What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Audi A6

Typical pattern

5.8% of complaints about the 2012 Audi A6 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (15 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
86
Median age at failure
6.5 yr
Median mileage
72,000 n=65
Crash / fire / tow
4.7% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
15 reports · 75,000 mi
6.3 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

18V370000 2018-06-04
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

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.

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.

18V229000 2018-04-11
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system

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.

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

17V781000 2017-12-06
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

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.

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

17V002000 2017-01-03
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system

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.

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

16V646000 2016-09-07
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

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.

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

15V823000 2015-12-08
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

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.

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

15V019000 2015-01-20
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail

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.

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

11V580000 2011-12-06
Air bags:side/window

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 62,000 mi 4.8 yr in service
PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM SWITCH WENT BAD, DISABLING THE AIRBAG. $2,000+ QUOTED FOR REPAIR. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL, THIS MODEL YEAR FOR THAT EXACT PART MALFUNCTIONING BUT AUDI SAYS MY VIN IS EXCLUDED.
Air bags 82,000 mi 6.3 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A6. WHENEVER AN OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR BELOW THE RADIO FLASHED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUDI GRAPEVINE DEALER (1260 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POD SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 180078683. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Air bags mileage not reported 6.7 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT CALLED AUDI JACKSONVILLE AT 904-565-4000 (LOCATED AT 7230 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Other A6 model years

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