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The 2012 Volkswagen Routan has 63 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2012 Volkswagen Routan has 63 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 31 complaints, typically surfacing around 91,482 miles (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Routan | 293 | 6 |
| 2010 Routan | 240 | 2 |
| 2011 Routan | 175 | 0 |
| 2012 Routan (this page) | 63 | 1 |
| 2013 Routan | 7 | 0 |
| 2014 Routan | 2 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 148,735 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
My 2012 Volkswagen routan has only 87k miles and the car will crank but will not start, and or while driving the car's idle becomes rough and drops to the point of shutting off while driving. My wife drives this car with my daughter and if this car shuts off while driving it can…
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…
For past 2 years I noticed my the van would not immediately start. Figured it was a fluke. In past year, my van has been towed to dealership for not starting after 10-15 tries. Of course, as soon as it arrives the get it to start. Thankful under warranty. Nov 2017 wiring harness…
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…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
This could result in a decrease in durability, which may lead to wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Volkswagen Routan is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Volkswagen Routan does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 31 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 91,482 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 63 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Typical failure occurs around 91,482 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 31 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 91,482 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 91,482 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 63 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.