There are 3 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Routanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR IS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH REMOTE. PROBLEM SHOWED UP AROUND 90,000 MILES, NO INDICATION OF A CAUSE.
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE BOTTOM. THIS WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL AFTER GOING THRU A CAR WASH. IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. VW OFFERS A 5 YEAR 100,000 CORROSION WARRANTY BUT MY IN-SERVICE DATE HAS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT WORK WITH ME AT ALL. THIS IS A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR AND I HAVE FOUND SIMILAR CASES FOR THE VW ROUTAN ON THE INTERNET. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE REPAINTED FOR ANY REASON. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE.
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026