Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2009. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2012.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 Routan | 63 | 1 |
| 2011 Routan | 175 | 0 |
| 2010 RoutanMost complaints | 240 | 2 |
| 2009 RoutanMost complaints | 294 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system455
- Engine195
- Service brakes83
- Steering76
- Power train70
- Unknown or other57
- Fuel/propulsion system55
- Structure35
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 20 Routan vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 8 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 | 4 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 4 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2014 Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | — | 16.4 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | — | 16.4 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | — | 16.4 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | — | 16.4 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 6 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 11.8–12.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Routan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.5 | 12.1 |
| 2013 | Routan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 9.5 | 12.0 |
| 2012 | Routan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.4 | 11.8 |
| 2011 | Routan FFV · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.4 | 11.8 |
| 2010 | Routan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.4 | 11.8 |
| 2009 | Routan · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.4 | 11.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
New registrations in Europe
2 new Volkswagen Routan cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2011 and 2012, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2012 the largest markets were Austria (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
8 campaigns cover the Routan.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2009 Volkswagen Routan vehicles manufactured February 7, 2008, to August 28, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles manufactured June 25, 2008, to July 8, 2009, and 2010 Routan vehicles manufactured October 1, 2009, to August 11, 2010. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Freedom Motors Inc., (Freedom Motors) of Savaria Vehicle Group (formerly The Liberty Motor Company) is recalling one model year 2009 Volkswagen Routan and certain model year 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country wheelchair accessible vehicles modified by The Liberty Motor Company from February 2008 through January 2011. Over time and with use, the vehicle's rear axle may develop cracks which could lead to axle failure.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ROUTAN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT FULLY MACHINED.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ROUTAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2009 THROUGH JUNE 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT IGNITION KEY DISPLACEMENT FROM THE RUN TO ACCESSORY POSITION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 ROUTAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2008 THROUGH JULY 2009. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN IMPROPER ROUTED WIRE HARNESS THAT MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE LOWER SLIDING DOOR HINGE BRACKET CAN MAKE CONTACT AND WEAR THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION. CONTACT WITH A 12V POWER FEED CIRCUIT WITHIN THE HARNESS MAY CAUSE A HIGH RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT WITHIN THE LATCH MECHANISM LOCATED INSIDE OF THE SLIDING DOOR.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 18,500 MY 2009 ROUTAN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE OWNER'S MANUAL WAS PRINTED WITHOUT THE FMVSS NO. 208 REQUIRED INFORMATION EXPLAINING THAT NO OBJECTS SHOULD BE PLACED OVER THE OR NEAR THE AIR BAG ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
NHTSA recalls