2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN Complaints

The battery started dying randomly several months ago. I have called multiple dealerships and had diagnostics ran twice on the car. Initially I was told there is no draw on the battery. Then it was discovered that the TIPM module needs to be replaced. I then started researching this problem with this vehicle only to find multiple forums full of people having the same exact issue or worse! As in, their car stalls on the highway randomly while driving!! Someone could die! This module fails and in my case causes the fuel pump to continue running even when the car is off which completely drains the battery overnight! Chrysler (same manufacturer of this TIPM) already lost a class action lawsuit and recalled this TIPM but the Volkswagens affected by this same issue were not included leaving those of us now experiencing the same problem in a scary position because we can’t afford to get this fixed as it is very expensive let alone get a new car! It baffles me how well known it is that this part is the same part that’s been recalled but it doesn’t apply to this vehicle. On top of that, I called 3 Chrysler dealerships to explain the problem and was told they don’t work on this vehicle! This is unacceptable! I don’t know how the NHTSA has not done something about this! It seems several class action lawsuits need to filed! Hopefully before someone loses their life!

While driving along my vehicle will shut completely off. This happens especially on bumpy roads. Sometime the vehicle will shut off right after starting the engine. The only way I can duplicate the problem is to turn the key completely off and restart the vehicle. This problem is very similar to the recall with the 2010 Volkswagens.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STREET VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 8707 PILGRIM DR, AMARILLO, TX 79119, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FLY-WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING THE FLY-WHEEL, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER LATER REPLACED THE ENGINE HEAD AND FLY-WHEEL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RESUMED NORMAL DRIVING. THE CONTACT INITIALLY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BY PHONE AND WAS REFERRED TO THE DODGE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE DODGE MANUFACTURER AND SHE WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TANNER MOTORS (620 W. WASHINGTON ST, BRAINERD, MN 56401) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE COULD POSSIBLY BE LINKED TO A DEFECTIVE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE (WIN) MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED STALLING, ENGINE SHUTDOWN, AND DIFFICULTY STARTING MULTIPLE TIMES. ENGINE HAS NOW STALLED MORE FREQUENTLY AT BOTH LOW SPEEDS AND WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. EACH TIME, RPM'S HAVE GONE TO ZERO AND IT'S COMPLETELY LOST POWER TO STEERING. I'VE HAD TRY AND COAST/NAVIGATE SAFELY TO SIDE OF ROAD, BERM, ETC., STOP, AND RESTART THE VAN. AT TIMES THE DASH LIGHTS WILL FLASH, OTHER TIMES THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT A FAILURE HAD OCCURRED, JUST NO POWER/RPMS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS, NO CODES DISPLAYED, NOTHING. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WILL NOT EVEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE AS THEY DEEM IT A "CHRYSLER PROBLEM". WE NOW TAKE IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT & CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS, KEY FOBS, BATTERY, AND HAVE DONE ALL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS (VW, CHRYSLER, & DODGE) FOR THIS EXACT ENGINE & SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE TIPM, THE MAIN CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT RANDOM AND CAUSES A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION AND LOSS OF OPERATOR CONTROL.

WHEN GETTING OFF HIGHWAY WHILE AT LIGHT MY CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD TO HAVE TOWED. THE RIGHT SIDE CYLINDER HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $4000. VW IS REPLACING THE LEFT SIDE UNDER WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS BUT NOT THE RIGHT SIDE FOR SOME REASON SO I HAVE TO PAY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE AND I HAVE ONLY 89000 MILES. THE ENGINE IN THE VW IS A CHRYSLER 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR. WHILE FIXING THAT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING AT 80,500 MILES. BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS WERE MAKING GRINDING NOISES. RACK AND PINION HYDRAULIC LINE CRACKED AT ELBOW AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. RACK AND PINION PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING CLOSE TO HOME. LOST ALL STEERING IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

THE VEHICLE OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY STARTING AND WILL OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN SAFETY RECALL 28H1 WHICH ONLY COVERS YEAR MODELS 2009-2010. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN THE ISSUE STARTED, BUT IT WAS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE TO THE POINT FAILURE WHILE OPERATING OCCURS MUCH MORE REGULARLY. FORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE DRIVING SO FAR, BUT IT WILL SHUT OFF WHEN I'M IDLING, ACCELERATING, OR AT DRIVING SPEED. *TR

THE DRIVERS HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE HAD JUST BEEN STARTED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE STARTLED DRIVER TO THE POINT OF LOSS OF CONTROL.

I WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE DRIVER HEADREST EXPLODED FORWARD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT FROM THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT AND LOUD NOISE STARTLING ME.