2012 Audi A8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A8 years
- More complaints than other years 7th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Audi A8. That ranks 7th out of 32 A8 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (4 complaints, 36%), typically at around 103,000 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
_1X7A1787.jpg){kind=link}
- 11owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Audi A8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 36% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 18% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 18% | 92,379 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 18% | 111,124 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 18% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 9% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 9% | 83,998 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 9% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 9% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 9% | 109,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Audi A8 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Audi A8 vehicles manufactured May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The affected vehicles have a coolant valve that may leak, allowing coolant to enter the engine control module causing a loss of power or the engine to stall.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant valve and inspect for coolant that has leaked through the electrical connector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
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.
Check Engine ON. Diagnosed as cam shaft timing chain failure
Air bag light comes on and stays on even after the initial startup. Vehicle is stationary and has not been moved. Coded error is driver head curtain igniter short circuit to ground. *tr
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V619000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY FLETCHER JONES AUDI (1523 W NORTH AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60642, [redacted]). TWO YEARS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE…
Power steering pump mechanical malfunction/ no power assist customer states steering wheel is stiff no power assit. Power steering pump malfunction pump assembly failed and power steering pump
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER 25 MINUTES AND TOWED TO AUDI…
Other Audi A8 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 A8 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 A8 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020 A8 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 A8 | 14 | 3 |
| 2018 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 A8 | 8 | 3 |
| 2016 A8 | 11 | 4 |
| 2015 A8 | 31 | 5 |
| 2014 A8 | 18 | 5 |
| 2013 A8 | 49 | 6 |
| 2012 | 11 | 1 |
| 2011 A8 | 15 | 1 |
| 2010 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 A8 | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 A8 | 8 | 1 |
| 2007 A8 | 4 | 2 |
| 2006 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2005 A8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 A8 | 20 | 1 |
| 2003 A8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000 A8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1999 A8 | 9 | 4 |
| 1998 A8 | 4 | 3 |
| 1997 A8 | 10 | 2 |
| 1996 A8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 A8 | 0 | 1 |
See all Audi A8 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
Embed this 2012 Audi A8 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 A8?
Owners most often report engine, air bags, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Audi A8?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Audi A8 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A8 model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.