70 of the
1,249 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Routan
are about the transmission —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2010.
70
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly shut off. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. During the failure, no warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11525585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Several times in the last month the car has stopped running without warning. It just shuts off. This has happened in our subdivision travelling at 20mph and most recently on the highway travelling 65mph. The power steering, brakes, everything go dead when the car just turns off and this could cause a serious accident.
NHTSA complaint #11487850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On Thursday January 6, 2022, I took my car Volkswagen Routan 2012 to the service center because the check engine light went on and the engine revving. The service center took a week for diagnostic it, then they informed me on January 13, after charging me $180 that it needs a new transmission because it stuck in limp mode (see attached report). I asked the customer service to contact Volkswagen representative because this problem seems to be a manufacture problem, especially the car run less than 85000 miles and all maintenance service done on time with Volkswagen dealership. This mileages are considered very low to have a transmission problem with well maintained car. They took another three weeks to report me by phone that Volkswagen refused completely to take care or to share responsibility for this problem and they rejected my claim. Because the claim runs by the dealership “service center” on behalf of me, I asked their customer service representative to email me what is Volkswagen final decision and why? Three days later, the customer service told me by phone “it’s confidential” and they can not email me.
NHTSA complaint #11451803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The transmission on our 2012 VW Routan has completely failed. The car will not go into gear and left my wife in a position where she was stranded in traffic. We are the original owners of this vehicle and have followed the recommended maintenance schedule. The engine in this vehicle is a Chrysler Pentastar V6. (The vehicle was built as a joint venture between VW and Chrysler) According to online research Chrysler has recognized a “fatal flaw” in this engine and has extended warranty to customers in order to cover repairs beyond 100,000 miles. We only have 72,000 on our vehicle. I have spoken with VW North America, they told me to plead my case with Chrysler. I spoke with Chrysler and they told me to plead my case with VW. Neither company is willing to recognize that a total transmission failure at 72k miles is [their] responsibility. I am asking for the drivetrain warranty on our vehicle to be extended, due to the “fatal flaw” which has already been identified by Chrysler on the Pentastar V6. VW service is asking me to pay more than $6,000 to repair the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11445020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Routan. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, he started to hear an abnormal sound. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact stated that he replaced the intake manifold and the check engine warning light disappeared. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also called a second local dealer Volkswagen of St. Augustine (3235 US-1, St. Augustine, FL 32086:(904) 467-8880), and made them aware of the failure. The contact stated that currently the vehicle was shifting into gear incorrectly. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.
NHTSA complaint #11426930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving along my vehicle will shut completely off. This happens especially on bumpy roads. Sometime the vehicle will shut off right after starting the engine. The only way I can duplicate the problem is to turn the key completely off and restart the vehicle. This problem is very similar to the recall with the 2010 Volkswagens.
NHTSA complaint #11423852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN MINIVAN AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPS WORKING I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS ON THE 2009 AND 2010 YEARS I CALL VW CORPORATION AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THE PART THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS IS THE SAME THAT IS DAMAGE IN MY VEHICLE SO I DON'T THINK IS FAIR AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME HELP FOR THIS THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11375679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STREET VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 8707 PILGRIM DR, AMARILLO, TX 79119, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FLY-WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING THE FLY-WHEEL, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER LATER REPLACED THE ENGINE HEAD AND FLY-WHEEL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #11366410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR RECENTLY STARTED HAVING ISSUES SHIFTING INTO THE NEXT GEAR. TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AND IT WON'T SHIFT. THE CAR CAN BE IN MOTION OR EVEN STATIONARY (STOP LIGHT) WHEN IT HAPPENS.
NHTSA complaint #11331811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AROUND 108000 MILES, MY 2010 ROUTAN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING INTO GEARS 2, 3, 4. SOMETIMES IT SHIFTS SMOOTHLY BUT MORE OFTEN IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO JERK ALL PASSENGERS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TRIED ECO MODE WITH SAME RESULTS. DRIVING NORMAL IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE THAN WHEN SPEEDING UP QUICKLY. 3RD GEAR IS THE WORST AND IS HARD ENOUGH TO THROW YOU FORWARD CAUSING YOU TO SWERVE SOMETIMES. IT'S THE SAME RESULTS IN TOWN, ON HIGHWAY, AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NOW HAS 129000 MILES AND GETTING WORSE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT UP AND WOULD OVER REV BEFORE SHIFTING UP.
NHTSA complaint #11323785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.*DT*DT*DT*JB
NHTSA complaint #11301548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVEN AFTER REBUILDING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A PAUSE, THEN A JARRING AS IT SLIPS INTO R GEAR; BUT EVERY TIME ACCELERATION IS ATTEMPTED IN R, THERE IS A DELAY, FOLLOWED BY CONSISTENT LAG; IF ATTEMPTING TO R UP AN INCLINE, IF SPEED IS NOT ALREADY OVER A SPECIFIC MINIMUM, VEHICLE THEN ASSUMES ACTION AS IF IT IS IN N. EVEN AN INCLINE SLOPE OF SIMPLY BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY, IF VEHICLE IS NOT ENTIRELY ACROSS THE INCLINE, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE CONTROLLING A REVERSE MOVEMENT, THOUGH ENGINE RESPONDS AS THOUGH IN N. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE; THAT HAS PERSISTED EVEN AFTER REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO; IS THAT THE DOOR'S LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR SEVERAL OF THE DOORS, NO LONGER OPERATE PROPERLY. LOCKING VIA KEY FOB, OR DOOR PANEL, DOES NOT ACTUALLY ENGAGE THE DOOR TO LOCK. NOR DOES UNLOCKING THE DOORS VIA KEY FOB, OR DOOR PANELS.
NHTSA complaint #11280049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11279757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON I 66 IN VIRGINIA AND GOT STUCK IN TRAFFIC DUE TO AN EARLIER ACCIDENT. CAR WENT FOR ABOUT A MILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO REV UP AND JUMPED INTO GEAR TO MOVE FORWARD. I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMETHING WAS STUCK, SO I PUT INTO PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER DOING IT FOR ABOUT 5 TIMES, I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAD 135000. MILES ON IT. NO WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL CAME ON. MY MECHANIC HAD JUST FIXED IT TWO WEEKS BEFORE FOR THE HEATER HOSE CRACKING AFTER BEING REPLACED A YEAR AGO.
NHTSA complaint #11256704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM NATIONAL VOLKSWAGEN (2223 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546, (844) 872-2972), THE CONTACT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER FOR THE POWER TRAIN. THE FAILURES RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE POWER TRAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE SIDE DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT MOVED TO A DIFFERENT STATE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF RENO (7063 S E VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511, (775) 800-5704). THE DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE FAILURES; HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FROM A CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE RESULTS DETECTED THAT A TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTART. THE 2011 TOWN AND COUNTRY VEHICLES WERE RECALLED REGARDING THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE). THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT RESPOND. THE RECALL WAS NOT EXTENDED TO VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH CHRYSLER ENGINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,819.
NHTSA complaint #11243327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. NO SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, NO SPECIFIC TIME OF DAY, JUST SHUTS OFF MORE THEN ONCE WHILE DRIVING TO LOCATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11180180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AS IF IT WERE SKIPPING A GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TWO UNKNOWN DEALERS AND THEN CONTACTED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERDRIVE SOLENOID CIRCUIT OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER PLACED A CHRYSLER ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION INTO HER VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COMPLETED THE REPAIRS WITH ANOTHER NEW CHRYSLER TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PART. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE ACCELERATION AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT HAD NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 181899879 AND NHTSA'S PHONE NUMBER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,226. *TT
NHTSA complaint #11151140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN BEING OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILEY VOLKSWAGEN OF ARLINGTON (1461 E INTERSTATE 20, ARLINGTON, TX 76018, (817) 575-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #11132167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAULTY TRANSMISSION: THE SPEED CHANGES WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR HAS ONLY 57000 MILES MOSTLY ON CITY STREETS. JERKS ARE FELT WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11131817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.