2012 Audi A7 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A7 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Audi A7. That ranks 2nd out of 16 A7 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (7 complaints, 23%), typically at around 44,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 fires. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 30owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Audi A7 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 7 | 23% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 20% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 20% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 17% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 13% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 13% | 82,571 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 10% | 103,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 7% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 7% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 7% | 24,616 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 7% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 3% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 3% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Audi A7 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
Risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AR.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BZ.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 vehicles manufactured March 28, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles manufactured January 25, 2011, to March 19, 2013. In vehicles with heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), used to enable the front passenger air bags, may malfunction and prevent the passenger-side air bags from deploying in a crash.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D1.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Oil system. A quart of oil has to be added every day. Dealership says its crank case breather. Which the supercharge cause the oil to burn more. Also the antifreeze is burning more because the engine is so hot from the oil burning rapidly. Audi is aware and fails to do anything about this known…
As I was driving with my 4 year old daughter in the vehicle, while making a left turn my vehicle steering wheel locked or seemed to lock on me with no warning, and then the "DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE" indicator appeared. Thank God I was able to safety steer into a driveway. Inspection is available upon…
Passenger seat airbag light is on .
I have seen at least three other complaints with NHTSA on this same item all with different headings. Check engine light comes on at high speeds while highway driving. Pull Engine code and comes back as P2753 - Valve for transmission fluid cooler circuit open. Had to replace coolant control valve…
As I reported on June 3, I drove my car onto my office parking lot, up- hill, in the afternoon, when suddenly my car raced, without my stepping on the accelerator to make it race, crushed into the first car parked there. That car was pushed into the wheel of the neighboring car, which fortunately…
Other Audi A7 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 A7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 A7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 A7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 A7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2021 A7 | 6 | 11 |
| 2020 A7 | 2 | 8 |
| 2019 A7 | 43 | 6 |
| 2018 A7 | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 A7 | 1 | 4 |
| 2016 A7 | 15 | 3 |
| 2015 A7 | 5 | 3 |
| 2014 A7 | 11 | 2 |
| 2013 A7 | 19 | 5 |
| 2012 | 30 | 5 |
| 2009 A7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 A7 | 2 | 0 |
See all Audi A7 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
Embed this 2012 Audi A7 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Audi A7?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, steering problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Audi A7?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Audi A7 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A7 model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.