2012 Audi A5 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (11) · Engine (6) · Fuel/Propulsion System (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A5 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (1,064)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069904_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,064 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-11-06 · Engine“my 2012 audi a5 has 155,000 miles on it and it has had every oil change and maintenance up to date , my turbos and pistons have caused complete engine failure with 0 compression in my only car . both have recalls on them for my year and model and even tho i got a letter in the mail about being part of a settlement for my turbos causing engine failu…”
2022-09-22 · Engine“2012 audi a5 quattro burns oil every 100miles 5qt and does not allow a quick acceleration if trying to avoid an accident. the car misfires and shuts off while driving. no check engine light was on when it first did this. mechanic was able to reproduce the same problem. turbo is bad. o2 sensor is bad. air intake leak. running rich at bank 1. the …”
2022-08-09 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“while i was driving, my car started to slow down and eventually stopped in the middle of the road. there were no warning sensors or indicators on the car. ii then started to see smoke coming from my hood and decided to turn off the car and get out to inspect. on the right front side, i saw a fire under the car. the fire department was called and th…”
2022-08-03 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication“the contact owns a 2012 audi a5. the contact stated that the oil warning light illuminated while driving at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where oil was added to the vehicle; however, after the third time the contact was informed by the dealer that it was a common issue with the audi sport vehicles. a failure cause was not dete…”
2020-11-18 · Engine“this vehicle had a recall, and a new engine was put into it and ever since the new engine was put in, the vehicle has had numerous problems and electrical failures. now the new engine, with less than 50k is burning oil and no one can tell me why. this is by far the worst vehicle i have ever owned. the minute the car was purchased off of the leas…”
2019-12-30 · Engine · 115,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a5. while operating the vehicle, the check engine indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump was faulty. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer and audi of shrewsbury (780 boston turnpike, shrewsbury, ma) were notified of the failure, but no assi…”
2019-09-25 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2012 audi a5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags). the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair as the recall notice was received over a year ago. audi north atlanta (11505 alpharetta hwy, roswell, ga 30076, (404…”
2019-08-01 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System · 75,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a5. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate, especially while on an incline and when accelerating from a stop. there was no warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to rusnak pasadena audi (626-714-3159, located at 267 w colorado blvd, pasadena, ca 91105) where it was diagnosed that t…”
2019-03-22 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 112,513 mi“owner of 2012 audi a5 and 2015 audi a4. january 2019 received safety recall letter regarding recall on-electric (after-run) coolant pump certain 2012-2017 model audi vehicles. as 2nd owners of both vehicles do not have any documentation of brand new cars. letter received was for a-4 audi, however a-5 did have same coolant pump damage on vehicle whi…”
2018-07-18 · Engine · 106,000 mi“please see following documents regarding an issue with this car and its engine. i have also filled a complaint with the ftc #978949978 …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.