Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen Routan vs Toyota Camry
How the Volkswagen Routan and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Routan averages 130 complaints per year with 47 injuries, while the Camry averages 206 complaints per year with 158 injuries. The Routan's complaints often involve sudden electrical shutdowns, whereas the Camry's are more varied. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen Routan or Toyota Camry 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. The most common issue is a sudden electrical shutdown while driving, which can disable the engine, power steering, and dashboard. This pattern appears across multiple components and is the kind of problem that can leave you stranded or worse. With an average of 130 complaints per year, it's not the most complaint-heavy vehicle, but the severity of the reported failures is concerning.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much higher annual complaint rate—about 206 per year—but the issues reported are often less severe. Owners frequently mention transmission hesitation, brake noises, and various electronic glitches. While there are more complaints overall, the problems tend to be annoyances rather than sudden, dangerous failures. The Camry also has more recalls, which can be a sign of a manufacturer addressing issues, but also means more potential trips to the dealer.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen Routan | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 781 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 130.2 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 47 Better | 158 |
| 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 report the engine and all electrical power shutting off while driving, often requiring a restart. This can cause loss of power steering and braking, making it a serious safety concern.
The engine may die unexpectedly while driving, leading to loss of power and steering assist. This is often linked to the same electrical shutdown issue and can happen repeatedly.
Some owners describe the ignition key inadvertently moving to OFF or ACCESSORY, which cuts engine power and disables power braking and steering. This can make the vehicle hard to control.
Power steering loss is reported when the engine shuts down, making the vehicle difficult to steer. This is a direct consequence of the electrical failures and adds to the danger.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent issues like the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, and transmission hesitation or shuddering while driving. These can be inconvenient and may indicate deeper transmission problems.
Multiple electronic systems, such as stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring, can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electrical gremlins that can be hard to diagnose.
Some owners experience delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator doesn't immediately move the car. This hesitation can be unsettling in traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may be normal but is often perceived as a defect.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Volkswagen Routan or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen Routan has fewer complaints per year (130 vs. 206), but its reported issues are more severe, often involving sudden loss of power and steering. The Toyota Camry has more complaints, but they tend to be less dangerous, such as transmission hesitation or brake noise. In practice, the Routan's problems could leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation, while the Camry's issues are more likely to be annoying and costly to repair.
Key differences
- The Routan's most common complaint is a sudden electrical shutdown that can disable the engine, steering, and brakes, while the Camry's top complaint is transmission hesitation or key sticking, which is less immediately dangerous.
- The Routan has fewer complaints per year but a higher proportion of severe safety-related issues; the Camry has more complaints but many are for less critical problems like brake noise or electronic glitches.
- The Routan has 9 recalls, including ignition switch and air bag issues, while the Camry has 31 recalls, covering seats, air bags, and wheels, indicating more frequent manufacturer actions.
- Owner reports for the Routan frequently mention loss of power steering and braking during driving, whereas Camry owners report issues like delayed throttle response and parking brake failures.
- Check for any signs of electrical issues: test all dashboard lights, power windows, and ensure the ignition switch feels secure and doesn't move unexpectedly.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation or sudden loss of power; if the engine shuts off or stumbles, walk away.
- Test the ignition key operation: ensure it turns smoothly and can be removed easily when in Park; a stuck key could indicate a costly repair.
- Listen for unusual noises from the brakes and feel for any vibration through the pedal; while some noise may be normal, persistent issues could be a sign of ABS problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for recalls and accident damage.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the specific make and model.
- For the Routan, specifically ask the mechanic to check the ignition switch, electrical system, and for any stored fault codes.
- For the Camry, ask the mechanic to check the transmission for hesitation, the electronic parking brake, and any software updates.
- Test drive the vehicle in various conditions (highway, stop-and-go) to replicate potential issues.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen Routan vs Toyota Camry
- Volkswagen Routan total complaints
- 781
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Volkswagen Routan total recalls
- 9
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volkswagen Routan avg complaints/year
- 130.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen Routan
- Volkswagen Routan top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN