Is the 2011 Volkswagen Routan a bad year?
175 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Routan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan are in line with other Routan years. Electrical system and fuel system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Routan owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 71,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 111 (63%) | 59k–93k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 41 (23%) | 61k–96k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 49 (28%) | 55k–102k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (11%) | 17k–85k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 15 (9%) | 20k–98k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability control | 12 (7%) | 67k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (6%) | 28k–114k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 71,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 175 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Feb 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The engine will crank but will not start on most occasions. When the engine does start it will shut off after several seconds.
On september 15th 2015, I brought my 2011 Volkswagen Routan to pioneer automotive services in oak harbor washington because the vehicle failed to start after several instances.
My children and I were stationary at a light when the van started sputtering. When the light turned green I accelerated.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 71,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Volkswagen: 321
Repair instructions Volkswagen sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Republication of archived technical tip for water leak testing fixture
Gasoline Engine Misfire Diagnosis document
Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
MIL ON, DTCs P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 Stored in ECM Fault Memory
Neighbouring years
2010 Routan: 240 complaints, keep it · 2012 Routan: 63 complaints, keep it.
Every Volkswagen Routan year
2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · All Routan years side by side
Other Volkswagen models: Volkswagen Atlas · Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport · Volkswagen Beetle · Volkswagen CC · Volkswagen Eos · Volkswagen GTI · Volkswagen Golf · Volkswagen Golf SportWagen · Volkswagen ID.4 · Volkswagen Jetta · Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen · Volkswagen Passat · Volkswagen Rabbit · Volkswagen Taos · Volkswagen Tiguan · Volkswagen Touareg. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Volkswagen Routan a bad year?
175 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Routan years. At 71,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (111), fuel system (41), engine (49), transmission and drivetrain (19), brakes (15).
How many recalls does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.