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2012 Audi A4 Avant problems

The most common problem on the 2012 Audi A4 Avant is engine and cooling, typically around 66,540 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical A4 Avant model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
73/100
Owner complaints
26
Recalls
0
Service bulletins
690
Worst area
Engine

The worst 2012 Audi A4 Avant problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    17
  • Electrical
    3
  • Fuel system
    3
  • Steering
    2
  • Transmission
    2

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    17
  • Electrical
    3
  • Fuel system
    3
  • Steering
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Visibility
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Audi A4 Avant 690

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 690 bulletins for the 2012 Audi A4 Avant

What 2012 Audi A4 Avant owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 3, 2019 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · NJ

After a failed alternator and battery were replaced my entire electrical system has freaked out. 60,000mi on the dash, and my car is a brick. After a month on the lift the most well certified mechanics in my area, including some of audi's own, are at a complete loss. The only thing we've come up with is that the computers turn on every 30 seconds while my car is off.

Filed Jun 5, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 66,540 miles · TX

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.

Filed Mar 29, 2019 · Engine · 63,000 miles · NJ

This car has a massive oil consumption issue. A week after having an oil change the low oil light comes on after approximate 150 miles of driving. I started happening in february of 2017 shortly after the engine malfunction light came on . I took it to the dealership and after they ran the required tests that failed, was told that audi put the wrong engine in the car and that I would have to pay $8k for them to fix it. This is not my problem, it is audi's because it is the same issue that they settled in a lawsuit years prior. It is nerve-wracking to drive because, I never know how much oil is in the car.

Filed Mar 28, 2019 · Engine · 95,000 miles · PA

Piston rings car is smoking and oil is coming out of the muffler the car have last then 100k mileage

Filed Nov 5, 2018 · Engine · 75,000 miles · IN

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.

Filed Nov 1, 2018 · Engine · TX

Excessive oil consumption issues, check engine light is on and audi wants to charge me $12,000 to repair the oil consumption due to their being damage to my piston rings. I am the second owner of this car. During the time that the first owner had the vehicle there was a class action law suit that had been filed and settled against audi do to the manufacturer malfunction which caused the excessive oil consumption problems with the vehicle. By the time I became the owner the suite had already settled. At this point I don't know what to do.

Filed Oct 8, 2018 · Engine · 133,000 miles · MA

2012 audi a4 has had ongoing oil consumption isuues. Audi dealer performed consumption test done around 74k (3qts per 1000miles - basically have had to add 1 qt every 300 miles. Was told no recourse - was outside of class action lawsuit of 2009-2011 of similar issues. Now at 133k mile, engine seized without warning - epc light came on - car was serviced less than 25k miles and had all 4 fuel injectors, 4 spark plugs and 2 ignition coils replaced and de-carb procedure done. I'm at a loss that audi refuses to accept responsibility for faulty engine.

Filed Sep 22, 2018 · Engine · LA

We were just informed of a class action lawsuit involving timing chain and tensioner failure. This failure could cause catastrophic engine failure while driving and cause the vehicle to stop possibly at highway speeds causing an accident and harm to vehicle occupants. The lawsuit could result in an extended pro-rated warranty but no recall or repairs made to any vehicle prior to engine failure. Audi is aware of this problem and has issued a technical service bulletin to the dealer network but will not offer any repairs outside of the current warranty. We believe all affected vehicles should be recalled and repaired prior to a catastrophic engine failure resulting in loss of life.

Filed Jul 14, 2018 · Steering · MA

Since purchasing my cpo audi with extended maintenance package & I have immaculate repair records. It's glaringly clear now that the dealership avoided diagnosising my repeated complaints about steering vibration feedback. Countless dollars spent on alignments & rim, tires changes.my steering has completely decayed to hazardous conditions and no audi support on recalling this issue. Feels like a crosswind pushing car on highways, notching is so bad that it requires muscle endurance to turn it while doing k turns now. Just out of warranty & finding out about this obvious defect of manufacturing that should have been recalled a long time ago. No fix available that is a guaranteed success. Truly disgusted. 90,000 miles outright fraud! Please do something about this before someone is killed.

Filed Jun 13, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 64,000 miles · NJ

Upon having 3 consecutive oil changes, my car suddenly began to burn oil (no leaks) after the first oil change upon driving less than 900 miles. Then the second oil change did the same thing upon driving under 300 miles. It actually ran out of oil totally. I added oil as instructed by the car, and it burn the oil withing 250 miles of driving. I took it to the dealer, who acknowledge that this model and year had the wrong engine put in the vehicle. They would need to replace the entire engine at my cost, with possible reimbursement to me. Not acceptable, since they acknowledged the defect. Oil continues to burn at a very high rate and potential cause additional engine problems while driving.

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Compare the 2012 Audi A4 Avant

Other model years

200920112012

Questions about the 2012 Audi A4 Avant

Is the 2012 Audi A4 Avant reliable?

Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 2012 Audi A4 Avant, close to a typical A4 Avant model year.

What is the 2012 Audi A4 Avant year score?

The 2012 Audi A4 Avant scores 73 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Audi A4 Avant: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Audi A4 Avant?

Engine and cooling, with 17 complaints, typically around 66,540 miles. Next is electrical (3).

How many recalls does the 2012 Audi A4 Avant have?

No recalls on record.

What year does the Audi A4 Avant have bad engine?

The Audi A4 Avant model years with the most engine complaints are 2011 (18 complaints) and 2012 (17 complaints).

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