RoadVitals

2012 Audi A5 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
22
Latest Nov 6, 2025
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.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Apr 29, 2016

What this page shows

Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Audi A5. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–22 of 22

Engine
Filed Nov 6, 2025

MY 2012 AUDI A5 HAS 155,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS HAD EVERY OIL CHANGE AND MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE , MY TURBOS AND PISTONS HAVE CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH 0 COMPRESSION IN MY ONLY CAR . BOTH HAVE RECALLS ON THEM FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL AND EVEN THO I GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL ABOUT BEING PART OF A SETTLEMENT FOR MY TURBOS CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE I FEEL AS THO MY CAR SHOULDN'T BE BROKE IT SHOULD OF ALREADY BEEN FIXED

NHTSA ID
11697820
Incident
Jun 10, 2025
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 2022

2012 Audi a5 quattro burns oil every 100miles 5qt and does not allow a quick acceleration if trying to avoid an accident. The car misfires and shuts off while driving. No check engine light was on when it first did this. Mechanic was able to reproduce the same problem. Turbo is bad. O2 sensor is bad. Air intake leak. Running rich at bank 1. The oil meter on the display does not display actual amount of oil. It also has several electrical problems. Rear turning lights have an electrical problem. Great drive most of the time and check engine light goes off randomly then all of it starts again.

NHTSA ID
11485780
Incident
Sep 19, 2022
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 9, 2022
Fire reported

While I was driving, my car started to slow down and eventually stopped in the middle of the road. There were no warning sensors or indicators on the car. II then started to see smoke coming from my hood and decided to turn off the car and get out to inspect. On the right front side, I saw a fire under the car. The fire department was called and they put out the fire. They suspected an electrical issue, however it has yet to be confirmed. I contacted the dealership and they said they do not handle repairs of that sort. Insurance sent out an estimator for the damage. The car will be sent to a mechanic to diagnose the issue.

NHTSA ID
11478481
Incident
Jul 27, 2022
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Audi A5. The contact stated that the oil warning light illuminated while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where oil was added to the vehicle; however, after the third time the contact was informed by the dealer that it was a common issue with the Audi sport vehicles. A failure cause was not determined. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring for several years. The contact stated that he had an oil consumption test completed with the dealer who informed him that there was an issue with the pistons and O-rings. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be rebuilt. The dealer stated that they would send documentation to the manufacturer for approval to rebuild the engine. The contact stated that he had spoken with the manufacturer and was informed that the request was denied. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11477362
Incident
Feb 11, 2015
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 18, 2020

THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL, AND A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT INTO IT AND EVER SINCE THE NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. NOW THE NEW ENGINE, WITH LESS THAN 50K IS BURNING OIL AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE MINUTE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED OFF OF THE LEASE, I FEEL LIKE THE CAR HAS JUST FALLEN APART.

NHTSA ID
11375202
Incident
Nov 17, 2020
Engine
Filed Dec 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AUDI OF SHREWSBURY (780 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY, MA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
11292116
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Mileage
115,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 25, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. AUDI NORTH ATLANTA (11505 ALPHARETTA HWY, ROSWELL, GA 30076, (404) 994-4327) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11257965
Incident
Jan 30, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Aug 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, ESPECIALLY WHILE ON AN INCLINE AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RUSNAK PASADENA AUDI (626-714-3159, LOCATED AT 267 W COLORADO BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91105) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID
11241075
Incident
May 25, 2019
Mileage
75,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 22, 2019

OWNER OF 2012 AUDI A5 AND 2015 AUDI A4. JANUARY 2019 RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL LETTER REGARDING RECALL ON-ELECTRIC (AFTER-RUN) COOLANT PUMP CERTAIN 2012-2017 MODEL AUDI VEHICLES. AS 2ND OWNERS OF BOTH VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION OF BRAND NEW CARS. LETTER RECEIVED WAS FOR A-4 AUDI, HOWEVER A-5 DID HAVE SAME COOLANT PUMP DAMAGE ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. RECALL LETTER VIN # BEING FOR A-4. TRIED INQUIRING ABOUT RECALL FOR A-5 SINCE RECALL ON OTHERS AUDI'S DID INVOLVE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE PROBLEM HAVING TO DO WITH COOLANT PUMP. REASON FOR ADDRESSING WHAT ENDURED THAT IT BECAME HOT AS IF ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, FIND DISTURBING TO HAVE ANYONE BE PUT THROUGH THIS, FIND THIS COOLANT PUMP DANGER IF IT'S NOT REPAIRED WITH OTHER A-5 APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN READING THIS AND I THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID
11190648
Incident
Jan 29, 2019
Mileage
112,513 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2018

PLEASE SEE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND ITS ENGINE. I HAVE ALSO FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC #978949978

NHTSA ID
11112235
Incident
Jun 2, 2018
Mileage
106,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 10, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN AUGUST OF 2017. THE DEALER (ROCKVILLE AUDI, 1125 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852) SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR SEPTEMBER AND HAD REMINDER CALLS. AT THE TIME OF THE APPOINTMENT, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE CONTACT WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 11/15/17 *BF UPDATED 11/29/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
11032638
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Filed Aug 14, 2017

FACTORY INSTALLED CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE BACK GLASS WINDOW (GLUE SEPARATED) CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING. COULD BECOME A PROJECTILE.

NHTSA ID
11015110
Incident
Aug 5, 2017
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2017

AUDI ALONG WITH VOLKSWAGEN, EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L ENGINE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST WATET PUMP FAILURE RATE. I HAVE CONDUCTED SOME RESEARCH AND THERE IS NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS IN BLOGS/VLOGS AND YOUTUBE OF INDIVIDUALS GIVING PERSONAL STATEMENT ON THEIR "WATER PUMP" MISFORTUNE. I PERSONALLY OWN A AUDI A5 WITH 54,000 MILES AND I'M JUST ONE OF THOUSANDS OF STATISTICS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE "WATER PUMP" TRAUMA. I HAVE CROSSED REFERENCED SEVERAL RECALL WEBSITES AND ACCORDING TO AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN RECALLS TOWARDS THESE PUMPS HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUED. NOW THAT IS SCARY!!! ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO WHILE MY AUDI WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I NOTICED COOLANT LOST, THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TOPPED IT OF AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. A SECOND TIME WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY I VISITED AUDI DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED MY CONSERNS WITH LOW COOLANT LEVEL AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS TOPPED OFF, I WAS GIVEN A MEDIOCRE ANSWER, I WAS RESPECTFUL CALLED "SR" AND DROVE OFF. SO FROM TIME TO TIME I WOULD ADD COOLANT AND THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. SUMMER OF 2017 IS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER A DAY OF HIKING WHEN I NOTICE A LOST OF COOL AIR, MY A/C QUIT WORKING AND MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS PAST THE MIDPOINT LEVEL. AT THIS POINT I WAS SECONDS WAY FROM HOME SO I WAS RELIEFED.TURNED OUT THE PUMP GAVE OUT, MY COOLING FLUID HAD EVAPORATED AND MY WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. PERHAPS AUDI DEALERSHIP DID NOT SEE TRACES OF COOLANT AT THE FIRST VISIT AND SECOND INSPECTION. PERHAPS THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT AWARE OF THESE FAULTY PUMPS OR PERHAPS I NEGLECTED TO PLAY THE MECHANIC/SERVICE PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL. HOWEVER ACCORDING TO AUDI A SB SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED ON JULY 11, 2013 STATES AS FOLLOWS "COOLANT LEAK AT CONNECTION OF WATER PUMP AND HOSE LEADING TO THE HEATER CORE", ATTACHED IS THE BULLETIN. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU MIGUEL 😊

NHTSA ID
11011896
Incident
Jul 17, 2017
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10954809
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 24, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. MY DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK EVEN ON TRADE BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THEY TOOK 5000 OFF THE VALUE OF MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL AND ALTHOUGH THIS SAME AUDI DEAL DID ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10937327
Incident
Nov 30, 2016
Mileage
68,138 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10934684
Incident
Dec 12, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL; I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY AIRBAG TO BE REPLACED. AUDI DEALER SAYS NO SOLUTION YET. THE WAIT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IS VERY LONG.

NHTSA ID
10923811
Incident
Nov 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2016

AUDI DEALERSHIP CONTACTED 3 TIMES CANNOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION , DIRECTED ME TO READ ABOUT IT ONLINE

NHTSA ID
10916511
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
48,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10915784
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 4, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I GOT A LETTER IN APRIL 2016 FROM AUDI ABOUT THE RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM AUDI. I HAVE SINCE CALLED AUDI USA AND MY DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND MY QUESTIONS GO UNANSWERED.WHAT IS MY RECOURSE ? THE CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AND TRADING IN IN WILL LOOSE BETWEEN $3,000 & $8,000.

NHTSA ID
10903561
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Mileage
38,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 2, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) AND FELT THAT THE PART EXPECTED AVAILABILITY DATE WAS UNREASONABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER DECLINED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10862483
Incident
Apr 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A5. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10862172
Incident
Feb 10, 2016

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.

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