Volkswagen Routan: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Volkswagen Routan: 4 model years scored from 247 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall campaigns. Worst year 2011, best year 2012.
Volkswagen Routan: which years to avoid
Across 4 scored model years the Volkswagen Routan ranges from 51/100 in 2011 to 95/100 in 2013 — a 44-point spread, so which year you buy matters more than whether you buy a Routan at all. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Electrical System (111 of them).
Safest years: 2012, 2013, 2014 — scored 70 or better.
Check carefully: 2011.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2012 (score 74). Worst: 2011 (score 51, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 94 | BUY | $5,423 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 95 | BUY | $5,570 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 74 | BUY | $5,686 | 63 | 1 |
| 2011 | 51 | CAUTION | $5,962 | 175 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Routan, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Volkswagen Routan
Across every Routan model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Electrical System153 complaints across all Routan years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Engine72 complaints across all Routan years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System47 complaints across all Routan years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Unknown Or Other24 complaints across all Routan years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Service Brakes22 complaints across all Routan years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Power Train21 complaints across all Routan years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Volkswagen Routan years to buy?
2012, 2013, 2014 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2013 at 95/100, on 7 complaints and 0 recall campaigns.
Which Volkswagen Routan years should I avoid?
The 2011 is the weakest year we score, at 51/100 (CAUTION), on 175 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Volkswagen Routan problem?
153 of the complaints filed against the Routan across all its model years sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04