2012 Audi A4: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 45 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (50% of complaints).
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
45
owner complaints
1
fire reports
77,500
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaignsWeak spot: engine (50%)1 fire report
Common problems
Computed from 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Engine (engine mechanics)50% · 21 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)12% · 5 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System (fuel pump, tank, lines)10% · 4 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)7% · 3 complaints
Service Brakes (brakes)5% · 2 complaints
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)5% · 2 complaints
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Audi A4. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 90,512 and at the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 175,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2026
“There is a recall for the year after this when many Audi owners of this model have the same issue per the Audi forums. We have the coolant leaking issue as well and it should have been included in the recall”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2024
“1) Turbo, not because I'm looking to replace it 2) the car could stall when merging into highway or passing on the left lane 3) Yes 4) No 5) Yes, Check Engine Light came on afterward Check engine light came on after I tried to merge into a lane, while I was stepping on the gas peddle hard there was no acceleration. While the car did not stall, but it was not moving fast enough to provide the distance I need to be safe from the car behind me.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“I have continued to notice increasing oil consumption on my 2012 AUDI A4. I have mentioned this to my dealership, however they kept dismissing it as an old car. I noticed that there have been numerous reports of this with AUDI vehicles. I requested for 2 part oil consumption test, which failed. Nonetheless, they keep suggesting that there is nothing to be done. Please advise, if this meets concern similar to other consumers with this issue.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2022
“This vehicles Water Pump has failed and has been replaced 3 times in the last 3 years. I fear for the safety of the vehicle. We've received numerous correspondence regarding class actions suits and such for cooling system issues.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2021
“Having acceleration problems. Varies not consistent. When applying pedal to accelerate. The car doesn't respond. Rpm drops to zero. Engine still runs but no movement. Releasing pedal and trying again works intermittently. Scary when trying to get car out of danger.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2021
“Several complaints of faulty piston rings causing oil consumption to be 1 quart every 200/300 miles from audi a4 models 2009-2015”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a4. The contact stated that an error message appeared on the instrument panel regarding the gear box module. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer audi memphis (1825 covington pike, memphis, tn 38128) who replaced the gear box however, the failure persisted while accelerating. Additionally, the low-pressure fuel pump fault message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 94,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Dec 2020
“I have gone gone to the dealer numerous times visits right after I had the scheduled oil changes done. The oil light / consumption issue happens after I've gotten an oil change, but 7,000 miles before the next one is due. I get afraid thinking that my car is out of oil . I do not have any oil leaks. Oil is leaking around ladder frame. This has been a know issue for a few years that I have been having and audi will not resolve.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a4. The contact stated that the vehicle received an oil change however, after driving only 300 miles, the minimum oil level warning light illuminated. The contact added two quarts of oil to the engine however, after several hundred miles of driving, the oil level warning light illuminated. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to audi stevens creek service (751 s winchester blvd, san jose, ca 95128, (888) 903-4834) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the pistons needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2012 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Cylinders4
FuelGasoline
TransmissionAutomatic
Body stylesSedan/Saloon
How other years compare
Check your exact A4 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Audi A4 reliable?
NHTSA has 45 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Audi A4. The most complained-about area is engine (50% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2012 Audi A4 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 77,500 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.