MODELYEARINDEX

Which Volkswagen Routan years to avoid

No Volkswagen Routan model year in 2010–2012 falls into the flagged band. The weakest are 2010 and 2011, and even those sit close to this model’s own median.

Ownership label · Volkswagen Routan Full report
C
Grade 2010–2012
2010 vs model median 1.6×
Model median3× median
Electrical 27
Engine 16
Body & Interior 12
Weakest

2010 · 2011

Best

2011 · 2012

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.55× 99 C
2011
1.00× 58 B
2012
0.19× 17 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 C 99 reports · median 17,500 mi

  1. Electrical 27

    The contact owns a 2010 volkswagen routan. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power and shut off without warning. The contact was concerned that a crash would result. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 16

    While driving on a highway at 65 MPH my car suddenly shut off and the steering wheel tighten up. I was in the left lane and was able to get over to the shoulder. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 12

    Routan seemed to jolt/skid when brake was pressed. This would happen approximately every 3rd day. Took it to the dealership and they found the rotors were worn. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

2 crash · 4 fire · 15 injuries

2011 B 58 reports · median 43,890 mi

  1. Electrical 15

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 9

    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… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 7

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 2 fire · 2 injuries

The best year for the Routan

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring Routan model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 92.8 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.19× 17 A
2011 1.00× 58 B
2010 1.55× 99 C

Recalls

3 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
15V194000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH 2010 20,676
11V151000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH 2010 12,612
12V147000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2012 15

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2010 were reported at a median of 17,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Volkswagen Routan years should you avoid?
No Volkswagen Routan model year in 2010–2012 scores in the flagged band. The weakest are 2010 and 2011.
What is the best year for the Volkswagen Routan?
2012 is the best-scoring Volkswagen Routan model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 92.8 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Routan have?
3 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Volkswagen Routan model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 Routan
Complaints in window
99
Severity-weighted
176.5
Model median (weighted)
114
vs model median
1.55×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
2
Open investigations
0
Score 56.1 C