Audi · A4 · 2012
0
Recalls
45
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2012 Audi A4 has no recalls and 45 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (20 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Frontal Crash Test

Side Crash Test

Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
9.9% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Owned 1 year and just over 120ish miles TIMING CHAIN Jumped Required Head Rebuild and the Timing Replacement. Soon as those were completed and Car back on the road, OIL CONSUMPTION every 150miles with Carbon Buildup regularly on the rear bumper. Low Oil Pressure light soon to appear following up with Water Pump Housing Cracking, Replaced the water pump and low oil pressure is worse than before this repair. Checked Oil Pan for sludge, OIL PAN FULL of METAL, tear down the top end of motor inspection disclosed that both of the BALANCE SHAFTS and SPROCKET were destroyed teeth missing form gears, assuming that in addition to this that piston rings definitely must be fried so they will be replaced with the balance shafts repair. In Addition to this entire ENGINE being a Lemon and needing replaced or rebuilt, 2 smaller issues I’ve had would be Wiper Motor is not even fast enough for major downpours so possibly needs replacement and also the rear backup camera is extremely difficult for viewing as it’s foggy/pixelated/shadowy and during rain completely useless.
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.
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT APPROXIMATELY 104K MILES.
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 BUT THAT FAILED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE FIRE DAMAGE SHE BELIEVED THAT VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF FAULTY PISTON RINGS CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION TO BE 1 QUART EVERY 200/300 MILES FROM AUDI A4 MODELS 2009-2015
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 DRIVING AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE WITH THE ADDITION OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DIFFICULT FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000
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.
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.
There have been wide-spread reports & complaints with Audi A4's starting in 2009. Audi settled a class-action lawsuit in 2015 but it only covered vehicles madein 2009-2011. If you look at any Audi owner blog or any car blog you'll find thousands of complaints about excessive oil consumption resulting in owners needing to replace pistons. In my case, I was given an estimate to replace pistons & timing belt for over $8,000 in 2021. There are additional class-action lawsuits pending against Audi BUT on my own I can do nothing and I have contacted Audi multiple times since they are "clearly" well-aware of that this is a wide-spread problem with their cars. HOW IS IT the NHTSA has no information on this problem? How is it that a recall wasn't instituted years ago? What are you doing to protect consumers from Audi's refusal to help owners? It is impossible that this problem hasn't been previously reported. I need this matter resolved, I need the car repaired & I need Audi to pay for the cost of repair based on their faulty manufacturing. Given that thousands of Audi owners are affected, clearly, this should qualify as a recall.
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.
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 INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN VALVE COVERS WERE IN CRITICAL NEED OF REPAIR, AND WAS GIVEN A ROUGHLY $2,000 REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR THE JOB. I PERFORMED RESEARCH MYSELF AND DISCOVERED THIS SETTLEMENT, AND INQUIRED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AS TO WHY I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WHY I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE IT TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY FAIL. UNTIL THEN, IT WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARRANTY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS AS IT BASICALLY FORCES ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHILE PUTTING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS AT RISK. I WAS TOLD BY THE BBB THAT MY CLAIM COULD NOT BE PROCESSED VIA THEIR SYSTEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PAST THE TIME LIMIT FOR THEIR REQUIREMENTS, BUT THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE NHTSA ALONG WITH MY STATE(ILLINOIS) ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE. I HAVE DONE THAT.
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.
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.
AFTER A FAILED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FREAKED OUT. 60,000MI ON THE DASH, AND MY CAR IS A BRICK. AFTER A MONTH ON THE LIFT THE MOST WELL CERTIFIED MECHANICS IN MY AREA, INCLUDING SOME OF AUDI'S OWN, ARE AT A COMPLETE LOSS. THE ONLY THING WE'VE COME UP WITH IS THAT THE COMPUTERS TURN ON EVERY 30 SECONDS WHILE MY CAR IS OFF.
CAR HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE RANDOMLY JUSTIFIED. SOME TIMES IT STARTS UP RIGHT AWAY, SOME TIMES IT JUST TAKES A FEW CRANKS. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S WARM OR COLD ENGINE. I PULLED ECU CODE AND IT SAYS U0100 WHICH IS LOSS OF COMMUNICATION TO ECM. WELL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN BE DRIVING JUST FINE ON THE ROAD BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST DECIDES TO QUIT CAUSE A HAVOC ON A BUSY TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2012 Audi A4 has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 45 owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Audi A4.
The 2012 Audi A4 received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2012 Audi A4 are engine (20 reports), power train (3 reports), unknown or other,engine (3 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2012 Audi A4. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.