2012 Volkswagen Routan problems and recalls

62% of owner complaints on the 2012 Volkswagen Routan related to the Electrical System (39 of 63).

63
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
49.7
Severity index

Severity index 49.7 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 49.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 100 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 23% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 39 complaints (61.9%)39 62%EngineEngine: 21 complaints (33.3%)21 33%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 8 complaints (12.7%)8 13%SteeringSteering: 8 complaints (12.7%)8 13%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (11.1%)7 11%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 7 complaints (11.1%)7 11%Power TrainPower Train: 7 complaints (11.1%)7 11%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (9.5%)6 10%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3961.9%
ENGINE2133.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM812.7%
STEERING812.7%
SERVICE BRAKES711.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER711.1%
POWER TRAIN711.1%
AIR BAGS69.5%

Complaints filed per year

06122013: 32014: 22015: 32016: 42017: 72018: 122019: 122020: 82021: 52022: 32023: 22024: 213141516171812192021222324
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20133
20142
20153
20164
20177
201812
201912
20208
20215
20223
20232
20242
Filings in 2022 to 2024 ran 0.3x those in 2019 to 2021 (7 against 25).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
12V14700005/04/2012SUSPENSION:REARVOLKSWAGEN 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.
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.