2012 Volkswagen Routan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (14) · Fuel/Propulsion System (8) · Engine (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Routan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
45 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Suspension:rear 2012-04-05 · campaign 12V147000 · 15 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE IN DURABILITY, WHICH MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (506)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-03-27 · VOS-26-21 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the error message erp0204e could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, svm updates for any control
Electrical System 2026-03-06 · VOS-26-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct multiple test plans: all basic settings test for the following components - fill and bleed cooling system issue, n493, j338, c
Air Bags 2026-03-02 · DC_VW_CF_Airbag · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-01-06 · VOS-26-01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct a test that is not reading any information from the battery data module (bdm) and will output:
Engine 2025-02-12 · V1917012022548_14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
identifying and mixing engine coolant
Unknown Or Other 2024-12-02 · MULT action closures VW · Other
multiple emissions service action closures
Showing the 6 most recent of 506 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-07-08 · Air Bags“driver steering wheel airbag deployed while parking van at work. nothing was hit just went off causing burns and wrist pain and swelling. wife stated that the front windshield wipers started turning on randomly while driving to work and then airbag blew while parking.…”
2024-03-22 · Electrical System“my vehicle is shutting off while driving. it randomly shuts off and i see there are other recalls associated with this issue for a different year but same vehicle/model. i am being quoted well over $2,000 in repairs. this vehicle only has 130,000 miles on it. …”
2023-12-17 · Service Brakes“at first it starts off the vehicle will just shut off while you are driving which is very dangerous i have read many people complaining about this it needs to be recalled then the brakes go and then the transmission seal i have done all the maintenance up keep on my vehicle there is no reason for the vehicle did you shut off the way it keeps shutti…”
2023-06-22 · Unknown Or Other“nhtsa recall 14v396 is probably the best correction to this issue. my van has shut off mid-driving while my children are in the car with me. it is so dangerous in the road. i can't move the steering wheel. mechanics can't seem to diagnose the problem because the van doesn't give any computer codes when it would shut down. there are similar complai…”
2022-10-04 · Power Train“several times in the last month the car has stopped running without warning. it just shuts off. this has happened in our subdivision travelling at 20mph and most recently on the highway travelling 65mph. the power steering, brakes, everything go dead when the car just turns off and this could cause a serious accident.…”
2022-02-14 · Unknown Or Other“on thursday january 6, 2022, i took my car volkswagen routan 2012 to the service center because the check engine light went on and the engine revving. the service center took a week for diagnostic it, then they informed me on january 13, after charging me $180 that it needs a new transmission because it stuck in limp mode (see attached report). i a…”
2022-01-04 · Fuel/Propulsion System“car is stalling out while driving with no warning. doesn't matter the rate of speed i'm going it just cuts out. can't turn steering wheel. no codes pop up. no mechanics can pinpoint issue. i have seen quite a few thousand people complaining of the same issue and reported it to vw as well as nhtsa and no one will do a recall. chrysler did a recall f…”
2021-12-26 · Power Train“the transmission on our 2012 vw routan has completely failed. the car will not go into gear and left my wife in a position where she was stranded in traffic. we are the original owners of this vehicle and have followed the recommended maintenance schedule. the engine in this vehicle is a chrysler pentastar v6. (the vehicle was built as a joint v…”
2021-11-02 · Service Brakes“the ignition key inadvertently moves into the off or accessory position, the engine will turn off, which then depowers various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. this has happened to me several times including while driving on the interstate and in traffic. i was able to pull over but it i…”
2021-07-31 · Unknown Or Other“referenced to recall nhsta id no:11v-151 same issue happens on newer models, the car key ignition switch does not secure the key and that causes the car shut-down in tje middle of highway or road intermittently! ıt does not give any dashboard warning and no codes! all the lights are being gone and even ac shuts off! when ı push the key the lights c…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.