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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Audi A4 AVANT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

26 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

60,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 26 complaints (61.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior311.5%
Electrical and battery issues13.8%
Fuel system concerns13.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
16
Unknown Or Other
4
Electrical System
3
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Power Train
2
Steering
2
Air Bags
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine16
Unknown Or Other4
Electrical System3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Power Train2
Steering2
Air Bags1
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Engine: 16; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
1
2014
3
2015
3
2016
2
2017
4
2018
9
2019
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20143
20153
20162
20174
20189
20194

2012: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 9; 2019: 4

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10816264 · 2015-12-26 (December 26, 2015)

STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES/VIBRATES. THE VIBRATION IS VERY NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. IT MAY OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS BUT IT CANNOT BE DETECTED SINCE ROADS ARE NOT SMOOTH. THE CURRENT UPDATED HOSE -- NOT SURE WHICH ONE -- WAS OEM ON CAR BUT AT 28583 MILES THE "SERVOTRONIC VALVE/CONVERTER" WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM CORRECTED FOR A TIME. ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND CONTINUES DURING AND AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD -- I.E., PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT STARTING WITH THE PURCHASE IN 2011 AND IS STILL PRESENT A…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816264 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11006466 · 2017-07-19 (July 19, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL: MY 2012 AUDI A4 WAS TOTALLED IN JULY 2014. AFTER TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR GOING 60 MPH, I WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT MYSELF AND TOOK MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL, FEEL OFF THE PEDALS, CLOSED MY EYES AND WAITED FOR THE OTHER VEHICLE TO STRIKE ME. I WAS WEARING SUNGLASSES AT THE TIME. EVERY AIR BAG INSIDE MY VEHICLE WAS DEPLOYED INCLUDING THE DRIVER REAR HEADREST BAG, USUALLY INDICATING A DEATH. I AM CERTAIN THE AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT SAVED MY LIFE. I AM STILL PULLING OUT PARTICLES OF DEBRIS FROM MY FACE AND LEFT FINGER, BUT AM THAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006466 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11241469 · 2019-08-03 (August 3, 2019)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11241469 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10583872 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)

ONLY FIVE MINUTES AFTER STARTING CAR IN MORNING, ENGINE RAPIDLY LOST POWER AND QUIT COMPLETELY WHILE IN 60 MPH TRAFFIC ON HEAVILY TRAVELED INTERSTATE 526 IN CHARLESTON, SC. COASTED CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES TO SIDE, A VERY DANGEROUS LOCATION ON ELEVATED ROADWAY. HAD CAR TOWED TO AUDI DEALER, WHO SAID THEY TESTED AND FOUND FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND ENGINE SEEMS TO RUN NORMALLY NOW. IN FOUR DECADES OF DRIVING I'VE NEVER HAD A FUEL PUMP FAIL. THIS ONE PUT MY WIFE AND ME IN JEOPARDY DUE TO THE SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583872 at NHTSA ↗