Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 19 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 3 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 reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
22 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2015
Power Train
I OWN A 2012 AUDI S4 WITH A 7 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION AND NOTICE HARD SHIFTING IN 1-2 AND 2-1 AND ALSO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BEING A MECHTRONICS UNIT OR WHOLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE NEEDED. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO AUDI 4 TIMES WITH THESE ISSUES THEY FINALLY SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE …
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2012 AUDI S4 WITH A 7 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION AND NOTICE HARD SHIFTING IN 1-2 AND 2-1 AND ALSO INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BEING A MECHTRONICS UNIT OR WHOLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE NEEDED. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO AUDI 4 TIMES WITH THESE ISSUES THEY FINALLY SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE TCU AND UPDATE SOFTWARE ON THE ECU. I ASKED IF THIS WILL FIX THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT THIS REPAIR WILL BE THE FIRST IN AN ORDER OF PARTS TO BE REPLACED TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT WOULD BE THE MECHTRONICS OR THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 29K MILES AND 8 MONTHS LEFT ON THE FACTORY WARRANTY FROM A LOCAL SMALL DEALERSHIP. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND GOING TO THE DEALER WITH THESE ISSUE 4 TIMES..NOW THEY TELL ME AUDI VOIDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY OF THE CAR AT 5K MILES DUE TO A ECU TUNE. SO THEY ARE DENYING THE CLAIM. I TALKED TO A LOCAL TUNER TO SEE IF THE CAR HAD A TUNE ON THE ECU..THEY SAID NO..I ALSO CALLED SEVERAL NATIONWIDE TUNERS TO ASK THEM IF MY CARS VIN WAS ON RECORD OF GETTING A TUNE AND THEY SAID NO. SO SINCE IT WAS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I DO NOT KNOW WHAT COMPANY OR FOR HOW LONG IT WAS TUNED FOR. THE LOCAL DEALER NEVER TOLD ME WHILE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT I DID NOT HAVE A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY UNTIL A MAJOR COST WAS INVOLVED. THEY KNOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANSMISSION HENCE THE UPDATED TCU AND SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE ECU AS WELL AS THE UPDATED PART# OF THE MECHTRONICS UNIT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT WITH. THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING AUDI SHOULD COVER UP TO 100K WITH A TUNE ECU OR NOT. A ECU TUNE HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE TRANSMISSION TCU OR THE PARTS IN THE TRANS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10695462
10,500 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,200.
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.
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.
2012 Audi S4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration