Reliable Auto DB

2012 Audi A8 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Audi A8 has 11 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most A8 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Engine.

2012 Audi A8
Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

11

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (4 of 11), then Air bags (2) and Fuel and propulsion system (2).

Next to 2013

The 2013 A8 has 49 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Audi A8. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Engine 2016-08-24 · NHTSA campaign 16V619000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (11 total)

Engine
4
Air bags
2
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Steering
2
Electrical system
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Seats
1
Speed control
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 1 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12013320161201712018320191202012021
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Check Engine ON. Diagnosed as cam shaft timing chain failure"
    Engine · filed 2021-06-10
  • "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"
    Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or other · filed 2020-06-23
  • "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,…"
    Engine · filed 2019-08-19
  • "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"
    Steering · filed 2019-07-23
  • "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…"
    Fuel system, gasoline, Engine · filed 2019-06-25

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Audi A8 4 DR AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
A8 4.2L, 8-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 18 28 21 MPG $3800
A8 L 6.3L, 12-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 14 21 16 MPG $5000
A8 L 4.2L, 8-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 18 28 21 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

D4 generation, 2012–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40 (engine dependent; confirm on cap)
Tire size 255/45R19, 265/40R20 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 18V-430 covers certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak that can increase fire risk. Remedy: dealers replace the fuel line free of charge. NHTSA safety recall 19V-035 covers certain 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles (also listing Q7, A6, and A7): the left and right fuel rails may leak fuel, increasing fire risk. Remedy: dealers replace the left and right fuel rail free of charge. When NHTSA lists multiple Audi models in one campaign, the published unit count is shared.

Compare

Next year 2013 Audi A8 See every Audi A8 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Audi A8 reliable?

The 2012 Audi A8 has 11 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most A8 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Engine.

What are common problems with a 2012 Audi A8?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (4 of 11), then Air bags (2) and Fuel and propulsion system (2).

Is the 2012 Audi A8 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 A8 has 49 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Audi A8 been recalled?

The 2012 Audi A8 has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Audi A8?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2012 Audi A8 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Audi A8 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Audi A8 is 19.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US Audi A8 use?

0W-20 or 0W-30 (engine dependent; confirm on cap)

What tire sizes fit a US Audi A8?

Published US specs commonly list front 255/45R19, 265/40R20 (trim dependent) and rear 255/45R19, 265/40R20 (trim dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Audi A8?

NHTSA safety recall 21V-111 covers certain 2019-2021 Audi A8 and 2020-2021 Audi S8 vehicles. A missing sealing pin may allow moisture to enter the engine control module connector, possibly causing a control module malfunction that can stall the engine and increase crash risk. Remedy: dealers inspect the connector for a missing sealing pin and install it if necessary, and inspect for corrosion. NHTSA safety recall 19V-415 covers certain 2019 Audi A8 vehicles equipped with rear relaxation seats: the front passenger seat track rivet may fail and cause the spindle bracket to…