2012 Audi A4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Audi A4 has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (57% of all complaints), specifically: my vehicle was included in a class action settlement in volkswagen timing chain product liability litigation, civil action no. 16-2765 (jll)(jad). i purchased my vehicle several months ago and was unaware of this settlement at the time of purchase. at my first service appointment, i was inform. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

13 complaints

57%

• MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IN VOLKSWAGEN TIMING CHAIN PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION, CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-2765 (JLL)(JAD). I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SETTLEMENT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AT MY FIRST SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS INFORM
• 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 LEA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IN VOLKSWAGEN TIMING CHAIN PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION, CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-2765 (JLL)(JAD). I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SETTLEMENT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AT MY FIRST SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS INFORM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

3 complaints

13%

• FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND PRODUCING A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CAR. THE ISSUE IS VERY SIMILAR TO NTHSA CAMPAIGN 16V660.
• 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 LEA
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND PRODUCING A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CAR. THE ISSUE IS VERY SIMILAR TO NTHSA CAMPAIGN 16V660.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• AS I ACCELERATE FROM 0 TO AROUND 2K RPM, CAR JERKS RAPIDLY AND THEN CONTINUES TO FIX ITSELF TO BE SMOOTH. EVEN ON 55MPH SPEED AND I DECIDE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUITE A BIT, THE CAR JERKS AGAIN.
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AS I ACCELERATE FROM 0 TO AROUND 2K RPM, CAR JERKS RAPIDLY AND THEN CONTINUES TO FIX ITSELF TO BE SMOOTH. EVEN ON 55MPH SPEED AND I DECIDE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUITE A BIT, THE CAR JERKS AGAIN.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE D
• 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 PERSISTE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 AUDIO A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, SHE SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, NOTICE FLAMES IN THE HEAD LIGHT COMPARTMENT UPON OPENING THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THEY ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH WATER
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 AUDIO A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, SHE SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, NOTICE FLAMES IN THE HEAD LIGHT COMPARTMENT UPON OPENING THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THEY ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH WATER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IN VOLKSWAGEN TIMING CHAIN PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION, CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-2765 (JLL)(JAD). I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SETTLEMENT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AT MY FIRST SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS INFORM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND PRODUCING A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CAR. THE ISSUE IS VERY SIMILAR TO NTHSA CAMPAIGN 16V660.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: AS I ACCELERATE FROM 0 TO AROUND 2K RPM, CAR JERKS RAPIDLY AND THEN CONTINUES TO FIX ITSELF TO BE SMOOTH. EVEN ON 55MPH SPEED AND I DECIDE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUITE A BIT, THE CAR JERKS AGAIN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)