed.

When 2012 Volkswagen Routan engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 25, 2016, latest Jun 22, 2023.

2012 Volkswagen Routan engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2016Dec 2017Dec 2018Mar 2019Aug 2019Nov 2021Jun 2023
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2016 to Jun 2023; peak Jan 2019 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Routan model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201056 (23%)
  2. 201157 (33%)
  3. 201222 (35%)
  4. 20133 (43%)
  5. 20140 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2012 Volkswagen Routan?
NHTSA lists 22 engine complaints out of 63 total complaints for the 2012 Routan, a 35% share, the highest share among the model years shown (2010-2014).
Is there a recall for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan engine issues?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area on the 2012 Routan.
At what mileage do 2012 Routan engine problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine problem area is 91,000 miles.
What kind of engine failures do owners describe?
Owners describe stalling at speed, rough or dropping idle, hesitation while accelerating, difficulty starting, and in one case a rod going through the engine block.

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.