2012 Audi A4 Avant Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Audi A4 Avant, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1754.8%
- Electrical39.7%
- Fuel system39.7%
- Steering26.5%
- Other / unspecified26.5%
- Powertrain (other)26.5%
- Visibility13.2%
- Airbags13.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE RANDOMLY JUSTIFIED. SOME TIMES IT STARTS UP RIGHT AWAY, SOME TIMES IT JUST TAKES A FEW CRANKS. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S WARM OR COLD ENGINE. I PULLED ECU CODE AND IT SAYS U0100 WHICH IS LOSS OF COMMUNICATION TO ECM. WELL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN BE DRIVING JUST FINE ON THE ROAD BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST DECIDES TO QUIT CAUSE A HAVOC ON A BUSY TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON.
THIS CAR HAS A MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. A WEEK AFTER HAVING AN OIL CHANGE THE LOW OIL LIGHT COMES ON AFTER APPROXIMATE 150 MILES OF DRIVING. I STARTED HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY OF 2017 SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY RAN THE REQUIRED TESTS THAT FAILED, WAS TOLD THAT AUDI PUT THE WRONG ENGINE IN THE CAR AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $8K FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM, IT IS AUDI'S BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT THEY SETTLED IN A LAWSUIT YEARS PRIOR. IT IS NERVE-WRACKING TO DRIVE BECAUSE, I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH OIL IS IN THE CAR.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
CAR HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE RANDOMLY JUSTIFIED. SOME TIMES IT STARTS UP RIGHT AWAY, SOME TIMES IT JUST TAKES A FEW CRANKS. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S WARM OR COLD ENGINE. I PULLED ECU CODE AND IT SAYS U0100 WHICH IS LOSS OF COMMUNICATION TO ECM. WELL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN BE DRIVING JUST FINE ON THE ROAD BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST DECIDES TO QUIT CAUSE A HAVOC ON A BUSY TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON HAVING 3 CONSECUTIVE OIL CHANGES, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO BURN OIL (NO LEAKS) AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE UPON DRIVING LESS THAN 900 MILES. THEN THE SECOND OIL CHANGE DID THE SAME THING UPON DRIVING UNDER 300 MILES. IT ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF OIL TOTALLY. I ADDED OIL AS INSTRUCTED BY THE CAR, AND IT BURN THE OIL WITHING 250 MILES OF DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAD THE WRONG ENGINE PUT IN THE VEHICLE. THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT MY COST, WITH POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT TO ME. NOT ACCEPTABLE, SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT. OIL CONTINUES TO BURN AT A VERY HIGH RATE AND POTENTIAL CAUSE ADDITIONAL ENGINE PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE PURCHASING MY CPO AUDI WITH EXTENDED MAINTENANCE PACKAGE & I HAVE IMMACULATE REPAIR RECORDS. IT'S GLARINGLY CLEAR NOW THAT THE DEALERSHIP AVOIDED DIAGNOSISING MY REPEATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT STEERING VIBRATION FEEDBACK. COUNTLESS DOLLARS SPENT ON ALIGNMENTS & RIM, TIRES CHANGES.MY STEERING HAS COMPLETELY DECAYED TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AND NO AUDI SUPPORT ON RECALLING THIS ISSUE. FEELS LIKE A CROSSWIND PUSHING CAR ON HIGHWAYS, NOTCHING IS SO BAD THAT IT REQUIRES MUSCLE ENDURANCE TO TURN IT WHILE DOING K TURNS NOW. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY & FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT OF MANUFACTURING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. NO FIX AVAILABLE THAT IS A GUARANTEED SUCCESS. TRULY DISGUSTED. 90,000 MILES OUTRIGHT FRAUD! PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.
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 AT 12/26/2015. AUDI AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER CONFIRMED WITH AUDI THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR AND IS PRESENT IN OTHER 2012 AUDI CARS. SAFETY OF DRIVERS IS BEING COMPROMISED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 PRESSURE. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND RECALLED. HAPPY TO HELP GETS THESE TIRES OFF THE ROAD. THEY ARE DANGEROUS!
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON HAVING 3 CONSECUTIVE OIL CHANGES, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO BURN OIL (NO LEAKS) AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE UPON DRIVING LESS THAN 900 MILES. THEN THE SECOND OIL CHANGE DID THE SAME THING UPON DRIVING UNDER 300 MILES. IT ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF OIL TOTALLY. I ADDED OIL AS INSTRUCTED BY THE CAR, AND IT BURN THE OIL WITHING 250 MILES OF DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAD THE WRONG ENGINE PUT IN THE VEHICLE. THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT MY COST, WITH POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT TO ME. NOT ACCEPTABLE, SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT. OIL CONTINUES TO BURN AT A VERY HIGH RATE AND POTENTIAL CAUSE ADDITIONAL ENGINE PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING.
TAKATA RECALL I'VE NOTICED ON MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS I SEE THAT THE AUDI A4 HAS A PROBLEM OF JERKING AFTER IT IS ISOLATING IN TRAFFIC. MY CAR JERKS AFTER SITTING STILL IN TRAFFIC, AND THEN ONCE I PRESS TO ACCELERATE THE CAR JERKS. COULD YOU PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THE AUDI A4? I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TWICE AND THEY SAY THAT THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V382000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .