CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2012 Audi A7

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

30

Complaints

2

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Audi A7 have filed 30 safety complaints with NHTSA between April 2014 and October 2022. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 7 of them (23%). The typical failure was reported at 87,146 miles, the median across the 20 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

18V370000 · June 4, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
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 remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 139,249 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

17V781000 · December 6, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AR.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 48,693 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

16V646000 · September 7, 2016

The defect
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.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BZ.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 28,249 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

15V823000 · December 8, 2015

The defect
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.
The risk
An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D1.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 21,074 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

15V019000 · January 20, 2015

The defect
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.
The risk
A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 26,008 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 30.

AIR BAGS 7 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 20%
STEERING 6 20%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 17%
ENGINE 4 13%
POWER TRAIN 4 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 10%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 7%
TIRES 2 7%
WHEELS 2 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 7.

2014 2018 2022
2014 to 2022

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 56,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. AFTER DRIVING, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE. WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT A STORE, A PASSERBY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS NOTICED THE FIRE AND ONE OF THE OFFICERS NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHOM EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ERROR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY GERALD JONES AUDI (4022 WASHINGTON RD, MARTINEZ, GA 30907, (706) 760-2462). THE VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint 11081028, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

fire

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2012 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT'S SON NOTICED A FUEL AND BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint 11089034. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · towed

The gas pedal must have been stuck, as the car raced across parking lot, into the first parked car there. that car was pushed into the next car, fortunately a big, sturdy car. and fortunately into the wheel of that next car. Also, fortunately, no people there at that time. I contacted my Audi dealer . they sent truck for pick-up by GUY TOWING LLC, tel.( 737) 333-7334. There were no warning signs before. Also, I had my car at Audi service earlier this year and paid ca. $6000.- for yearly overhaul and several repairs. To my knowledge, so far no inspection by anyone , but by the repair replace that the truck took my car to. Also, the 2 car owners of the cars hit by my car would have reported

NHTSA complaint 11419455, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · towed

As I reported on June 3, I drove my car onto my office parking lot, up- hill, in the afternoon, when suddenly my car raced, without my stepping on the accelerator to make it race, crushed into the first car parked there. That car was pushed into the wheel of the neighboring car, which fortunately was a big and sturdy car. I managed to drive my car into an empty parking space. The owners of the 2 cars that had been hit came out of the office building and we exchanged information. The car that my Audi had hit was not drivable. My Audi was drivable, despite severe damage. It was towed away by CALIBER COLLISION. Never in my life of driving had I experienced a car racing, without my causing to

NHTSA complaint 11422447, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Oil system. A quart of oil has to be added every day. Dealership says its crank case breather. Which the supercharge cause the oil to burn more. Also the antifreeze is burning more because the engine is so hot from the oil burning rapidly. Audi is aware and fails to do anything about this known issue.

NHTSA complaint 11488899. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
As I was driving with my 4 year old daughter in the vehicle, while making a left turn my vehicle steering wheel locked or seemed to lock on me with no warning, and then the "DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE" indicator appeared. Thank God I was able to safety steer into a driveway. Inspection is available upon request. The defect of the vehicle could have cause major bodily injuries to me and my daughter and anyone within a few feet of my vehicle. No warning signs appeared at all prior to this incident happening, this malfunction came without notice. Im very concerned with the manufacturing defect and issue on this and many Audi's vehicle that have this same issue and could possible be life threating

NHTSA complaint 11457112, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Passenger seat airbag light is on .

NHTSA complaint 11451905. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I have seen at least three other complaints with NHTSA on this same item all with different headings. Check engine light comes on at high speeds while highway driving. Pull Engine code and comes back as P2753 - Valve for transmission fluid cooler circuit open. Had to replace coolant control valve for transmission as coolant was leaking into solenoid. Many other reports of this same problem on NHTSA already and mechanic says it is known issue with Audi.

NHTSA complaint 11447185. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

63,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Audi A7. The contact stated that after driving from a stop sign into a four-way intersection at approximately 10 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. Upon inspection, it was discovered that fuel had leaked from the engine compartment and was caused by a detached fuel line due to a failed fuel line coupling. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number 17V781000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

NHTSA complaint 11419613. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi A7

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 43 6
2016 15 3
2014 11 2
2013 19 5

Other 2012 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 147 vehicles, 216 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst