2011 Volkswagen Routan Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Electrical System (63.4% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Electrical System complaints here are 5.8× the median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 111 · 63.4% | No official action | — |
| Engine | 48 · 27.4% | No official action | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 39 · 22.3% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 17 · 9.7% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes | 15 · 8.6% | No official action | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 12 · 6.9% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 175 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“RECENTLY THE VAN HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE UPON STARTUP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD START FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS…”NHTSA complaint 11051067 — filed 11/28/2017 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“I HAVE 2011 VW VAN WHICH FIRST THE VAN START GIVING HARD TIME TO START. NOW I HAVE NEW BATTERY AND THE BATTERY STILL GOT…”NHTSA complaint 11047561 — filed 11/20/2017 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“VAN OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT START. HAVE TO LET IT SIT AND ATTEMPT OVER AND OVER. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE, BUT ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS THAT…”NHTSA complaint 11032319 — filed 10/09/2017 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
Electrical system issues are the most-reported category, cited in 111 of 175 NHTSA complaints (63.4%), followed by engine (48), fuel/propulsion system (39), power train (17). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have?
175 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 21 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan's reported problems?
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
