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Verdict

2011 Volkswagen Routan: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2011 Volkswagen Routan — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for minivan.

Owners filed 175 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 60% of 2011 minivans. Electrical System leads the reports (55%). No safety recalls on record.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2011 minivans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

175

Reports to NHTSA, 2011

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

20

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Fewer complaints than 60% of 2011 minivans

The bar is this car's percentile among 2011 minivans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (55% of 175 reports), followed by power train (10%).

Electrical System55% · 97 reports
Power Train10% · 18 reports
Steering6% · 11 reports
Engine5% · 9 reports
Fuel/Propulsion System5% · 8 reports
Service Brakes5% · 8 reports
Unknown Or Other5% · 8 reports
Air Bags3% · 5 reports

+ 6 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 175 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11042282, ODI 10563692, ODI 11483423, ODI 11474428, ODI 11442717.

Recalls

0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2011 Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Routan3.6L 6-cylFront-Wheel Drive172520

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2011 Volkswagen Routan: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?

Owners filed 175 NHTSA complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Routan — fewer complaints than 60% of comparable 2011 minivans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2011 Volkswagen Routan?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (55% of complaints) and power train (10%).

How many recalls does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2011 Volkswagen Routan as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Volkswagen Routan get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Volkswagen Routan at 20 mpg combined.