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ProblemsByVin File / 2012-AUDI-A6
2012 · audi

audi A6 problems

1 safety recall. 59 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.8 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 6 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
10 reports · avg $1,100
moderate
engine
10 reports · avg $3,100
moderate
electrical
9 reports · avg $850
moderate
powertrain
7 reports · avg $2,500
moderate
steering
6 reports · avg $700
moderate
brakes
3 reports · avg $450
moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2012 A6 · other
Good morning, For the past couple of weeks, I've been getting the run around on whether the issue I'm having with my vehicle is an active recall. I recently took my vehicle to Eurocode Tuning (Torrance, CA), and the mechanic instructed me to take my vehicle to the dealer…
12/30/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11562753.0
2012 A6 · electrical
WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASED TO WORK CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER DENIED EXPRESS WARRANTY CLAIM. WIRING ON WIPERS WAS SO FLIMSY AS TO APPARENTLY ALLOW A MOUSE TO CHEW THROUGH COATING. DEALER CHARGED OVER $640. TO REPLACE A $20 WIRE. SEVERAL E-MAILS AND CALLS TO AUDI OF…
12/25/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10668224.0
2012 A6 · other
My car almost overheated on the high on thanksgiving night thank god my brother was behind me driving and took me to go get antifreeze my coolant was leaking and i think my water pump messed up almost a accident cause i was in the middle lane and my vehicle was slowing down on…
12/20/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11498311.0
2012 A6 · powertrain
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…
12/17/2015 · NHTSA ODI #10810939.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

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At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 11V580000 06/12/2011

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2012 AUDI A6 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 8, 2011, THROUGH MAY 26, 2011

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Audi A6 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Audi A6 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Audi A6?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 10 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Audi A6 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Audi A6?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 59 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with audi. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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