3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,926 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Volkswagen Routan brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Volkswagen Routan Owner Comments

problem #14

Nov 152021

Routan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on a highway at 65 Mph, vehicle shut down, lost brakes, steering, and all power, had to coast to a stop, narrowly avoiding a collision. Upon exhaustive review, TIPM was faulty, causing starting issues, intermittent power loss, and fuel pump issues. As this van is manufactured by Chrysler (for VW) and their (identical) model has the same issue, it was known and recalled, it is appalling that no recall exists for this VW model. These vans are being financed and bought by families, and like us driven daily with children in them. The issue is widespread, very well known, but as in our case, not disclosed by dealerships as no official action has ever been taken, and no official record exists. We have learned all about it through trial and error, and are having to pay for possibly fatal errors committed on the part of the manufacturer - who, to state again, has in fact already recalled the vehicles due to it being such a wide spread and dangerous issue with a primarily family vehicle. Again, for clarity, the VW Routan is no longer in production, but when it was it was manufactured by Chrysler for VW, and is part for part a Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country. Why is this critical recall in existence for only a portion of the vehicles? This has become a major issue as we have to continue reducing this van until we can sell or trade it.

- Pilot, VA, USA

problem #13

Oct 262019

Routan

  • 98,000 miles
We purchased this vehicle used in August 2018. The first long distance trip the transmission quit working on pa I-76. My family could have been killed as the van shifted eradically, stalled while in motion, and stopped shifting all together. We took the vehicle back to where we purchased it. They sent it to the transmission place that originally did the transmission work. They replaced a defective part. Ever since the repair the van shifts hard and at odd times. Three weeks ago it began leaking transmission fluid and began to shift erratically again. No indicator lights illuminated. We had it towed to the transmission shop again they said it was our breaks, we had it towed to our mechanic, it's not the breaks. It is again at the transmission shop. This has cost us time, money and our safety. What will it take for VW to issue a recall on this van- who has to die for anything to be resolved.

- Forty Fort, PA, USA

problem #12

Aug 012016

Routan

  • miles
I have replaced the brakes and routers 3 times since owning the van at over $1000 each time. The biggest issue I have is the fact that the car won't start. Very frequently, the van will not start leaving my kids and I stranded. It is a huge problem as I commute to work and we like to do things out of our area, not to mention just drive in general. This has been happening for a long time and has gotten worse over time.

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 262017

Routan

  • 68,483 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver air bag has failed twice resulting in high dollar repairs. Brakes go bad extremely fast. Already replaced 2 full sets of brakes and rotors in 2 years; less than 10,000 miles on each set. Vehicle violently jerks when in reverse on a hill. Abnormal amount of popping in steering. Dealer unable to pinpoint problem with jerking or popping.

- Troutville, VA, USA

problem #10

Nov 132015

Routan

  • 69,000 miles
I own a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. I bought it in August of 2014 with 50,000 miles. In November 2015, the vehicle started having issues. Every once in a while when starting the vehicle the engine would crank but not start. Then would start right up the second try. This problem got worse within a short amount of time. It took several tries to start. I took it in to my local VW dealership where they diagnosed it to be a timp failure. I got the vehicle repaired costing me $1028.17. It had 69,000 miles at the time of repair. After doing research on this issue I have found there to be several other complaints with the same issue. This needs to be a recall!!!! since this is the same vehicle as the Chrysler town and country that happens to have the same problem and has a recall for the timp module. Also the brakes suck! my husband replaced them shortly after we got the vehicle and need replacing again.

- Mesquite, NV, USA

problem #9

Jul 022015

Routan

  • 70,000 miles
I am now going to have to replace my brakes and rotors for the third time and possibly the control arms as well. I understand that there is a service bulletin for this. Why isn't there a recall for this? many customers have the same issue.

- Liberty Twp., OH, USA

problem #8

May 132015

Routan

  • 56,752 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. When the brake pedal was depressed, the rear brakes failed to release. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver and passenger side rear mounting brackets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,752.

- Wakeman, OH, USA

problem #7

Mar 232015

Routan 6-cyl

  • 61,000 miles
I was driving along a highway with my wife and children when all the power in my vehicle shutoff. I lost power to the engine, power steering, and power braking. I was able to get the vehicle over to the side of the road without incident. Since then I have had several electrical issues and the Volkswagen dealership has attributed it to a failed totally integrated power module (tipm).

- Camp Lejeune, NC, USA

problem #6

Jul 012013

Routan

  • 21,000 miles
After buying my certified Routan and only putting around a 1000 miles on it the steering wheel would start to shake when braking at a speed of 40mph or faster. Took the car to the dealership and was told the front brakes need to be replaced. At first they said it would not be covered under warranty because it may have been caused by me pushing to hard on the brakes. Completely bull. They finally said it would be covered under warranty. Now at 31,000 the back brakes are squeaky and need to be replaced. Called the dealership and was told the same thing that the brakes are not covered under warranty but as before the brakes should last much longer. Taking it in tomorrow to have the brakes inspected. Hopefully will be covered.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #5

Nov 052012

Routan 6-cyl

  • 34,354 miles
The VW Routan recently when I got from the deleship I notice that everytime that I would apply the brakes while driving on the freeway then entire van would vibrate and the steering wheel would vibrate even more I did some research and I found that I wasn't the only Routan owner having brake problems so it looks like the brake rottors are over heating that then caused the rottors to warped!!! so I took the car to the VW dealership and they had to replace all four rottors and brake pads!! but before replacing them they keep telling me that it was driver error. So now a year and half after the VW dealership fix the problem the car needs all new brake rottors and pads again due to the over heating that caused the rottors to warped and now they won't fix the problem again because the warranty expired;

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #4

Apr 262013

Routan

  • 26,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the driver' side brake seized intermittently and without warning. The contact also stated that when he drove over a road bump or powered the vehicle off and restarted, the failure would cease. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer whrer the technician diagnosed that the brake fluid was burned. The rotors, brake pads, brackets and the brake fluid all needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #3

Sep 292013

Routan

  • 48,000 miles
This vehicle has been serviced by the selling dealer since it was purchased July 2011. This vehicle has had many serious / safety problems. The brakes have been replaced 2 or 3 times. The most recent problem was the power brake booster (or something like that) has failed. My wife was not able to stop the van. She went through a red light where cross traffic was traveling at speeds of 40mph or greater. Her driving skills and using booth feet on the brake peddle she was able to slow the van and steer it from getting blind sided. It is my belief that this vehicle is unsafe, and should be removed from the roads. The amount problems, while repaired under warranty is un-heardof for a newer model vehicle. Safely for the occupants and others around is the no. 1 priority. With all the problems this van should be removed and marked unsafe, and un drivable. This last part that failed could become a major recall.

- Anthem, AZ, USA

problem #2

Sep 252013

Routan 6-cyl

  • 26,379 miles
Shortly after purchasing the vehicle we noticed the front brakes caused a vibration/ wobble at speed when braking, this was with less than 9000 miles on the vehicle. Now again at little more than 24000mi. We are taking the van in for warranty replacement of the brakes and rotors. I'm told by my original dealer that there is a service advisory notice for this issue.

- Ewa Beach , HI, USA

problem #1

Nov 302012

Routan 6-cyl

  • 8,000 miles
Wv 2011 Routan. When the rear tires/brakes get wet either by rain or washing, and the parking brake is applied, the brakes will not release when you unlock the parking brake pedal, dealer kept the vehicle overnight and soaked rear brakes with garden hose and applied parking brakes, next morning it would not unlock, dealer replaced brake pad, took vehicle and went home same thing after rain, this is the 8th time I have been stranded in parking lots due to this, took back to dealer who then replaced rear brakes caliper, went home and same thing again once wet, took back to dealer who had a VW of America rep come to dealership and stated that the brakes when wet and parking brakes is applied "it is like wetting a sheet of glass and laying another sheet of glass on top it will stick" that the brakes locking up and requires 3000 RPM's while in drive to get them unstuck the VW rep stated " this is normal and nothing will be done..I am very disappointed with the answer the VW rep left with the service manager john, that answer is not acceptable, I will not subject my wife and children to be possible stranded when the brakes get wet, it is currently taking 3000 RPM's to force the brake to pop loud and unlock in order to drive the vehicle, this to me is not normal, I have driven many other vehicles in the rain and after washing never to have the brakes freeze up as with this 2011 Routan, also reported excessive brake dust on both rear wheels, none on front wheels, all wv can tell me is my complains on this matter is documented?

- Hubert, NC, USA

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