NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
7/2/14 - AFTER BEING IDLE FOR 1HR THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL REPEAT ATTEMPTS IT DID. IT WOULD CRANK AS NORMAL, NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS EVER CAME ON. 8/8/14 - AFTER 3HRS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WE STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS. ECO FUEL NEVER USED THE SAME CRANK ISSUE OCCURRED AS 7/2. 8/9/14 - AFTER 8HRS IDLE TIME THE VAN WOULD NOT START UNTIL REPEATED TRIES. I BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO REPEAT AND SUSPECTED THE TPIM MODULE. 8/10/14 - AFTER 8HRS IDLE TIME THE VAN WOULD NOT START. WHEN IT FINALLY DID I DROVE 1/4 MILE FROM THE HOUSE AND THE VAN SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND NORMAL BRAKING ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CALLED DEALER BACK UP AND BROUGHT BACK INTO DEALERSHIP 8/12/14 WITH EXPECTATION TO HAVE $900 TPIM MODULE REPLACED. DIRECTING THE DEALERSHIP TO LEAVE THE CAR OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, PUSH IT IN AND THEN HOOK UP TO COMPUTERS FOR EVALUATION THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND LOW FUEL PRESSURE READING FROM THE FUEL PUMP UP UNTIL THE IT FINALLY CRANKED OVER AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. AFTER THE INITIAL START THE VAN WOULD READ NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURES WHILE RUNNING, TURNING IT OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON AGAIN. HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS ORDERED FOR 8/19/14 INSTALL. 8/15 - 8/18/14 - THE VAN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING TWICE NOT TO MENTION EVERYTIME IT SAT IDLE IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME START UP ISSUES. 8/19/14 WHEN THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED THE FUEL PUMP IT WAS THE WRONG ONE. BUT THE MODEL# AND SERIAL# WERE EXACTLY THE SAME! SO AS IT STANDS THEY CAN'T FIX IT UNTIL THEY IDENTIFY THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
MY 2011 ROUTAN SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE I, WITH MY KID ON BOARD, WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN MARCH 2014. CAN YOU IMAGINE A VEHICLE STOPPING IN A FLOW OF VEHICLES AT 70+ MPH? ALL LIGHTS WERE ON. I MANAGED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "REPAIRED" IT AND TOLD ME THAT "EVERYTHING IS FINE" BY HAVING A BRAND-NEW SET OF WIRING. A MONTH LATER, THE SAME LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I COULD NOT ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. NOW THE VEHICLE IS AGAIN WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO BEFORE THESE LOSSES OF POWER HAPPENED, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT VERY RESPONSIVE. THAT IS, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INITIALLY DID NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND AFTER 2-3 SECONDS, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THIS REALLY FRIGHTENED ME AS I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES. NOW I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. I AM DEEPLY WORRIED THAT EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS "REPAIRED" THIS TIME, I AND MY FAMILY COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY HAVING A CAR THAT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDST A STREAM OF FAST-MOVING VEHICLES. THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE ROAD FOR THE SAFETY OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. *JS
I DRIVE 90 MILES BEFORE I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE. AFTER A MINUTE OF TURNING OFF THE CAR, I NOTICED BRIGHT SPARKS AND DENSE SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT DOWN THE FIRE AFTER DUMPING A LOT OF WATER UNDER THE SEAT. AT THAT TIME THE POWER SEATS WERE FUNCTIONAL BUT HEATED SEAT WAS NOT. I TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE BY STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I LEFT THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING, WHERE THE DEALER FOUND THE ELECTRIC WIRING HARNESS BURNT OUT. 1. ISSUE HAPPENED AFTER A MINUTE OF TURNING OFF THE CAR. 2. BRIGHT SPARKS AND FLAMES WITH VERY DENSE CAUSTIC SMELLING SMOKE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE SELLING DEALER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED JULY 2011. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY SERIOUS / SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM WAS THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT) HAS FAILED. MY WIFE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VAN. SHE WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT WHERE CROSS TRAFFIC WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH OR GREATER. HER DRIVING SKILLS AND USING BOOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE SHE WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VAN AND STEER IT FROM GETTING BLIND SIDED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROADS. THE AMOUNT PROBLEMS, WHILE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IS UN-HEARDOF FOR A NEWER MODEL VEHICLE. SAFELY FOR THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS AROUND IS THE NO. 1 PRIORITY. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS VAN SHOULD BE REMOVED AND MARKED UNSAFE, AND UN DRIVABLE. THIS LAST PART THAT FAILED COULD BECOME A MAJOR RECALL. *TR
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE FRONT BRAKES CAUSED A VIBRATION/ WOBBLE AT SPEED WHEN BRAKING, THIS WAS WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NOW AGAIN AT LITTLE MORE THAN 24000MI. WE ARE TAKING THE VAN IN FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. I'M TOLD BY MY ORIGINAL DEALER THAT THERE IS A SERVICE ADVISORY NOTICE FOR THIS ISSUE. *JS
1ST INCIDENT-PARKING CAR IN A STALL, CAR SHUTS OFF BEFORE PARKED. P0111 REPLACE AIR TEMP SENSOR 2ND INCIDENT-EXITING THE FREEWAY ON A SINGLE LANE JUST UNDER 35MPH ENGINE SHUTS OFF, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS RIGHT, APPLY BRAKES LIGHTLY, SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO TURN WHEEL TO PULL ON SHOULDER. P0300 AND P0302 CODE. DEALER REPLACE BANK #2 CYLINDER HEAD AND NECESSARY PARTS.(INCIDENT POSTED INFORMATION) 3RD INCIDENT-MERGING ON FREEWAY UP THE HILL, ENGINE BOGS AND SHUTS OFF, WAS ON FAR RIGHT LANE PULLED TO SIDE. DEALER SAYS MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #6 WITH NO DTC CODE, SAYS IGNITION COIL PROBLEM ON #6. *TR
AFTER BUYING MY CERTIFIED ROUTAN AND ONLY PUTTING AROUND A 1000 MILES ON IT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKING AT A SPEED OF 40MPH OR FASTER. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT FIRST THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ME PUSHING TO HARD ON THE BRAKES. COMPLETELY BULL. THEY FINALLY SAID IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 31,000 THE BACK BRAKES ARE SQUEAKY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT AS BEFORE THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. TAKING IT IN TOMORROW TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED. HOPEFULLY WILL BE COVERED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER' SIDE BRAKE SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP OR POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURE WOULD CEASE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHRER THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS BURNED. THE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, BRACKETS AND THE BRAKE FLUID ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.
DRIVING DOWN I70 WEST BOUND GOING 70 MPH IN INDIANA AND ENGINE TURNED OFF LOST POWER EVERY LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND THE WAS A BLINKING RED LIGHT IN CENTER OF DASH. SOME HOW I MADE IT OVER TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK. THE VAN WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED I WAS ON THE WHITE LINE AND WANTED TO MOVE THE VAN OVER MORE, BUT I COULD NOT GET THE VAN INTO NEUTRAL. I COULD FEEL THE EVERY CAR AND TRUCK DRIVE BY. I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN UNDER FIVE ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR. I KEPT THINKING A DRUNK DRIVER IS GOING TO CLIP US. WE LUCKY TO HAVE ENTERPRISE PICK UP MY FAMILY AND I GOT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY THING THE DEALER COULD FIND WAS A BLOWN 10 AMP FUSE FOR THE ECM. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AND DROVE THE VAN FOR 200 MILES AND THE SAID THE VAN DROVE FINE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW. THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WAS TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH A COMPUTER HOOKED UP. THEY SENT ME ON MY WAS WITH A BOX OF 10 AMP FUSES A WEEK LATER. I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS FROM A 2011 WITH 30000 MILE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VAN, BUT ITS NOT WORTH ANYTHING ON A TRADE IN. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR
I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT AN ACCIDENT MY WIFE WAS IN ON 12/06/2012. SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. SHE HAD THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THEY WERE ON A HIGHWAY AND THEY WERE GOING 55MPH AND THE DRIVER THAT HIT THEM HEAD ON WAS GOING AROUND 20MPH ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS $10,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE ROUTAN. THE BODY SHOP SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THIS CRASH AND THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SPARED SOME EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS IF THEY HAD DEPLOYED. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HAVE EXPRESSED MANY TIMES SINCE THE ACCIDENT THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE GETTING BACK INTO OR DRIVING THAT SAME VEHICLE AGAIN. MY QUESTIONS ARE: 1. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY? 2. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE NHTSA?3. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO GET A LAWYER TO HANDLE? 4. IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE YOU WANT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT YOURSELF FOR MALFUNCTIONS? 5. I AM SURE IT IS A COINCIDENT, BUT WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM VW AFTER WE TOLD THEM ALL THIS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STOP MAKING THE ROUTAN AFTER THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS JUST SUSPICIOUS. IF YOU COULD PLEASE GIVE ME AN EMAIL OR CALL BACK PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WV 2011 ROUTAN. WHEN THE REAR TIRES/BRAKES GET WET EITHER BY RAIN OR WASHING, AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL, DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND SOAKED REAR BRAKES WITH GARDEN HOSE AND APPLIED PARKING BRAKES, NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PAD, TOOK VEHICLE AND WENT HOME SAME THING AFTER RAIN, THIS IS THE 8TH TIME I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS DUE TO THIS, TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO THEN REPLACED REAR BRAKES CALIPER, WENT HOME AND SAME THING AGAIN ONCE WET, TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO HAD A VW OF AMERICA REP COME TO DEALERSHIP AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES WHEN WET AND PARKING BRAKES IS APPLIED "IT IS LIKE WETTING A SHEET OF GLASS AND LAYING ANOTHER SHEET OF GLASS ON TOP IT WILL STICK" THAT THE BRAKES LOCKING UP AND REQUIRES 3000 RPM'S WHILE IN DRIVE TO GET THEM UNSTUCK THE VW REP STATED " THIS IS NORMAL AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE. .I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ANSWER THE VW REP LEFT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER JOHN, THAT ANSWER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, I WILL NOT SUBJECT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN TO BE POSSIBLE STRANDED WHEN THE BRAKES GET WET, IT IS CURRENTLY TAKING 3000 RPM'S TO FORCE THE BRAKE TO POP LOUD AND UNLOCK IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THIS TO ME IS NOT NORMAL, I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES IN THE RAIN AND AFTER WASHING NEVER TO HAVE THE BRAKES FREEZE UP AS WITH THIS 2011 ROUTAN, ALSO REPORTED EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON BOTH REAR WHEELS, NONE ON FRONT WHEELS, ALL WV CAN TELL ME IS MY COMPLAINS ON THIS MATTER IS DOCUMENTED? *TR
THE VW ROUTAN RECENTLY WHEN I GOT FROM THE DELESHIP I NOTICE THAT EVERYTIME THAT I WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THEN ENTIRE VAN WOULD VIBRATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE EVEN MORE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I FOUND THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ROUTAN OWNER HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE BRAKE ROTTORS ARE OVER HEATING THAT THEN CAUSED THE ROTTORS TO WARPED!!! SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR ROTTORS AND BRAKE PADS!! BUT BEFORE REPLACING THEM THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. SO NOW A YEAR AND HALF AFTER THE VW DEALERSHIP FIX THE PROBLEM THE CAR NEEDS ALL NEW BRAKE ROTTORS AND PADS AGAIN DUE TO THE OVER HEATING THAT CAUSED THE ROTTORS TO WARPED AND NOW THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; *TR
TIPM GOING OUT. CAR STALLS, WON'T START, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH NOTHING WRONG, TOTAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN COMING. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT WILL ONLY BE FIXED WHEN I REPLACE THE TIPM FOR $1500.
INTERMITTENT STARTS AN STOPS TURN KEY WON`T START SOMETIMES TROUBLE STARTED IN 2012 TOOK IT TO SHOP DIDN`T ACT UP FOR THEM SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG SO I SORT OF LIVED WITH IT IT ALWAYS STARTED AFTER A FEW TRIES BUT LATLEY IT START TURNING OFF WHILE IM DRIVING WENT TO DEALER TOLD ME THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING HAPPENING I TCAME HOME AN GOOGLED IT THERE WERE 2 RECALLS FOR THAT REASON FOR 2009 AN2010 VANS I BELIEVE THEY OUT RIGHT LIED TO ME APPARENTLY THE FIRST QUICK FIX RECALL GOT PUT IN MY VAN PLEASE HELP ME I`VE HAD 2 CLOSE CALLS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT DIED WHILE MERGING ON TO A HIGHWAY IT`S THE ONLY VAN I GOT AN NEED IT FOR WORK I LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK I EMAILED VOLKSWAGEN AN GOT NO RESPONSE THERE TO BUSY WITH THERE DEISEL RECALL TO BOTHER WITH ME THE PHONE WAIT WAS OVER AN HOUR SO I HUNG UP I SURE MY VAN IS NOT TO ONLY ONE WITH ISSUE MY WIFE`S HAIR GIRL TRADED HER VAN OFF BECAUSE THEY WOULDN`T FIX IT THIS A DANGEROUS ISSUE
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DOOR MOTOR FAILED AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IMMEDIATELY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A PERCENTAGE OFF THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,923. *TR
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
WITH THE REAR HATCH OPEN THERE IS NO COVER OR SAFETY STOP MECHANISM ON THE AUTOMATIC FOLDING REAR SEATS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE BUTTON AND HAVE HAD THE SEAT CRUSH OBJECTS IN ITS PATH. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I HAD MY BABY SEAT STRAPPED IN WHILE I ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE BUTTON. WOULD MY CHILD BE CRUSHED OR MAIMED? BASED ON THE ITEMS IN MY TRUNK, YES. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO STOP THE MECHANISM ONCE IT HAS STARTED AND NO WAY TO PREVENT ITS ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT. I CONTACTED VW AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PLAN TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
MY SISTER BOUGHT A VW ROUTAN SE 2011 SIX MONTHS AGO. RECENTLY, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A "SAFETY PROBLEM" WITH THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TRYING PARK IT ON A (STEEP DOWNHILL) BETWEEN TWO CARS IN SAN FRANCISCO. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN REVERSE AND THE DRIVER IS BACKING UP TO PARK BETWEEN THE TWO CARS ON A STEEP DOWNHILL, THE VW ROUTAN MOVES FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT PRIOR TO BACKING UP AND WE FEEL ABNORMAL VIBRATIONS IN THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE. PLUS, IF YOU DO NOT PRESS ANY GAS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN REVERSE, THE CAR ACTS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN NEUTRAL SHOWING NO RESISTANCE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I MIGHT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SO I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE ATTENTION OF NORTHERN CA VW CASE MANAGER AS WELL I TOOK IT TWO DIFFERENT VW DEALERSHIPS (VW OAKLAND AND VW SERRAMONTE). BOTH DEALERSHIPS MECHANICS HAVE ADMITTED THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THE MANAGEMENT OF VW IS CLAIMING THAT IT IS NORMAL SINCE THE OTHER NEW 2011 VW ROUTAN ARE PERFORMING THE SAME UNDER IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE VW CASE MANAGER STATED THAT IN THE EYES OF VW IT IS OK FOR THE MINI VAN TO MOVE ABOUT ONE FOOT FORWARD WHEN IT'S BACKING UP ON A STEEP DOWNHILL; IT IS HOW IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE ENGINEERS. THIS ABSOLUTELY AN IRRESPONSIBLE WAY TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMER WHO BOUGHT A 2011 VEHICLE TO HAVE A PEACE OF MIND AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. IT PUTS THE LIFE OF OUR CITIZENS IN DANGER. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEN IT'S BACKING UP ON A STEEP DOWNHILL. THERE IS NO WAY I CAN STOP IT FROM MOVING FORWARD ABOUT ONE FOOT BEFORE IT STARTS BACKING UP. LET'S SAY SOMEONE WAS CROSSING THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME I WAS BACKING UP, WHO WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF HE/SHE GOT HURT. AS A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND TAKE ACTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN STOPPING. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURES. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,465.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO HESITATE BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,833.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INCREASE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING AND THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,300. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE AFTER MARKET FLOOR MAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ONCE HE REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, THE PROBLEM CEASED. UPDATED 09/28/11
HAD THE VAN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AND TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE - BRAKES SQUEAKING AND STEERING PULLING TO RIGHT W/ONLY 4K MILES. FOUND OUT STEERING BOOT WAS "DISINTEGRATED" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH STEERING PUMP AND RELATED PARTS. DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE DAMAGE OCCURRED OR WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. MY VAN WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 28 DAYS WAITING FOR AVAILABLE PARTS AND COMPLETING REPAIRS. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY VAN BACK A WEEK AND IT'S PULLING TO THE RIGHT AGAIN. ALSO, A/C DOESN'T COOL CONSISTENTLY - FADES IN AND OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO METAL POLES AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS OF A PENDING INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 242.
I CANNOT USE OR SELL MY CAR UNTIL AIRBAGS ARE REPLACED.. I HAVE BEEN WAITING NOW FOR YEARS FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS!!
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026