YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Routan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#4 most-complained of 5 Routan years

The 2013 Volkswagen Routan has 7 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #4 highest of 5 Routan model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 43% of the total).

Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy

Top 2013 Volkswagen Routan problems

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

  1. Engine3 (43%)
  2. Electrical System2 (29%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain2 (29%)
  4. Structure & Body1 (14%)
2013 Volkswagen Routan complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2016Jun 2017Nov 2018Jun 2019Jul 2021May 2023Jun 2023
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2016 to Jun 2023; peak Jun 2023 (2).

2013 Volkswagen Routan recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2013 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.

2013 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
2011Avoid75175020
2012Caution5063120
2013Good257020
2014No verdict02020

All Volkswagen Routan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Routan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Volkswagen Routan ranks #4 of 5 among Routan model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 7 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Routan?
The most reported problem areas are engine (3 complaints), electrical system (2 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 90,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Volkswagen Routan have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2013 Volkswagen Routan in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Volkswagen Routan?
EPA rates the 2013 Volkswagen Routan at 20 MPG combined (17 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.