2012 Audi S4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 22 complaints (63.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 59.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Power Train: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 3 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 4 |
2012: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10695462 · 2015-03-19 (March 19, 2015)
I OWN A 2012 AUDI S4 WITH A 7 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION AND NOTICE HARD SHIFTING IN 1-2 AND 2-1 AND ALSO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BEING A MECHTRONICS UNIT OR WHOLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE NEEDED. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO AUDI 4 TIMES WITH THESE ISSUES THEY FINALLY SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE TCU AND UPDATE SOFTWARE ON THE ECU. I ASKED IF THIS WILL FIX THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT THIS REPAIR WILL BE THE FIRST IN AN ORDER OF PARTS TO BE REPLACED TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT WOULD BE THE MECHTRONICS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10695462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785829 · 2015-10-24 (October 24, 2015)
DSG TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT POORLY. SHIFTS WOULD "SLIP" BETWEEN GEARS AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT VERY HARD. THIS OCCURED MOSTLY IN URBAN DRIVING, STOP AND GO.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852354 · 2016-03-30 (March 30, 2016)
I AM A MECHNIC WITH 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND I JUST STARTED THIS NEW JOB TWO WEEKS AGO. THEIR JUST THREE MECHNICS IN THE SHOP. WE HAD A 2012 AUDI S4 COME INTO THE SHOP WITH THE OWNER COMPLAINING OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR SAID THE SOMTIMES ALL THE SUDDEN HIS BRAKES WOULD GO OUT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AND HIS BRAKE PEDEL FELT SOFT. I TOOK ON THE WORK. MY SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME TO BLEED THE BRAKES OUT. SO I DID. I NOTICED THT THE BRAKE RESIVIOR HAD A THICK GREEN SUBTANCE IN IT. I KNEW FROM MY EXPERIENCE THAT THEIR WAS A LOT OF WATER AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10852354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10978959 · 2017-04-17 (April 17, 2017)
A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION (WITH CODES P179E AND P179F) MAY CAUSE THE CAR ENTER ONE OF THE "LIMP MODE" STATES, WHICH CAN CUT ENGINE POWER FROM THE TRANSMISSION. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH MAY SAY "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION" WITH A MESSAGE IF THE CAR IS DRIVEABLE OR MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE REPAIR SHOP. IN SOME CASES, THIS LOSS OF POWER CAN MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER SAFELY, AS THE STALL CAN HAPPEN IN AN INTERSECTION, OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. AUDI HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FORM OF A TSB (2032211), HOWEVER, ALL CARS WITH THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10978959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11058266 · 2018-01-03 (January 3, 2018)
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN I GOT THE 'GEARBOX MALFUNCTION" ON MY DASH AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT THEN SAID THAT REVERSE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR WENT LIMP AND WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR FROM 1ST GEAR WOULD REV TO VERY HIGH RPMS AND THEN FINALLY SHIFT. I WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 40 MPH AND WAS SLOW TO MOVE FROM A STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MECHATRONIC UNIT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT COST $5,400.00 DOLLARS FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I AM JUST BAFFLED AS TO WHY A CAR THAT IS ONLY 6 YEARS IN A…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083899 · 2018-04-08 (April 8, 2018)
AT ~61,000 MILES THE 2012 AUDI S4 STARTED DRIVING ROUGH IN LOW GEARS. THE CAR HAS HESITATION ISSUES FOLLOWED BY & JERKY ACCELERATION/DECELERATION IN LOW GEARS OUT OF & INTO A STOP. THE REVERSE GEAR HAS SIMILAR HESITATION & JERKY ACCELERATION. CAR THEN STARTED PERIODICALLY DISPLAYING THE MESSAGE: GEARBOX MALFUNCTION: YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ERROR CODE AS P179E - DRIVE POSITION SENSOR ELECTRICAL ERROR, WHICH IS TSB 2032211/1
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487484 · 2012-12-05 (December 5, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11240976 · 2019-07-31 (July 31, 2019)
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING AND NEEDS REPLACED. MY CAR WAS NEVER ON THE RECALL LIST. SITTING AT AUDI DEALER NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11240976 at NHTSA ↗