2012 Volkswagen Routan
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 39 of 63 complaints (62%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 175 in 2011 to 63 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Minivan - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100–3,450 | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–17 / 23–25 | 17 / 25 | 17 / 25 | 17 / 25 | 17 / 25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 444–494 | 444 | 444 | 454 | 456 | |
| Complaints filed | 240 | 175 | 63 | 7 | 2 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Routan have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Volkswagen Routan?
Electrical: 39 of 63 NHTSA complaints (62%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Volkswagen Routan get?
EPA rates it 20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Volkswagen Routan?
EPA estimates $3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Minivan - 2WD | 17 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 444 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 12V147000 · Apr 5, 2012
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.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE IN DURABILITY, WHICH MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.