VolkswagenRoutan2012Overview/volkswagen/routan/2012/base/

2012 Volkswagen Routan

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Routan.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2012 Volkswagen Routan is a full‑size van built on the VW/Scania platform, powered by a 6.0‑quart engine that requires 5W‑20 API oil and mated to a smooth automatic six‑speed transmission. With EPA‑rated 17/25/20 mpg, it offers a practical fuel economy for fleet and family use while maintaining the brand’s hallmark reliability; the model year sits near the lower end of the 2008‑2014 complaint range, with only 63 owner complaints—most centered on the electrical system—and a single recall, signaling a relatively stable year in the Routan’s overall history.

Model year201420132012201120102009

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 7B0115562D. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225-65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter7B0115562D
Engine air filter7B0129620C
Spark plug7B0905600C
Front wiper blades7B0955425A alt 7B0955426
Thermostat7B0121119B alt 7B0121111B
Cabin air filter7B0819644

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202.4 in
Overall width76.8 in
Overall height68.9 in
Wheelbase121.3 in
Curb weight4495 lb
Track (front / rear)65 / 65 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Routan of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.1–9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 2010 SEL
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2010SEL 4.0L V68.10 sec16.20 sec251 hpFWD
2010SE 3.8L V69.30 sec17.00 sec197 hpFWD
2009SE 3.8L V69.50 sec17.20 sec197 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF +4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidVW PART NO. GUS000162

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts70 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts27 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityFront and rear A/C, 2.43. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityFront and rear A/C, 5.07. oz
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle125 ft-lbs / 74 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.107 in / 0.482 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.097 in / 0.463 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.04 in / 0.409 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 9 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
233 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
3Do not use a torque wrench turn 75 degrees75 degrees
4Bolts 2 and 3, do not use a torque wrench turn 50 degrees50 degrees
5Loosen all fasteners in reverse sequence shown
622 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
733 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
8Do not use a torque wrench turn 60 degrees60 degrees
9Do not use a torque wrench turn 70 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.70 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 8,000 mi; spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant at 104,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 104,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 8,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 16,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 16,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 32,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 48,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 96,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 104,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 model year sits at the latter end of a steep downward trajectory in federal complaints that peaked at 293 entries with six recalls in 2009, declining to 63 complaints and just one recall in 2012—representing a significant improvement from the 175 complaints recorded in 2011 while registering slightly higher activity than the seven complaints seen in 2013. Technical service bulletins reached their generational maximum of 506 in 2012, indicating extensive dealer documentation of service needs, yet safety-critical reports remained minimal with only one crash complaint and zero fire incidents documented. Electrical system concerns dominated the complaint record with 14 entries, followed by four complaints citing combined electrical and engine issues and another four citing electrical and fuel/propulsion systems, though the federal data does not specify underlying root causes for these reports. Given the dramatic reduction in both complaint volume and recall activity compared to the 2009-2010 period, the 2012 model occupies the most favorable position within this generation's reliability arc, making it the preferred choice for a used purchase despite its single recall.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
506
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
63
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 63 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System14
Electrical System,Engine4
Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System4
Engine3
Air Bags2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine2
Power Train,Electrical System2
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

12V147000Suspension:RearReported 05/04/2012

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ROUTAN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT… Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 506 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
VOS-26-212026-03-27EngineThis is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the…
VOS-26-152026-03-06Electrical SystemThis is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the…
DC_VW_CF_Airbag2026-03-02Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning…
VOS-26-012026-01-06Electrical SystemThis is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the…
V1917012022548_142025-02-12EngineIdentifying and Mixing Engine Coolant

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Routan. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Routan take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Routan have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Routan get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.