2014 Volkswagen Routan problems
The Volkswagen Routan is a seven-seat minivan and rebadged variant of the Chrysler RT platform, with revised styling, content features, and suspension tuning from the fifth-generation Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.
Manufactured alongside the Chrysler and Dodge minivans at Windsor Assembly and marketed in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Routan debuted at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and went on sale in the United States in September of the same year as a 2009 model. The Routan's minivan variants include the Dodge Caravan, Ram C/V, Chrysler Town & Country, and Lancia Voyager (export)—that by 2009 have ranked as the 13th best-selling automotive nameplate worldwide, with over 12 million sold.
Production of the Routan was halted in 2012 due to high inventory levels, and Volkswagen announced the 2013 model year would be primarily reserved for rental car companies and other fleets, with limited availability to the public at dealer showrooms. This also held for the 2014 model year Routan.
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Common 2014 Volkswagen Routan problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2014 Volkswagen Routan, several common problems have been reported:
- Premature Wear on Brake Pads and Rotors:
- Owners have complained about premature wear on brake components, affecting the vehicle's braking performance and safety. This problem can lead to increased maintenance costs and potential safety hazards.
- Difficulty Starting:
- Another common complaint is difficulty starting the vehicle, which can be frustrating for owners and may indicate underlying issues with the engine or electrical system. This problem can lead to unreliable vehicle operation and inconvenience for owners.
- Vehicle Will Not Start:
- Owners have reported instances where the vehicle fails to start, causing inconvenience and potential reliability issues. This problem can be a symptom of various underlying issues, including electrical or fuel system problems, requiring thorough diagnosis and repair.
These common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Routan highlight significant concerns related to safety, reliability, and maintenance costs. Addressing these issues promptly and effectively is crucial to ensure the optimal performance and safety of the vehicle for its owners.
Are Volkswagen Routans reliable?
The Volkswagen Routan Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 8th out of 8 for minivans. The average annual repair cost is $745 which means it has average ownership costs.
Why did Volkswagen stop making the Routan?
Automotive industry analysts were not surprised by VW's decision to drop the Routan because buyers had no reason for selecting the Routan over the similar Dodge Grand Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country, and the Routan's base price of nearly $28,000 was far more than the basic $21,000 Grand Caravan, while the ...
What is the mpg on a 2014 Volkswagen Routan?
Compare Side-by-Side
| 20 | MPG | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 25 | |
| combined city/highway | city | highway |
What is the problem with the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
(Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. What should you do: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge.
Are Volkswagen Routans reliable?
The Volkswagen Routan Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 8th out of 8 for minivans. The average annual repair cost is $745 which means it has average ownership costs.
Why did Volkswagen stop making the Routan?
Automotive industry analysts were not surprised by VW's decision to drop the Routan because buyers had no reason for selecting the Routan over the similar Dodge Grand Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country, and the Routan's base price of nearly $28,000 was far more than the basic $21,000 Grand Caravan, while the ...
What is the problem with the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
(Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. What should you do: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch, free of charge.
Where is the Routan made?
Windsor Assembly plant
Manufactured alongside Dodge and Chrysler minivans at the Windsor Assembly plant in Ontario, the Routan was an attempt by Volkswagen to market a vehicle specifically for the United States.
2014 Volkswagen Routan car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Routan problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Seats problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2014 Volkswagen Routan vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2014 Volkswagen Routan complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2014 Volkswagen Routan.
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-02
- VIN: 2C4RVABG5ER
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND BEFORE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER NAPLETON'S NORTHLAKE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (3701 NORTHLAKE BLVD, LAKE PARK, FL 33403, (888)786-6360) AND SCHUMACHER BUICK GMC OF NORTH PALM BEACH (3720 NORTHLAKE BLVD SUITE C, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33403, (561)935-4212) AND WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-08-04
- VIN: 2C4RVABG6ER
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: VW ROUTANS ARE KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE OR "TIPM" FAIL CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN. THIS FAILURE IS RANDOM AND HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE WHILE PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND LOSING ALL POWER. THE ENGINE DID RESTART AFTER CYCLING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND DROVE FINE AFTERWARDS. THE ROUTAN IS A JOINT VENTURE VEHICLE WITH CHRYSLER WHO HAS HAD THE SAME "TIPM" ISSUES AND HAS ISSUED RECALLS TO CORRECT THE SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS EVENT COULD HAPPEN WHILE GOING 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS HARM TO THOSE INVOLVED. VW USA HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE OF THIS "TIPM" AND IT IS A CONCERN OF THE CONSUMER AND NOT THE MANUFACTURER. MY LOCAL DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FAILURE AND HAS STATED MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET, $1,200.00 APPROXIMATELY, AS VW USA DECLINED TO ASSIST AND THE CONSUMERS NEEDED TO FIX THEIR VEHICLES. TO DATE THE ONLY TIME VW WILL ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR PAY FOR THE REPAIR IS IF THE DEALER CAN DUPLICATE THE FAILURE MODE, WHICH BY ITS VERY NATURE IS RANDOM AND DOESN'T PRODUCE A FAULT CODE, WHICH BASICALLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DEALER TO CORRECT AND FILE A WARRANTY CLAIM AGAINST IT.
Negative 2014 Volkswagen Routan car reviews
Positive 2014 Volkswagen Routan car reviews
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I should have stuck to the Honda Odyssey. My 2010 VW Routon has several issues with the nose. Every time I step on the gas, it starts to squeal, but as soon as I take my foot off the pedal, it stops. The right sliding door sticks and sounds like it will fall off, and there is a knocking noise in the right passenger door. The engine sometimes does not shift smoothly. I am confident that these problems can be fixed by a competent mechanic.
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After over a year of trouble-free ownership, we highly recommend the Routan as a top-quality family-friendly van. The features and handling have been first-class, and the VW carefree service at zero cost is completely risk-free. Thanks to T & C Sibling, a lot of aftermarket products can be purchased at great prices, and the high volume siblings at Chrysler are also worth considering.
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One of the best vehicles for ride and comfort I've ever been in. We did have a problem with the brake rotors when we first bought the van, but we had larger rotors installed and have not had any problems since. It's a great van and fun to drive!
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Hi there! As a fellow Chrysler employee, I recently had to replace my old Town & Country with a new one. However, I found that even with employee pricing, the lease for the Town & Country was quite expensive here in Southern California. So, I decided to go for a Routan instead, which is slightly cheaper than the T&C and has a much better lease pricing due to its better residual value. Although the Routan has the Chrysler DNA, I personally prefer it over the T&C. The only downside is that the gas mileage is not great, as I usually get around 14 in the city and 18 on freeways. Interestingly, the 4.0L engine actually has slightly better gas mileage than the 3.8L, but unfortunately, I couldn't find any available. Let me know if you have any questions!
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Hi there! I wanted to follow up on my earlier comments about my Routan. I've put over 24,000 miles on the car in the past 20 months and unfortunately, I've had to replace my front brakes and rotors twice. The rear rotors have also been turned twice and the rear brakes were replaced as well. The good news is that everything has been covered under warranty so far. However, I'm a bit concerned about having to replace the brakes every year once my lease is up and the service contract is no longer in effect. What do you think?
Other years of Volkswagen Routan
Are you having problems with your 2014 Volkswagen Routan?
Judson Littel 2025-01-04
This is an unacceptable situation. I was driving on the freeway at 60MPH with a baby in the car when the vehicle suddenly stopped and would not move. The day before, I had taken the car to the dealer because I was experiencing acceleration issues, but they assured me that everything was fine. The next day, while 60 miles away from home, the car stalled on the freeway. This is a clear example of the worst warranty service. When I called roadside assistance, I was informed that they could not help me because the nearest dealer required an appointment (Cardinale Way VW). When I contacted Volkswagen, they advised me to work with the dealer because they are a private company. This is unacceptable, as the company should stand behind their warranty and provide assistance in situations like this.
Sylvester Howell 2025-01-01
The Routan shares the same engine and transmission as Chrysler's Town & Country, however, it is important to note that the T & C recalls do not apply to Routans. While we have experienced some issues with the TIPM and alternator, as well as required repairs to multiple cylinders and electrical components, we have found that the transmission has been the most problematic. Additionally, the mpg has not met our expectations. Despite these challenges, we remain confident in our decision to purchase a VW and will continue to do so in the future.
Hazle Vandervort 2024-10-27
The Routon's unique appearance caught our attention, and as a young couple, we were pleased to drive it without feeling embarrassed. It provided a comfortable ride, especially for our young children who enjoyed the DVD system and Xbox inputs. However, we were disappointed when the van began to shake while braking, and upon inspection, the front rotors were found to be faulty at only 20k miles. Although the dealer fixed the issue, the shaking returned 7k miles later, this time with the back rotors. Due to concerns about future breakdowns, we decided to trade in the van.
Jovani Yost 2024-10-14
Hello! I wanted to share my experience with a SEL Premium CARB that I bought from a dealer in Columbus, OH on 6/19/10. Unfortunately, I've noticed some rust around the left rear wheel well less than a month after taking it off the dealer's lot. The dealer asked me to drive to VW's authorized body shop for an estimate, and it turns out that the repair will cost $1100.00. It's important to get this fixed properly, as the rust could eat away at the van's body from the inside out. Thank you for listening to my story!
Keeley Rippin 2024-10-12
After driving two different Odysseys for eight years, I decided to lease a Routan instead. My decision was driven by a desire for change and economics. I must admit that Honda's color schemes can be a bit boring. However, the Routan's final sticker price was a small advantage. Unfortunately, long-term use revealed the Routan's true colors. It is at least 30% less fuel-efficient than the Odyssey, which translates to a higher per month cost. Whatever I saved at purchase was an illusion. Most importantly, the Routan has some issues. It can be a bit clunky over bumps and engaging into gear. The power side doors sometimes lock up and the transmission frequently sticks in low. I would not recommend getting a Routan, but that's just my personal experience.