vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Audi A8 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

11 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

79,628 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 11 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation218.2%
Electrical and battery issues218.2%
Steering behavior218.2%
Fuel system concerns19.1%

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
4
Air Bags
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Steering
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Electrical System
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
1
Seats
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine4
Air Bags2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Steering2
Unknown Or Other2
Electrical System1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump1
Seats1

Engine: 4; Air Bags: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Seats: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

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

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 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.

2013
1
2016
3
2017
1
2018
1
2019
3
2020
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20131
20163
20171
20181
20193
20201
20211

2013: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10871300 · 2016-05-27 (May 27, 2016)

AFTER STARTING THE CAR IT WILL TRAVEL OR IDLE FOR 3-6 MINUTES (2-3 MILES) THEN START TO SPUTTER AND STALL. DURING THIS TIME THE YELLOW EPC LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON. AFTER SITTING FOR 3-8 MINUTES IT MOST OFTEN STARTS BUT WILL NOT IDLE OR TRAVEL UNLESS THE EPC LIGHT GOES OUT. THIS RESTART MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME. RUNNING OTHER SOFTWARE, AIR CONDITIONING, AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS NO INFLUENCE. PRELIMINARY COMPUTER CHECK SUGGESTS 14 FAULTS. FURTHER EXAMINATION WILL BE DONE AFTER MAY 30, 2016.

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871300 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11222486 · 2019-06-25 (June 25, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER 25 MINUTES AND TOWED TO AUDI NASHVILLE (LOCATED AT 1576 MALLORY LN, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027, [phone removed]). THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A LOOSE CONNECTION WAS FOUND ON THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON A…

Owner-reported narrative. 83,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10897268 · 2016-08-19 (August 19, 2016)

I WAS TOLD THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE, THE ANTIFREEZE GETS INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND FOR ME THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. TO FIX THE ISSUE THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE ENGINE OUT AND REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS. A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, I HAVE IT UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY, WHICH I ASSUME MEANS IF I DID NOT HAVE THE 100000 MILE WARRANTY I WOULD BE PAYING OUT OF POCKET. BUT IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897268 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11330266 · 2020-06-23 (June 23, 2020)

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL STARTUP. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND HAS NOT BEEN MOVED. CODED ERROR IS DRIVER HEAD CURTAIN IGNITER SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330266 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11043392 · 2017-11-05 (November 5, 2017)

WITHOUT NOTICE, STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN A RETAIL PARKING LOT.

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11043392 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11234264 · 2019-07-23 (July 23, 2019)

POWER STEERING PUMP MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/ NO POWER ASSIST CUSTOMER STATES STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF NO POWER ASSIT. POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTION PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED AND POWER STEERING PUMP

Owner-reported narrative. 160,247 miles reported. Look up ODI 11234264 at NHTSA ↗