3.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,141 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.

2012 Volkswagen Routan brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Volkswagen Routan Owner Comments

problem #6

Jun 172021

Routan

  • miles

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

The ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which then depowers various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. This has happened to me several times including while driving on the interstate and in traffic. I was able to pull over but it is very difficult when power steering and power breaking goes out. I had children in the vehicle several times when this has happened. Per Volkswagon website, I removed all keychains or anything that would cause the key fob to be weighed down. When I contacted them, they said my van is not under recall even though it is the same exact issue previous models had been recalled for. The only symptom prior was the check engine light was on.

- Andalusia , IL, USA

problem #5

Mar 062019

Routan

  • 151,246 miles
Multiple times in the past few months the car has stopped running while I am driving. Vehicle in motion on highway. In past have taken to dealer with this complaint and they can find nothing wrong

- Urbanna, VA, USA

problem #4

Jun 152015

Routan

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle required a longer stopping distance than necessary when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the front fog light failed to operate when engaged. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear rotors were corroded and needed to be replaced. The failure for the front fog lights was unknown. The front fog light bulbs were replaced and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000. The VIN was not available.

- New Milford, PA, USA

problem #3

Jul 212015

Routan

  • 19,563 miles

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

Vehicle shudders violently on stopping from variety of speeds. This is felt in the brake peddle, steering column, steering wheel. Vehicle shakes front to back and side to side on braking. Vehicle still appears to brake adequately, though something is definitely wrong with the braking system, doesn't seem safe. Vehicle is driven lightly in a variety of conditions, carrying passengers (kids). We currently have a case open with Volkswagen and they and the dealer are both saying it is likely a wear item and not covered under warranty; this on a vehicle with less than 20K miles on it. Also of note is the van is manufactured by Chrysler and they extended brake warranty for 3/36 due to known and long standing issue with brakes.

- Pascoag, RI, USA

problem #2

Apr 122013

Routan 6-cyl

  • 10,300 miles
10,000 miles, full warranty, bought new less than a year ago. While driving approximately 55 miles per hour on the highway with my mother and two children in the vehicle, the van lost all power mid-drive. Brakes, steering, everything stopped functioning. Thankfully it was late and my husband was able to coast to a stop. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. This had happened once before, but not at that speed, and we'd assumed it an anomaly. We were heading out of town, but concerned for safety we turned around. My husband took it to the dealer the next day, where they could not locate the problem. We brought it back a few days later so they could keep it, but after driving it 400 miles, and not able to recreate the problem, they said there was nothing try could do. We contacted VW, who got a regional claims person to go to the dealership, supposedly consulted their engineers, and decided there was nothing they could do. But not before the cs case person lied to us and told us the van had been fixed. When we arrived at the dealership and realized it hadn't been, we made it clear that they would ave to fix the van, or replace with something comparable. We also found at least 12 other complaints on line of other owners in earlier models experiencing the same thing. This is a safety hazard or my family and anyone else on the road with us, and inconsistent with the safety standards promoted that encouraged us to purchase the vehicle in the first place.

- Harrisburg, NC, USA

problem #1

Apr 072013

Routan 6-cyl

  • 10,735 miles
My husband was at a light and pressed the gas to go, when he noticed that he entire vehicle had turned off. Steering, brakes, and all electrical. It took him a while to realize what was happening, but then he tried turning the van off and back on, and it started right back up. He thought it a freak occurrence.

- Harrisburg, NC, USA

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