2012 Audi A6: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Audi A6: 8 recalls, 59 owner complaints and up to 28 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #11V580000 · 2011 · 317 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a problem in the stitching process of the curtain air bag, the seam of the air bag May not be stitched properly.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V019000 · 2015 · 26,008 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V823000 · 2015 · 21,074 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a pods system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #16V646000 · 2016 · 28,249 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #17V002000 · 2017 · 342,867 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #17V781000 · 2017 · 48,693 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #18V229000 · 2018 · 342,867 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V370000 · 2018 · 139,249 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a pods system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (14): the most common themes are warning light on (3), fails to deploy (2).
- Engine (13): the most common themes are warning light on (5), leaks (5), stalls / loses power (3).
- Electrical (13): the most common themes are electrical failure (6), leaks (6), stalls / loses power (5).
- Fuel & propulsion (9): the most common themes are leaks (7), electrical failure (2).
The 2012 Audi A6 has 59 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 33 A6 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 50). Complaints peaked in 2018 (14 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 66,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (21 complaints, 3 recalls), 2013 (52 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Audi A6.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2012 Audi A6 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Audi A6. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Audi A6 problems?
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (14), engine (13), electrical (13).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Audi A6 get?
EPA ratings run up to 28 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Audi A6 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.