Reliable Auto DB

2012 Audi S4 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Audi S4 holds 22 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most S4 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel rail.

2012 Audi S4
Photo by Autoviva, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
Complaints

22

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (14 of 22), then Fuel and propulsion system (5) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 2 that report a fire.

Next to 2013

The 2013 S4 has 33 complaints, 7 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 S4. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall gasoline fuel system, fuel injection, fuel rail 2015-01-20 · NHTSA campaign 15V019000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (22 total)

Powertrain
14
Fuel and propulsion system
5
Electrical system
3
Service brakes
2
Speed control
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120123201512016720176201842019
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE MECHATRONICS UNIT FAILED AND CAR IS UNDER 100K MILES. SUDDEN SHAKING AND BANGING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN GIVING IT GAS ABOVE 30. FREQUENT JOLTS, DANGEROUS TO DRIVE..."
    Powertrain · filed 2019-09-27
  • "THE DSG TRANSMISSION IN MY AUDI S4 EXPERIENCES ABRUPT JERKING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GREAT WHILE DECELERATING. IT ALSO JERKS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS BEING HIT WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHEN ACCELERATING NORMALLY."
    Powertrain · filed 2019-08-24
  • "FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING AND NEEDS REPLACED. MY CAR WAS NEVER ON THE RECALL LIST. SITTING AT AUDI DEALER NOW."
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2019-07-31
  • "THE GEARBOX MALFUNCTION SCREEN ON THE DASH SHOWED UP OUT OF NOWHERE THEN FOLLOWED BY A PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION THEN THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND JUST SITS THERE REVVING THE ENGINE. I TRY TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL THEN…"
    Powertrain · filed 2019-01-29
  • "WHILE DRIVING TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2012 AUDI S4 EXPERIENCED THE COMMON DSG GEARBOX MALFUNCTION ALERT ALONG WOTH THE TPMS FAULT LIGHT. ON THE HIGHWAY LOOSING ALL POWER AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE SLOW DRASTICALLY WHILE IN…"
    Powertrain · filed 2018-09-17

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Audi S4 4 DR AWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars

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
S4 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (7-speed) All-wheel drive 18 28 21 MPG $3800
S4 3L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 18 27 21 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

B8 generation, 2012–2016
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-30 or 5W-40 (common US fills; ~7.2 qt with filter) , 7.2 qt capacity
Tire size 245/40R18 or 255/35R19 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 15V019000 covers certain 2011-2012 Audi S4 models (with S5, Q7, and 2012 A6/A7 on the same campaign) for a fuel rail concern that can leak fuel as stated in NHTSA's summary. Recall 14V667000 covers certain 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles for an air bag campaign on that model list.

Compare

Next year 2013 Audi S4 See every Audi S4 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Audi S4 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Audi S4 holds 22 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most S4 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel rail.

What are common problems with a 2012 Audi S4?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (14 of 22), then Fuel and propulsion system (5) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 2 that report a fire.

Is the 2012 Audi S4 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 S4 has 33 complaints, 7 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Audi S4 been recalled?

The 2012 Audi S4 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 S4?

Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 2012 Audi S4 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Audi S4 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Audi S4 is 21 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does an Audi S4 use?

B8 S4 models commonly use 5W-30/5W-40 (~7.2 qt); B9 models commonly list 0W-20 (~7.7 qt)—confirm the manual.

What tire sizes does an Audi S4 use?

OEM sizes commonly include 245/40R18 and 245/35R19 or 255/35R19 depending on generation and package.

What fuel-rail recall covers certain early S4 models?

Recall 15V019000 covers certain 2011-2012 Audi S4 models (with S5, Q7, and 2012 A6/A7) for a fuel-rail concern that can leak fuel.