Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2013GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.1× usual
5 serious complaints of 7, the most about engine (3) and power train (2); 0.1× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2013 vehicles.
What owners report
“The temperature gauge constantly moving to 220 thermostat water pump and sensor was changed with new antifreeze. Its still doing yhe same thing. I notived several people are having the same problem. It doesn't matter if I am stationary or moving ii will move.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Jun 2019
7 owner complaints · 0 recalls · EPA combined: 20 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2013 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl · Drive: FWD
2013 Routan trims
| S | SE | SEL |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Volkswagen reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Volkswagen aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3.6L 6-cyl | FWD | 20 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 2 | Seats (1) | — |
| 2013 | 3.6L 6-cyl | FWD | 20 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 7 | Engine (3) | — |
| 2012 | 3.6L 6-cyl | FWD | 20 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 63 | Electrical system (39) | — |
| 2011 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 283 hp | FWD | 20 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 175 | Electrical system (111) | — |
| 2010 | 3.8L 6-cyl, 197 hp 4.0L 6-cyl, 251 hp | FWD | 18–20 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 240 | Electrical system (150) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 0 | 7 |
| 2012 | Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 63 |
| 2011 | Volkswagen Routan VAN FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 0 | 175 |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Routan w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 240 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Routan | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2013 | Routan | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2012 | Routan | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2011 | Routan | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2010 | Routan | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L |
18–20 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.