2011 Volkswagen Routan Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

48Engine complaints

27.4%Of all 175 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111 · 63.4%

ENGINE48 · 27.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM39 · 22.3%

POWER TRAIN17 · 9.7%

Unspecified / other17 · 9.7%

Share of the 175 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11033454 — filed 10/15/2017

“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40MPH ON A BUSY ROAD EN ROUTE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ROUTAN SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF…”NHTSA complaint 11030433 — filed 09/28/2017

“THE CAR WILL NOT START UP THE ENGINE NO MATTER HOW LONG I CRANK. BATTERY AND STARTER SEEM OK. THE PROBLEM HAS NO WARNING ON…”NHTSA complaint 11024052 — filed 09/18/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan: 48 of 175 complaints on file (27.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have in total?

175 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.