2012 Audi A6 problems and recalls

Owners have filed 59 complaints on the 2012 Audi A6, and NHTSA has issued 8 recalls. The most cited component is the Air Bags (14 complaints).

59
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
38.3
Severity index

Severity index 38.3 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 38.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 121 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 7% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 14 complaints (23.7%)14 24%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 13 complaints (22.0%)13 22%EngineEngine: 13 complaints (22.0%)13 22%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 9 complaints (15.3%)9 15%Power TrainPower Train: 8 complaints (13.6%)8 14%SteeringSteering: 6 complaints (10.2%)6 10%Service BrakesService Brakes: 3 complaints (5.1%)3 5%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3 complaints (5.1%)3 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS1423.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1322.0%
ENGINE1322.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM915.3%
POWER TRAIN813.6%
STEERING610.2%
SERVICE BRAKES35.1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)35.1%

Complaints filed per year

07142012: 42013: 12014: 42015: 32016: 62017: 42018: 142019: 52020: 82021: 22022: 42023: 22024: 12025: 1121314151617181419202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20124
20131
20144
20153
20166
20174
201814
20195
20208
20212
20224
20232
20241
20251
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (4 against 14).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V22900011/04/2018ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEMVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric c
18V37000004/06/2018AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cau
17V00200003/01/2017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEMVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump th
17V78100006/12/2017FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
16V64600007/09/2016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.
15V01900020/01/2015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAILVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
15V82300008/12/2015AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 vehicles manufactured March 28, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles manufactured January 25, 2011, to March 19, 2013. In vehicles with heated and cooled seats, th
11V58000006/12/2011AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWVOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2012 AUDI A6 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 8, 2011, THROUGH MAY 26, 2011. DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE STITCHING PROCESS OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAG, THE SEAM OF THE AIR BAG MAY NOT BE STITCHED PROPERLY.

Other Audi A6 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 9 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.