2012 Volkswagen ROUTAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 63 complaints (61.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 15 | 23.8% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 22.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 19.0% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 12.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 9.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Engine | 21 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Electrical System: 39; Engine: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Steering: 8; Power Train: 7; Service Brakes: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 18 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 7; 2018: 12; 2019: 12; 2020: 8; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10510832 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
MY HUSBAND WAS AT A LIGHT AND PRESSED THE GAS TO GO, WHEN HE NOTICED THAT HE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAD TURNED OFF. STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALL ELECTRICAL. IT TOOK HIM A WHILE TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THEN HE TRIED TURNING THE VAN OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. HE THOUGHT IT A FREAK OCCURRENCE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,735 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510839 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
10,000 MILES, FULL WARRANTY, BOUGHT NEW LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, THE VAN LOST ALL POWER MID-DRIVE. BRAKES, STEERING, EVERYTHING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THANKFULLY IT WAS LATE AND MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. IT WAS ONE OF THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, BUT NOT AT THAT SPEED, AND WE'D ASSUMED IT AN ANOMALY. WE WERE HEADING OUT OF TOWN, BUT CONCERNED FOR SAFETY WE TURNED AROUND. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524214 · 2013-07-10 (July 10, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DVD PLAYER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY STATED THAT THERE THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568775 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577107 · 2014-04-03 (April 3, 2014)
WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE NEW CAR HAS BEING PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AND HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES JUST TO BE TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS. MAY 2013 WE HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL MENTIONING HARSH 1-3 UP SHIFTS AND ERROR IN THE TORQUE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCH. WE TOOK IT IN AND WERE TOLD THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER YET. AT SOME POINT THEY AGREED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE, HOWEVER THAT MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AND WHEN WE GIVE MORE GAS IT WILL ACCELERA…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10735488 · 2015-07-21 (July 21, 2015)
VEHICLE SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY ON STOPPING FROM VARIETY OF SPEEDS. THIS IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDDLE, STEERING COLUMN, STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE SHAKES FRONT TO BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE ON BRAKING. VEHICLE STILL APPEARS TO BRAKE ADEQUATELY, THOUGH SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, DOESN'T SEEM SAFE. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LIGHTLY IN A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS, CARRYING PASSENGERS (KIDS). WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY AND THE DEALER ARE BOTH SAYING IT IS LIKELY A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; THIS ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,563 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10746889 · 2015-08-06 (August 6, 2015)
MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON OUR VACATION TO MONTREAL LAST THURSDAY (7/30). DURING OUR TRIP WE STOPPED BY LAKE GEORGE FOR A QUICK LUNCH WHERE OUR CAR BROKE DOWN. NOW AT FIRST, I WAS HOPING WE COULD STILL GET IT FIXED QUICKLY AND DRIVE IT UP FOR OUR WEEK LONG TRIP IN CANADA BUT INSTEAD WE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FROM THE LOCAL ENTERPRISE AND USE THAT VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. IT TURNED OUT CAR WASN'T GETTING TO PARK PROPERLY. VW TOLD US IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO I WAS TOLD ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOO MANY ISSUES A…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10746889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10779828 · 2015-10-05 (October 5, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FOG LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE FOR THE FRONT FOG LIGHTS WAS UNKNOWN. THE FRONT FOG LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779828 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V147000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2012-04-05 (April 5, 2012)
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.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE IN DURABILITY, WHICH MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗