Volkswagen Routan Reliability
1,249 NHTSA complaints (2008–2014). Complaint rate: 2113.4 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2009–2011 Volkswagen Routan. The 2013–2014 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Volkswagen Routan Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 444 | 0.9% |
| ENGINE | 195 | 1.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 83 | 0.0% |
| STEERING | 76 | 2.6% |
| POWER TRAIN | 58 | 3.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 57 | 1.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 55 | 1.8% |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 34 | 0.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 23 | 4.3% |
| AIR BAGS | 23 | 21.7% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008GOOD | — | 3 | 0 | — | View 2008View→ |
| 2009AVOID | — | 460 | 7 | 5 | View 2009View→ |
| 2010AVOID | — | 359 | 5 | 7 | View 2010View→ |
| 2011AVOID | — | 302 | 9 | 4 | View 2011View→ |
| 2012 | — | 115 | 2 | — | View 2012View→ |
| 2013GOOD | — | 8 | 0 | — | View 2013View→ |
| 2014GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2014View→ |
See also: Volkswagen Routanaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Volkswagen Routan?
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