2012 Audi A7

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Audi A7 has 48 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a7. the contact stated that the front passenger side air bag off warning indicator illuminated intermittently while the seat was occupied. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger seat occupant detection sensor failed and ne. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 2 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR FAILED AND NE
• I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WHICH WOULD NOT GO OUT IS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS (WHICH EVEN THE DEALERSHIP THINKS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY TOLD THAT TO AUDI) TO FIX THIS, AND ASSURE THAT MY AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY, THEY WANT OVER 18 THOUSAND D
• PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) RECALL. MY VEHICLE'S PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY MALFUNCTIONING AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER 100% OF THE TIME DURING ALL OPERATIONS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT REMAINS LIT 100% OF THE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR FAILED AND NE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

13%

• OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE "COOLANT VALVE LEAKED INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND SHORTED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. MAY HAVE CAUSE AN UNEXPECTED STALL OF THE VEHICLE."
• I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WHICH WOULD NOT GO OUT IS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS (WHICH EVEN THE DEALERSHIP THINKS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY TOLD THAT TO AUDI) TO FIX THIS, AND ASSURE THAT MY AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY, THEY WANT OVER 18 THOUSAND D

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

“OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

6 complaints

13%

• OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED RANDOMLY. THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESET THE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPEND
• WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 AUDI A7 ON THE HIGHWAY, RECEIVED NUMEROUS ERROR MESSAGES WITHOUT WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH, STALL, AND DRIVE ERRATICALLY WITH LIMITED DRIVING AND BRAKING CONTROL. SITUATION WAS VERY UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING. AUDI DEALERSHIP STATED THAT A CO

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

5 complaints

10%

• OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX
• MY 2012 AUDI A7 SHUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. TOOK IT TO AUDI MEMPHIS AND THEY STATED THERE WAS A LEAK IN MY TRANS COOLANT CONTROL VALUE. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN AUDI'S. THE REPAIR IS ABOUT 6,500 DOLLARS.
• CAR COMES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL AND AUTO-BRAKING. SYSTEMS RECENTLY WERE DISABLED, AND ARE THROWING ERROR. "0161 - VIDEO CABLE FOR IMAGE PROCESSING " UNABLE TO USE CRUISE CONTROL, AND ASSUME THAT AUTO-BRAKING IS DISABLED UNTIL THIS IS RECTIFIED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

5 complaints

10%

• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE "COOLANT VALVE LEAKED INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND SHORTED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. MAY HAVE CAUSE AN UNEXPECTED STALL OF THE VEHICLE."
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. AFTER DRIVING, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE. WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT A STORE, A PASSERBY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO
• TAKATA RECALL, MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE APRIL 2018. AUDI OF ANNAPOLIS INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER STEERING WHEEL FOR $4000 TO REPLACE A FAULTY AIRBIG, WHY? I HAVE NO HORN AND NO AIR BAG AND I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR. I'VE BEEN RENTING CARS SINCE APRIL. MY CAR IS ALSO OV

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

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE "COOLANT VALVE LEAKED INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND SHORTED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. MAY HAVE CAUSE AN UNEXPECTED STALL OF THE VEHICLE."”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 48 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR FAILED AND NE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: OCTOBER 18, 2013. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON THE AT 72 MILES PER HOUR JUST IN FRONT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS FORCED TO CROSS INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH NO ACCELERATION OR POWER STEERING AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT APPROX
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)