2012 Audi S4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Audi S4 has 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (52% of all complaints), specifically: i own a 2012 audi s4 with a 7 speed dsg transmission and notice hard shifting in 1-2 and 2-1 and also into reverse and drive. i have read about this being a mechtronics unit or whole replacement of the transmission can be needed. after bringing the car into audi 4 times with these issues they finall. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

52%

• I OWN A 2012 AUDI S4 WITH A 7 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION AND NOTICE HARD SHIFTING IN 1-2 AND 2-1 AND ALSO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BEING A MECHTRONICS UNIT OR WHOLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE NEEDED. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO AUDI 4 TIMES WITH THESE ISSUES THEY FINALL
• VERY ABRUPTLY SHIFTS UP OR DOWN LAUNCHING THE CAR FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING
• DSG TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT POORLY. SHIFTS WOULD "SLIP" BETWEEN GEARS AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT VERY HARD. THIS OCCURED MOSTLY IN URBAN DRIVING, STOP AND GO.

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

“I OWN A 2012 AUDI S4 WITH A 7 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION AND NOTICE HARD SHIFTING IN 1-2 AND 2-1 AND ALSO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BEING A MECHTRONICS UNIT OR WHOLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE NEEDED. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO AUDI 4 TIMES WITH THESE ISSUES THEY FINALL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE
• FUEL RAIL LEAKING FUEL. RELATED ISSUES ON OTHER 2011 AND 2012 AUDI S4
• MY COOLANT PUMP WENT OUT AND OVERHEATED THE CAR. THE COOLANT LEAKED OUT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60K MILES ON IT. AUDI RECENTLY RECALLED COOLANT PUMPS FOR THIS VERY REASON ON THE A4, A5, A6 BUT HAVENT MADE THE RECALL FOR THE S CLASS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND PLACED ME AND FAMILY IN HARM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

11%

• I HAVE A COMPLAINT AUDI S4 AND OTHER AUDI CARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS I'M HAVING YOU CAN BE DRIVING ON THE MAIN ROAD OR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOSES POWER AND EXCELLERATION . I FOUND THAT AS A PROBLEM TO THE SAFETY OF ME AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME CAR MODEL.
• VEHICLE FLASHES A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING AND MOST ELECTRONICS WENT DEAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO NEARLY BE REAR ENDED. AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER RANDOMLY EVERY MILE OR SO. THIS CREATED VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON A BUSY FREEWAY. TH
• WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, MY CAR DROPPED INTO LOWER GEARS AND STOPPED MOVING, AND TWO ERROR CODES POPPED UP "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION" AND "TPMS MALFUNCTION". LOOKING THIS UP ONLINE AND DISCUSSING WITH MY MECHANIC, THIS IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN A LOT OF THE CARS THAT ARE THIS MAKE & MODEL AND HAVE THE S

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

“I HAVE A COMPLAINT AUDI S4 AND OTHER AUDI CARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS I'M HAVING YOU CAN BE DRIVING ON THE MAIN ROAD OR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOSES POWER AND EXCELLERATION . I FOUND THAT AS A PROBLEM TO THE SAFETY OF ME AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME CAR MODEL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• VERY ABRUPTLY SHIFTS UP OR DOWN LAUNCHING THE CAR FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING
• I AM A MECHNIC WITH 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND I JUST STARTED THIS NEW JOB TWO WEEKS AGO. THEIR JUST THREE MECHNICS IN THE SHOP. WE HAD A 2012 AUDI S4 COME INTO THE SHOP WITH THE OWNER COMPLAINING OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR SAID THE SOMTIMES ALL THE SUDDEN HIS BRAKES WOULD GO OUT WHILE

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

“VERY ABRUPTLY SHIFTS UP OR DOWN LAUNCHING THE CAR FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

• VEHICLE FLASHES A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING AND MOST ELECTRONICS WENT DEAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO NEARLY BE REAR ENDED. AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER RANDOMLY EVERY MILE OR SO. THIS CREATED VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON A BUSY FREEWAY. TH
• WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, MY CAR DROPPED INTO LOWER GEARS AND STOPPED MOVING, AND TWO ERROR CODES POPPED UP "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION" AND "TPMS MALFUNCTION". LOOKING THIS UP ONLINE AND DISCUSSING WITH MY MECHANIC, THIS IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN A LOT OF THE CARS THAT ARE THIS MAKE & MODEL AND HAVE THE S

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

“VEHICLE FLASHES A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING AND MOST ELECTRONICS WENT DEAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO NEARLY BE REAR ENDED. AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER RANDOMLY EVERY MILE OR SO. THIS CREATED VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON A BUSY FREEWAY. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 27 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: I OWN A 2012 AUDI S4 WITH A 7 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION AND NOTICE HARD SHIFTING IN 1-2 AND 2-1 AND ALSO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BEING A MECHTRONICS UNIT OR WHOLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE NEEDED. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO AUDI 4 TIMES WITH THESE ISSUES THEY FINALL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE A COMPLAINT AUDI S4 AND OTHER AUDI CARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS I'M HAVING YOU CAN BE DRIVING ON THE MAIN ROAD OR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOSES POWER AND EXCELLERATION . I FOUND THAT AS A PROBLEM TO THE SAFETY OF ME AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME CAR MODEL.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: VERY ABRUPTLY SHIFTS UP OR DOWN LAUNCHING THE CAR FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)