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2012 Audi A6

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Audi A6 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

45 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 27, 2022
Electrical SystemPower Train

This needs to be heavily looked into. I see countless reports online and on NHTSA about "coolant" leaking onto components/wiring. Whatever it is, is definitely frying the electrical system. My info screen will state: "Transmission Malfunction: You can continue driving" and it'll go away a minute later, them beep again with …

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This needs to be heavily looked into. I see countless reports online and on NHTSA about "coolant" leaking onto components/wiring. Whatever it is, is definitely frying the electrical system. My info screen will state: "Transmission Malfunction: You can continue driving" and it'll go away a minute later, them beep again with the same message- then beep again- then go away- then come back again. etc etc etc. I recently a year or so ago got some coolant leak that was dripping on transmission wires below. I've seen this complaint too many times. Audi needs to investigate this issue and if this is a countless issue we need to be issued a proper TSB / recall. Here's some links to best help direct this issue: https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a6-c7-platform-discussion-194/obdii-code-p2753-anyone-2886141/page2/ https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a6-c7-platform-discussion-194/transmission-fluid-cooler-control-circuit-error-2886938/ https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a6-c7-platform-discussion-194/help-p2753-issue-2999672/ The codes I get occasionally are: TCU Code: 12448 and OBDII Code: P2753

NHTSA ODI #11466406

20,031 miles · Mar 23, 2020
Power Train

SHIFTS ROUGH FROM START THROUGH FIRST SET OF GEARS. FROM A STANDSTILL, UNDER NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, NO MATTER WHAT SETTING THE CAR IS IN, THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS FOR THE CORRECT GEAR AND ROUGHLY SHIFTS FROM 1-2 OR 2-3. THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SETTLED BY THE CVT CLASS ACTION BUT AUDI IS REFUSING TO REPAIR/REPLACE. I HAVE…

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SHIFTS ROUGH FROM START THROUGH FIRST SET OF GEARS. FROM A STANDSTILL, UNDER NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, NO MATTER WHAT SETTING THE CAR IS IN, THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS FOR THE CORRECT GEAR AND ROUGHLY SHIFTS FROM 1-2 OR 2-3. THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SETTLED BY THE CVT CLASS ACTION BUT AUDI IS REFUSING TO REPAIR/REPLACE. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 05-06/2014 AND FOR 9 TIMES SINCE UNTIL CPO WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY LAPSED, NOW THEY FEEL THE PROBLEM WHEN BEFORE THEY COULD NOT AND DETERMINE THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT FOR $12,000.

NHTSA ODI #11319084

98,000 miles · Mar 5, 2020
Power Train

COOLANT MIGRATION INTO THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE CREATING UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A COOLANT VALVE FAILING. CREATES FIRE HAZARD BY ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAN THEN DESTROY THE ECU ON THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11316250

63,000 miles · Aug 17, 2019
Power Train

I JUST HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH APERANTLY IS A BAD MECHATRONIC DEVICE. THANK GOD NOTHING BAD HAPPENED DURING DRIVING, HOWEVER WHEN I TALKED TO AUDI CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT ACOMMON PROBLEM AND THEY DONT WANT TO FIX IT. THE CAR IS 60K AND ALWAYS WAS TAKEN CARE IN DEALERSHIP SHOPS, ON TIME. USED ONLY 30 MILES A DAY A…

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I JUST HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH APERANTLY IS A BAD MECHATRONIC DEVICE. THANK GOD NOTHING BAD HAPPENED DURING DRIVING, HOWEVER WHEN I TALKED TO AUDI CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT ACOMMON PROBLEM AND THEY DONT WANT TO FIX IT. THE CAR IS 60K AND ALWAYS WAS TAKEN CARE IN DEALERSHIP SHOPS, ON TIME. USED ONLY 30 MILES A DAY AND ALWAYS KEPT INDORR BOTH AT MY WORK AND AT HOME. WHEN READING ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I LEARNT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND AUDI APPARENTLY NOT TRYING TO COVER OR SOLVE IT. I AM ATTACHING DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM FROM A WEBSITE (HTTPS://WWW.ECUTESTING.COM/COMMON-FAULTS/AUDI/AUDI-S-TRONIC-0B5-GEARBOX-MECHATRONIC-PROBLEM/) "THIS S-TRONIC TRANSMISSION UNIT FITTED TO HIGH PERFORMANCE AUDI'S, WITH THE 0B5 DL501 DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG), IS A VERY COMMON FAILING MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT. INTERNAL COMPONENT BREAKDOWN OF THE S-TRONIC MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT WILL CAUSE A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS ON THE VEHICLE BEGINNING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE EPC (ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL) AND PRNDS WARNING LIGHTS. THE RUNNING SYMPTOMS THAT A FAULT WITHIN THIS MECHATRONIC...AS THE S-TRONIC/0B5 GEARBOX MECHATRONICS FAILURE ADVANCES, THESE SYMPTOMS PROGRESS FURTHER INTO CRITICAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE: STICKING IN GEAR, DEACTIVATION OF HALF OF THE GEARS, NO REVERSE OR GEARS ABOVE FIRST. TYPICALLY, WHEN DEALING WITH THESE AUDI S-TRONIC GEARBOX PROBLEMS, MAIN DEALERSHIPS AND SPECIALISTS WILL SEEK TO PURCHASE AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR KIT DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH WILL ALSO INCUR CODING FEES. THE GLARING PROBLEM WITH THIS METHOD IS THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT HAS NOT YET RESOLVED THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE AT FACTORY LEVEL, MEANING THAT ALL REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIR KIT COMPONENTS STILL HAVE THE UNDERLYING DEFECTS THAT WILL CAUSE MALFUNCTION, USUALLY OUTSIDE THE SHORT ONE-YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY."

NHTSA ODI #11244691

80,000 miles · May 10, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

ON MY CAR, THERE IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALUE THAT IS PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT COMPONENT ALSO HELPS KEEP THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE IN CHECK. THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS THE VALVE MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING COOLANT TO PENETRATE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND FROM THERE INTO THE WIRIN…

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ON MY CAR, THERE IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALUE THAT IS PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT COMPONENT ALSO HELPS KEEP THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE IN CHECK. THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS THE VALVE MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING COOLANT TO PENETRATE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND FROM THERE INTO THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS A CATASTROPHIC MALFUNCTION OF THOSE COMPONENTS AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. WATER AND ELECTRICAL DO NOT MIX WELL. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE ROOT OF MY ISSUE IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO DETECT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMOBILE UNTIL THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION HAPPENS. IF THAT WERE NOT THE CASE, THE CONSUMER COULD AT LEAST HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED PREVENTING THIS HUGE EXPENSE AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTING THIS IS THE CASE. IN MY CASE. THE CAR RAN FINE. THEN JUST WENT HAYWIRE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID COOLANT GOT INTO THE CONTROL MODULE AND 'FRIED' THE MODULE AND WIRE HARNESS. THE PICTURES THAT ARE ATTACHED ARE FROM THE SAME INSTANCE I FOUND ONLINE AND NOT PICTURES FROM MY CAR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. AUDI HAS TURNED ME DOWN TWICE TO FIX THIS POTENTIALLY COMBUSTIBLE PROBLEM. VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ODI #11206823

58,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

O-RING FAILURE IN 2012 A6 3.0 CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO INTERNALLY LEAK FLUID CAUSING THE ELECTONIC SYSTEM TO GO BAD. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN ISSUE STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, GEARBOX, MIL TRAC CONTROL, MIL EPC, LIGHT AIRBAG MIL HI-SPEED COOLING FAN MIL TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SH…

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O-RING FAILURE IN 2012 A6 3.0 CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO INTERNALLY LEAK FLUID CAUSING THE ELECTONIC SYSTEM TO GO BAD. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN ISSUE STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, GEARBOX, MIL TRAC CONTROL, MIL EPC, LIGHT AIRBAG MIL HI-SPEED COOLING FAN MIL TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, MAJOR LACK OF POWER TO ENGINE. PARKING BRAKE WOULD ALSO ACTIVATE BY ITSELF. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT UP LIKE A X-MAS, WHEN I PULLED OVER THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI #10810939

62,000 miles · May 24, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

O-RING FAILURE IN 2012 A6 3.0 CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO INTERNALLY LEAK FLUID CAUSING THE ELECTONIC SYSTEM TO GO BAD. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN ISSUE STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GEARBOX MIL TRAC CONTROL MIL EPC LIGHT AIRBAG MIL HI-SPEED COOLING FAN MIL TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION W…

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O-RING FAILURE IN 2012 A6 3.0 CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO INTERNALLY LEAK FLUID CAUSING THE ELECTONIC SYSTEM TO GO BAD. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN ISSUE STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GEARBOX MIL TRAC CONTROL MIL EPC LIGHT AIRBAG MIL HI-SPEED COOLING FAN MIL TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, MAJOR LACK OF POWER TO ENGINE. PARKING BRAKE WOULD ALSO ACTIVATE BY ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI #10721255

5,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE VEHICLE IS HAVING UNINTENDED EPISODES OF ACCELERATION. THEY OCCUR WHILE STOPPED OR AT REDUCED SPEEDS SUCH AS PULLING TO A STOP OR PARKING.

NHTSA ODI #10467486

Official recalls

8

18V370000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 4, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

18V229000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Apr 11, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

17V781000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 6, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

17V002000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Jan 3, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

16V646000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 7, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

15V823000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 8, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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.

15V019000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jan 20, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

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.

11V580000 · Air Bags:side/window

Dec 6, 2011

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2012 AUDI A6 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 8, 2011, THROUGH MAY 26, 2011. DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE STITCHING PROCESS OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAG, THE SEAM OF THE AIR BAG MAY NOT BE STITCHED PROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE HEAD CURTAIN AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN INJURY.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT CURTAIN AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.