2012 Audi A4 AVANT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 26 complaints (61.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 4 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10451274 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)
AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER OF MY 2012 AUDI A4 AVANT QUATTRO, A STRANGE NOISE BEGAN FROM THE FRONT AREA OF THE ENGINE. THE NOISE HAPPENS AT THE FIRST STARTUP OF THE ENGINE REGARDLESS OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE IDLES DOWN THE NOISE STOPS. DIFFERENT AUDI TECHNICIANS AT TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE DIAGNOSED THE NOISE AS 1) CAM TENSIONERS, 2) A BAD BEARING INSIDE THE CAM CASE, 3) SECONDARY BLOWER MOTOR AND, 4) LASH IN THE VVT SYSTEM. NONE OF THE TECHNICIANS HAVE PUT A WRENCH ON ANY OF THE NAMED COMPONENTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,956 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559519 · 2014-01-12 (January 12, 2014)
SUNROOF EXPLODED AROUND 4:AM WHILE DRIVING @ 40 MPH. NO IMPACT TO VEHICLE TO CAUSE EXPLOSION.THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 45 DEGREES AND THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS SET @ 75 DEGREES. LEFT A HOLE 5" X 10" AND GLASS WAS FALLING INSIDE CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WHICH SCARED ME BUT I TOOK CONTROL OF THE CAR AS THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564936 · 2014-02-19 (February 19, 2014)
2012 AUDI A4 AVANT WITH 55,000 MILES AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH, MECHANISM AND SENSOR ARE INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. CENTRAL LOCKING THINKS DOOR IS OPEN, DOME LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR CHIME CONSTANTLY TURNING OFF AND ON. FIXED AT AUDI DEALERSHIP. AUDI USA DEEMED THE ISSUE "WEAR AND TEAR". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10564936 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 ↗
Owner report 10750153 · 2015-08-20 (August 20, 2015)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 2012 AUDI A4 AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED I WAS TOLD ( SYSTEM WAS TO LEAN IN BANK 1) I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW O2 SYSTEM, LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF AND I WAS TOLD NEXT THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN A VACUUM SEAL AND LASTLY MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS DEPLETING AT A RAPID SPEED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10750153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10786887 · 2015-10-28 (October 28, 2015)
TIRES WILL NOT HOLD AIR PRESSURE. DECEMBER 2014 DRIVING ALONE TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON COLD EVENING (10 DEGREES F), HWY 19 SOUTH BOUND. TPMS LIGHT CAME ON SECONDS BEFORE TIRE BLOW OUT. CALLED AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. RECORD AVAILABLE. REPLACED WITH SAME PERELLI P6 - 245X40RX18. SAME ISSUE. TIRES DO NOT HOLD PRESSURE. OCTOBER 11, 2015 HAD RIMS CLEANED AND TIRE/RIM SEALER APPLIED TO HOLD TIRE PRESSURE. SAME ISSUE. TIRES DO NOT HOLD PRESSURE. MY SPOUCE IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING CAR THAT TIRES BLOW OUT AND DO NOT HOLD PR…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10786887 at NHTSA ↗
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 10854168 · 2016-04-07 (April 7, 2016)
EXTREMELY LOUD "ROARING" NOISE ON A COLD START AFTER HAVING SAT OVERNIGHT. DEALERSHIP BASICALLY REPORTED AS NORMAL "OF NO CONSEQUENCE". CONTINUOUS SINCE NEW.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10854168 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.