Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen Routan vs FORD F 150
How the Volkswagen Routan and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Volkswagen Routan vs FORD F 150: The Routan averaged 130 complaints per year with 9 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The Routan's top issue is sudden engine shutdown, and the F-150's is transmission problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen Routan or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen Routan
The Volkswagen Routan is a minivan that, based on owner complaints, can be a frustrating vehicle to live with. Over six years, it averaged about 130 complaints per year, with the electrical system and engine being the most common trouble spots. Many owners report sudden shutdowns while driving, which can disable power steering and brakes, making it a serious concern. With 9 recalls and 47 injuries reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, while popular, has a very high volume of owner complaints—over 11,600 in ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The most frequent issues involve the power train and electrical system, with reports of transmission problems and sudden limp mode. There are 151 recalls and 297 injuries reported, indicating a wide range of potential problems. Buyers should be aware that while many trucks serve well, some model years have recurring, serious defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen Routan | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 781 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 130.2 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 47 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Volkswagen Routan
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM454
- 02ENGINE195
- 03SERVICE BRAKES105
- 04STEERING76
- 05POWER TRAIN70
Owners frequently report the engine shutting off while driving, causing loss of power steering, dashboard gauges, and other electrical functions. This can happen at highway speeds and may be linked to ignition switch issues, making it a critical safety concern.
Complaints often describe the engine dying unexpectedly, sometimes restarting after shifting to neutral. This pattern suggests a stalling issue that can leave drivers stranded or in dangerous situations.
Some owners report that when the ignition key inadvertently moves to OFF or ACCESSORY, the engine shuts off and power braking is lost. This can make stopping much harder and has happened multiple times to some drivers.
Loss of power steering is commonly reported when the engine shuts down, making the vehicle difficult to control. This is especially dangerous at speed and is tied to the same sudden shutdown problem.
“I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2012 VW ROUTAN LATELY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, MY VAN HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE DASHBOARD, ENGINE, POWER STEERING, EVERYTHING COMPLETELY TURNS OFF AND I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE V…”
“THE ENGINE WILL DIE AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSES ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING, ALL MY DIGITAL GUAGES ON DASH,ETC. WHEN I PULL OVER STOP AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL I CAN THEN TURN THE KEY AND IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TI…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission issues, including sudden limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures. These problems can cause loss of power and near-collisions, and some say the issue persists even after repairs.
Complaints include lead frame issues that affect transmission operation and rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. These electrical faults can lead to expensive repairs and safety hazards.
Some owners report unusual problems like the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, which appears to be linked to a short. This is a rare but alarming issue that could cause injury.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top complaint category, suggesting owners experience frequent bulb failures or other lighting malfunctions that can affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Volkswagen Routan — 9 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2009 Volkswagen Routan vehicles manufactured February 7, 2008, to August 28, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
The risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: VW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles manufactured June 25, 2008, to July 8, 2009, and 2010 Routan vehicles manufactured October 1, 2009, to August 11, 2010. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this reca…
The risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of fu…
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this rec…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009 Routan vehicles manufactured June 25, 2008, to July 8, 2009, and 2010 Routan vehicles manufactured October 1, 2009, to August 11, 2010. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this reca…
The risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including, but not limited to, air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of fu…
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this rec…
The defect: Freedom Motors Inc., (Freedom Motors) of Savaria Vehicle Group (formerly The Liberty Motor Company) is recalling one model year 2009 Volkswagen Routan and certain model year 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country wheelchair accessible vehicles modified by The Liberty Motor Compan…
The risk: Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Freedom Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected axles, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2014. Owners can contact Freedom Motors at 1-800-561-9600. Freedom Motors' number for this recall is ENGF0216-3.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Volkswagen Routan or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen Routan has far fewer complaints per year (about 130) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160), but the Routan's issues often involve sudden shutdowns that can be extremely dangerous. The F-150's higher volume means more overall problems, but they are spread across many vehicles. In practice, the Routan may have fewer reported issues, but the ones it has can be severe, while the F-150 has a wider variety of common problems.
Key differences
- The Routan's most common complaint is sudden engine shutdown while driving, leading to loss of power steering and brakes, while the F-150's top issue is transmission problems like limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The Routan has 9 recalls and 47 injuries over 6 years, whereas the F-150 has 151 recalls and 297 injuries over 10 years, indicating a much higher overall recall and injury count for the F-150.
- Routan complaints often center on a single dangerous pattern (shutdown), while F-150 complaints cover a broader range including electrical, power train, and even exploding rear windows.
- The F-150 has a much higher annual complaint rate (1,162 vs. 130), but the Routan's lower rate still includes life-threatening shutdowns, so frequency alone doesn't tell the whole story.
- Check for any history of sudden engine shutdowns or electrical failures; test drive at highway speeds and note any dash warnings or power loss.
- Inspect the ignition switch for looseness or unintended key movement, as this has been linked to shutdowns and loss of power braking and steering.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for shuddering, delayed engagement, or limp mode; scan for stored codes like P0722 related to output speed sensor failures.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for signs of overheating or previous shattering; ask if the defroster has caused any window damage.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Routan's ignition switch and the F-150's transmission software updates.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the Routan's electrical system and ignition, and the F-150's transmission and rear window defroster.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any sudden loss of power, dashboard warnings, or transmission hesitation in both vehicles.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission services on the F-150 and any electrical repairs on the Routan.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed, as some issues may persist even after recall work.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Volkswagen Routan or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen Routan vs FORD F 150
- Volkswagen Routan total complaints
- 781
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Volkswagen Routan total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Volkswagen Routan avg complaints/year
- 130.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen Routan
- Volkswagen Routan top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN