2012 Audi S5: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 10 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I am affected by recall 69R6 for this vehicle. I moved to Germany in 2012 and took my car with me. Audi in Germany refused to honor the recall claiming that it is not applicable to Germany due to different "climate conditions". What can I do (other than shipping the car back to the US) ? Thanks”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2022
“I get the gearbox malfunction and tpms light flashing and the car jerks and stutters especially from start and coming to a stop. When stopping, it feels like someone hit you from behind. Ran the codes and it is a mechatronic malfunction/failure. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2020
“The car's backup camera feed has a lot of issues for many owners, myself included. There is a probably 10% chance of the backup camera not turning on when I first start the car each time. Lots of other owners are having similar issues on the a5/s5/rs5 platform from similar years. If you google the following: "site:a5oc.com backup camera" you can see lots of threads from a forum dedicated to the above models. The failing backup cameras are dangerous since they intermittently fail. Sometimes I catch myself starting to reverse assuming the backup camera will come on but it never does. This issue has been happening for a while now. I will put an estimate for when it first appeared.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2019
Show 6 more owner reports
“Takata recall.safety recall 69n2. I continue to get defect notices from audi but no one at audi has any idea when the replacement or repair parts will be available. When and where will the repair parts be available is my question?”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2017
“Tikata airbag recall audi sent a recall letter several months ago (04/2016) but still has not developed a solution for the airbag issue. Is it safe to drive our car? Audi says it is safe but based on the NHTSA recall it is not safe to drive our car.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2016
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 audi s5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was unable to confirm when the parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi s5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2016
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 audi s5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2016
“Takata recall. Driver frontal airbag inflator could potentially rupture. Repeated call and inquiries to audi dealer about remedy with no timetable provided. I was told that no airbags have thusfar been repaired or replaced with no estimate of when part will be available. It has been almost one year since recall. Unacceptable.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2016
Recalls - 3 campaigns
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
How other years compare
Check your exact S5 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 S5 reliable?
NHTSA has 10 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Audi S5. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2012 Audi S5 have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.