Vehicle Data Hub

2012 Audi A4 Avant problems

The 2012 Audi A4 Avant has 35 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (49%) concerns engine. After that come electrical system (9%) and fuel system (9%).

At a glance

Complaints
35 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Engine 49% of complaints
Crashes and fires
1 and 0
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0
Typical mileage
63,000 miles 24 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Engine 49%
  • Electrical system 9%
  • Fuel system 9%
  • Drivetrain & axles 6%
  • Steering 6%
  • Air bags 3%
  • Wipers, windshield & visibility 3%
  • Wheels 3%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2012 Audi A4 Avant Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 63,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 2 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 5 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 9 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 4 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 63,000 miles
Based on 24 complaints that include mileage. 42% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles2
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles5
60k to 80k miles9
80k to 100k miles4
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 24 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 63,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 65,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).

Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 2 injuries reported.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

Takata recall: my 2012 audi a4 was totalled in july 2014. After turning left in front of another car going 60 MPH, I was unable to correct myself and took my hands off the wheel, feel off the pedals, closed my eyes and waited for the other vehicle to strike me. I was wearing sunglasses at the time. Every air bag inside my vehicle was deployed including the driver rear headrest bag, usually indicating a death. I am certain the airbags and seatbelt saved my life.

Reported at 14,000 miles, July 2014 CrashInjury

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.

Reported at 3,956 miles, February 2012

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.

Reported at 43,000 miles, January 2014

2012 audi a4 quattro uses (burns) an excessive amount of oil, constantly having to add motor oil. Must add a quart of oil on a monthly basis and driving less than 1,000 per month.

Reported at 75,000 miles, November 2018

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.

Reported at 66,540 miles, June 2019

Other model years of the A4 Avant

  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998