2012 Audi A7 Reliability
The 2012 Audi A7 has 30 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. Compared with other A7 model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the A7's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
30
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
2
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Audi A7 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2014 and 2022. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 7 | 23% |
| Steering | 6 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 20% |
| Speed control / throttle | 5 | 17% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 4 | 13% |
| Engine | 4 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 10% |
| Wheels | 2 | 7% |
2012 Audi A7 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V019000 | Jan 20, 2015 | Fuel system — 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. |
| 15V823000 | Dec 8, 2015 | 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… |
| 16V646000 | Sep 7, 2016 | Fuel system — 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. |
| 17V781000 | Dec 6, 2017 | Fuel system — 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. |
| 18V370000 | Jun 4, 2018 | 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby A7 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year A7 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 (this page) | 30 | 5 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2013 | 19 | 5 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2014 | 11 | 2 | Fuel / propulsion system | Too few reports |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Audi A7
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Audi A7 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Audi A7 reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Audi A7 reliable?
The 2012 Audi A7 has 30 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. Compared with other A7 model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the A7's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 Audi A7 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Audi A7 are air bags (7), steering (6), electrical system (6), speed control / throttle (5). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Audi A7 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Audi A7, including 15V019000 (fuel system — fuel injection system / fuel rail) and 15V823000 (air bags — sensor / occupant classification). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Audi A7 compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 19 complaints and 5 recalls (caution). The 2012 has 30 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Audi A7?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Audi A7 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 A7, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.