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2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Mar 8, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jan 30, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet, most frequently naming the airbags and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1,091 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V082000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 30, 2018
162,782 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 69R6View on NHTSA.gov
16V078000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Feb 10, 2016
659,493 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 14
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2019

TAKATA RECALL MY AUDI DEALER [AUDI OF HUNTINGTON NY] HAS BEEN TELLING ME FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM AND IT IS ALWAYS "ON ORDER, WE WILL CALL YOU". THEN I RECEIVE A POST CARD FROM AUDI OF HUNTINGTON TO CALL FOR THE RECALL SERVICE....AND SAME STORY. AS I SAID, THIS IS THE PAST FEW YEARS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT PART. COULD YOU INQUIRE SO THAT I DO NOT WIND UP SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF MY DEALER'S FAILURE AND NEGLECT. *JS

NHTSA ID
11185412
Incident
Mar 8, 2016
Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2018

MY CAR HAS HAD THE ADD OIL LIGHT ON MANY TIMES TO WHICH I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A WATER PUMP FAILURE. I REPLACED AND PAID FOR THE WATER PUMP. SECOND TIME A YEAR LATER I RETURNED TO HEAR THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS THE CAM BEARING LADDER THAT FAILED WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE WATER PUMP TO FAIL. BOTH TIMES I ASKED IF THE WATER PUMP IS REPLACED SHOULD I REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, I AM TOLD IT IS A TIMING CHAIN AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEN THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED THEY SAY IT IS FINE. TWO MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, WHILE DRIVING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET OIL I TURN ENGINE OFF ONLY TO HAVE IT TURN BACK ON RUNNING SUPER ROUGH. CAR THEN WILL NOT START. I AM NOW TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT FAILURE AND THAT THE TENSIONER ROD BROKE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. HTTPS://WWW.AUDIFORUMS.COM/FORUM/GENERAL-TECH-50/A5-2-0T-TIMING-CHAIN-FAILURE-215409/

NHTSA ID
11102635
Incident
Jun 3, 2018
Mileage
106,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 9, 2018

MY VEHICLE IS IMPACTED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY ISSUE. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP LETTER FROM AUDI INDICATING THAT I SHOULD "SCHEDULE THIS RECALL REPAIR IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF AN INTERIM REPAIR WAS RECENTLY DONE." UPON CALLING THE LOCAL AUDI DEALERS THEY ALL INDICATE THAT THE MANUFACTURER (AUDI) HAS NOT YET SHIPPED THE NECESSARY PARTS TO EFFECT THE REPAIR, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS SINCE EARLY TO MID MARCH 2018. IF AUDI IS NOT READY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLES THEN THE COMMUNICATION TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD INDICATE THIS CLEARLY. IT NOW FEELS LIKE AUDI IS COVERING THEMSELVES BY STATING THEY ARE READY TO MAKE A REPAIR WHICH THEY ARE CLEARLY NOT YET READY FOR.

NHTSA ID
11083976
Incident
Apr 9, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5 CABROLET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI ALBUQUERUE, 8900 PAN AMERICAN FWY NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87113) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11078727
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jul 7, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). 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 CONTACT SPOKE TO MOHEGAN LAKE AUDI (1791 E MAIN ST, MOHEGAN LAKE, NY 10547) WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE PARTS IN SEPTEMBER AND PLACE THE CONTACT ON A WAITING LIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11003708
Incident
Jul 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE AIR BAGS AND WANTED TO KNOW THE DEALER'S LOCATION. 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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10960028
Incident
Mar 10, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10959908
Incident
Apr 16, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 3, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. AFTER MORE THAN 1 YEAR, AUDI HAS FAILED TO REPLACE THIS DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG, EITHER WITH NEW TAKATA , OR BY SOURCING THROUGH ONE OF ITS OTHER SUPPLIERS. THEY HAVE ALSO FAILED TO VOLUNTARILY TAKE THE CAR OUT OF SERVICE. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE.

NHTSA ID
10949501
Incident
Feb 6, 2016
Mileage
20,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_2082846_1

This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.

TSB_2073282_1

STRUCTURE:BODY

This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.

TSB_2034863_5

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin provides infomraiotn when there is a gearbox malfunction message in the instrument clostuer; DTC P0706; vehicles with 0AW gearbox.

TSB_2059335_7

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.

TSB_2074729_3

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.

TSB_2028405_5

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin provides infomraiton when there is a Gearbox warning light; DTC P060B00 stored in the Transmission Control Module.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A5 Cabriolet by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025000—
2024000—
2023000—
2022010—
2021030—
2020010—
2019000—
2018010—
2017220—
2016010—
2015110—
2014110—
2013310—
2012Viewing142044.3
2011142043.7
2010162044.9
2009000—
2008000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.