2012 Audi A4 problems and recalls

62% of owner complaints on the 2012 Audi A4 related to the Engine (16 of 26).

26
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
64.3
Severity index

Severity index 64.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 64.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 16 complaints (61.5%)16 62%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 4 complaints (15.4%)4 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 3 complaints (11.5%)3 12%SteeringSteering: 2 complaints (7.7%)2 8%Power TrainPower Train: 2 complaints (7.7%)2 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 2 complaints (7.7%)2 8%Air BagsAir Bags: 1 complaints (3.8%)1 4%WheelsWheels: 1 complaints (3.8%)1 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE1661.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER415.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM311.5%
STEERING27.7%
POWER TRAIN27.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM27.7%
AIR BAGS13.8%
WHEELS13.8%

Complaints filed per year

0492012: 12014: 32015: 32016: 22017: 42018: 92019: 4121415161718919
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
20143
20153
20162
20174
20189
20194
Filings in 2017 to 2019 ran 2.1x those in 2014 to 2016 (17 against 8).

Other Audi A4 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.