10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,299 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2011 Volkswagen Routan Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Aug 232022

Routan

  • miles

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

Car has issues starting as if fuel pump isnt coming on... also vehicle shut down in middle of driving down highway would not restart

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

problem #38

Aug 012020

Routan

  • 71,000 miles
This vehicle is basically a Chrysler/Dodge with VW branding, and one of the keys is even a Dodge key. It has the same issue with the tipm and fuel relay module that was recalled on the 2011 Chrysler and Dodge vans. See fuel pump relay recall NHTSA 14V-530. I'm asking that it also be recalled for the 2011 VW Routan since it's very dangerous that my car could stop at any moment. I recently purchased my van from a used car dealer in New Jersey who neglected to even inform me that this was a known issue even though I informed them that I'd be driving the car cross country. When I was in Georgia the car started cranking, but wouldn't start and it has had this same intermittent issue since I arrived in fl. It took a while for us to figure out what was even wrong with it because when the auto shop ran a diagnostic, no codes were returned. However, when they finally got the issue to occur again, they found that tapping on the fuel relay module in the tipm would allow the car to start. They advised to take it to Chrysler because it's actually a Chrysler van under the hood. When I called Chrysler, they turned me away because the VIN is for a VW. When I called VW, they said no recall existed for this van even though it's the same issue. So, I'm asking that a recall also be done on 2011 VW Routan's since they are experiencing the exact same dangerous issue called out in the Chrysler recall. Lastly, I experienced this issue both while the car was stationary and while it was on the highway.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #37

Jul 102020

Routan

  • 200,000 miles
Hard start caused by fuel pump not engaging. Engine shutdown at stoplights. Issue with fuel pump relay. Fuel pump relay is fully integrated and is costly to replace. Volkswagen does not support the vehicle and chrylstler who made the vehicle does not have the firmware to correct the issue.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

problem #36

Nov 102019

Routan 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles

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

2011 Volkswagen Routan engine will unexpectedly shut down during normal driving conditions, resulting in no engine power, no power steering and no power brakes. This occurs at any speed and in any driving condition from stationary idling up to highway speeds. This has occurred multiple times with this vehicle.

- Athens, GA, USA

problem #35

Jun 122019

Routan

  • 52,000 miles
My check engine light came on so I had the code checked it indicated that O2 sensors needed replaced then the code indicated a cylinder 4 misfire" ihave replaced the ignition coil pack, checked cylinder compression, changed spark plugs and fuel injector and I still have the PO304 code engine misfire cylinder #4??? I am so frustrated what else could I be missing to clear this code issue"

- Goodyear, AZ, USA

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problem #34

Feb 182019

Routan

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the street. The contact could not guide the vehicle to the side of the road and had to activate the hazard lights. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive home after waiting fifteen minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump relay failed. The contact spoke with an unknown Volkswagen dealer and was informed that there were no recalls for the failure and this model vehicle was currently made from Chrysler. The contact was waiting to hear back from the independent mechanic. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Lagrange, IL, USA

problem #33

Aug 152018

Routan

  • miles

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

Tipm module issue. My 2011 VW Routan was built by Chrysler with the same parts as any other Chrysler car at that time. Chrysler issued a recall for all vehicles made with this particular part as it is a life threatening issue. Most importantly the car will stop in the middle of driving! imagine going down the freeway doing 70mph with your kids in the car and the car shuts off. Because the car is branded as a VW, chrysyler refuses to replace the recalled part which I was quoted at $1300 from the dealership and VW says it is a Chrysler part and issue. This thin gray line is costing people thousands of dollars and possibly even lives. Also the fuel pump runs without car turned on. This is a safety issue which causes the fuel pump to run and drain the battery dead along with other safety issues like car stopping dead. This car cannot run without the new tipm and this recall must be honored by VW. They are making us pay for a new module. There are thousands of these Routans with this problem and no one is listening. So I also replaced fuel pump after issues with engine refusing to turn over. Next day after repair the vehicle refused to start. So I have explored the internet regarding this issue and find many complaints with the need to replacement tipm. This van has an engine built by Chrysler which recalled its 2011 vans to replace this device. Please force VW to do the same! its truly absurd that VW will not create a recall for the tipm as Chrysler did.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #32

Nov 062018

Routan

  • miles
My 2011 VW Routan, will have a lot of trouble starting up, took it to the dealership and the tipm needs to be replace, which is a common problem for this car,

- Dunwoody, GA, USA

problem #31

May 022018

Routan

  • 117,545 miles
My tipm modules of the car is causing a lots of problems and that has affected my fuel pump, battery, and starter.I have to replace a new fuel pump, a new battery and a new starter and still the same problem is still persisting.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #30

Jun 012018

Routan

  • 105,000 miles
Fuel pump runs without car turned on. The mopar tipm module in this car is a Chrysler part that Chrysler recalled on 2011 Routan but VW does not honor this recall. This is a safety issue which causes the fuel pump to run and drain the battery dead along with other safety issues like car stopping dead. This car cannot run without this part and this recall must be honored by VW. They are making us pay for a new module. There are thousands of these Routans with this problem and no one is listening. Our car was in the driveway and fuel pump was running with car turned off all night. Also when husband driving it, car would suddenly slow.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #29

Dec 222017

Routan

  • 62,300 miles

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

Replaced fuel pump after issues with engine refusing to turn over. Next day after repair the vehicle refused to start; towed to garage for diagnosis. One mechanic was able to start it and another not. Computer diagnosis can't find the issue. I have explored the internet regarding this issue and find many complaints with the need to replacemthe tipm. This van has an engine built by Chrysler which recalled its 2011 vans to replace this device. Please force VW to do the same! thankfully the van was in park when it refused to start.

- Norman, OK, USA

problem #28

Dec 012017

Routan

  • miles
The van has a Chrysler engine and the tipem part has been recalled under the Chrysler however VW has not recalled the part this is a 1300 fix

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #27

Nov 242017

Routan

  • 89,000 miles
Tipm module. My 2011 VW Routan was built by Chrysler with the same parts as any other Chrysler car at that time. Chrysler issued a recall for all vehicles made with this particular part as it is a life threatening issue. Most importantly the car will stop in the middle of driving! imagine going down the freeway doing 70mph with your kids in the car and the car shuts off. Fortunately we were only driving in a parking lot. Because the car is branded as a VW, chrysyler refuses to replace the recalled part which I was quoted at $1300 from the dealership and VW says it is a Chrysler part and issue. This thin gray line is costing people thousands of dollars and possibly even lives.

- Girard, OH, USA

problem #26

Nov 272017

Routan

  • miles
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 to start the vehicle. Other times, the vehicle would start, then immediately turn itself off. Sometimes, it would be like there wasn't enough charge to turn the starter, and other times, when it would start then die, it felt like it was running out of gas, my van only has 42,000 miles on it. After much research, I discovered that the totally integrated power module is the culprit of these issues. Specifically, it is the fuel pump relay that can intermittently not turn on, or turn off randomly. It is a well-known issue with these vans and its Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler town N country, upon which the VW Routan is based. Fca has stepped up to the plate, and issued a recall on many of its vehicles for faulty tipm's. VW has issued a service bulletin identifying the problem but has yet to recall or fix the cars, instead the consumer has to shell out $300 to $1500 for the repair of a known faulty equipment. Why were these parts used knowing the history? there is another website with thousand of similar complaints:

- Newtown, PA, USA

problem #25

Oct 022017

Routan

  • 70,000 miles
It is very hard to start the Routan, and it has stalled while driving for no reason driving on a highway. Chrysler (who made the Routan for VW) has recalled the tipm on all of their town and countries, as well as the Dodge Caravan for this same reason. I have a family of 7 that uses this vehicle for out primary mode of transportation.

- Medford Lakes, NJ, USA

problem #24

Nov 012017

Routan

  • 103,000 miles
My children and I were stationary at a light when the van started sputtering. When the light turned green I accelerated. Within 5 minutes the van cut off. I have a full tank of gas. This now happens often and I never know where or when it will cut off. Most days it will not start. I have had a VW mechanic take a look and they advised its the fuel pump relay same that was recalled on the Dodge and Jeep vehicles. Because this is the same one but in VW body

- Clover, SC, USA

problem #23

Apr 152016

Routan

  • 85,000 miles
Our transmission issue started as we're going down I-75 at about 65-70. What sounded like something falling from under the hood and making a klanking sound at if it was falling from the engine. After a few months the transmission started making a high pitched noise. Our local auto repair store wouldn't touch it so we had to take it to the VW dealer. Turns out not only did we need a new transmission but we also needed a new tipm. Total cost including labor was over $7000. We had roughly 85,000 miles on it so it was no longer covered under warranty.

- Estero, FL, USA

problem #22

Sep 112017

Routan

  • 59,000 miles
No acceleration up hills. Car cranked but didn't turn over engine, randomly. Almost stalled out on the highway during storm by using headlights, wipers, A/C all at once. I had to turn off headlights, wipers and A/C (that kept windshield from fogging) in order to keep from stalling out on the highway with three kids in the car. While driving in neighborhoods (5 mph-25 mph) the car would sputter and jerk forward. I was told the cars trouble could be just water in the gas and so we poured a solution that would clean the gas tank of impurities, if only it was that simple. While driving on the highway using cruise control, the cruise suddenly stopped working, cruise light stayed on but the car just physically slowed down. Our family is scared to get into our vehicle for safety reasons and right now it's our only means of transportation. The tire sensor also has been on constantly and fixed 3 times only to light up 20 minutes later after leaving the VW service department. The sliding passenger door window is having electrical problems and we only used it 5 times from 2011-2017. We paid to have the fuel pump and the tipm sensor replaced last week which cost us approx. $1800 and replaced front brake pads and rotors because our rotors had gouges in them. We replaced a car battery in 2016, while we were on vacation, the car would start and it locked the key in the ignition and wouldn't give it back.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #21

May 152017

Routan

  • 115,000 miles
The van was my mothers which she passed away about year ago. I inherited the van I drive it for couple months when I noticed that sometimes when I would try to start it that it wouldn't start. It would only make a clicking noise. I would turn key off & try it again it would start. Then in month or so I noticed that when I would be driving 55-70 mph that it would like stall. It wouldn't shift down or accelerate. I would have to pull over & restart it. It began doing that quite often until one night I was driving down the road & went to turn in somewhere when it died & wouldn't start back. My husband had to come pull me home. We have researched what it was doing & a lot of people has had this happen to them. They claim it's a $1200 tpim board. The VW Routan is Chrysler made under the hood. Chrysler is aware of this dangerous problem & has already issued a recall but VW said they wasn't going to recall it. They are aware of it too. I feel as if someone is going to get hurt if this isn't addressed because a lot of people have said that they would be driving down road at 70mph & it just dies which mean that they don't have any power steering. Please do something before someone gets hurt. I have kids & I would've hated for us to be on the interstate when that happened. Luckily I was in town & no kids was with me. Thank you!!

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #20

Apr 022017

Routan

  • 98,000 miles
Check tire light on dash came on and off- had it checked out- nothing came up. Then we started having issues with the vehical starting- long starts and not starting on the first, second, sometimes third try. Next, the engine would intermittently turn off when shifted into reverse. Lastly, it started shutting off while driving!!! all of these things occurred within 1.5 months and in order. Brought it in to VW dealer- requires new tipm module at $1000 dollars. Totally unsafe and should have been included in the recall along with the Chrysler and Dodge models when they recalled the tipm modules. This car was made by Chrysler- so I've discovered. It is essentially a Chrysler with a VW badge on it- that's what the mechanics I've spoken with call it. They also call it a frankenstein van! VW and Chrysler should stand by their product- add it to the recall before for someone gets killed in this thing!!!

- Ocala, FL, USA

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