Most common 2012 Audi A4 Avant problems
Share of the 26 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A4 Avant complaints by model year
What 2012 Audi A4 Avant owners say
Engine & cooling
Upon having 3 consecutive oil changes, my car suddenly began to burn oil (no leaks) after the first oil change upon driving less than 900 miles. Then the second oil change did the same thing upon driving under 300 miles. It actually ran out of oil totally. I added oil as instructed by the car, and it burn the oil withing 250 miles of driving. I took it to the dealer, who acknowledge that this model and year had the wrong engine put in the vehicle. They would need to replace the entire engine at my cost, with possible reimbursement to me. Not acceptable, since they acknowledged the defect. Oil continues to burn at a very high rate and potential cause additional engine problems while driving.
This car has a massive oil consumption issue. A week after having an oil change the low oil light comes on after approximate 150 miles of driving. I started happening in February of 2017 shortly after the engine malfunction light came on . I took it to the dealership and after they ran the required tests that failed, was told that Audi put the wrong engine in the car and that I would have to pay $8K for them to fix it. This is not my problem, it is Audi's because it is the same issue that they settled in a lawsuit years prior. It is nerve-wracking to drive because, I never know how much oil is in the car.
Electrical system
Car has been intermittently shutting down while driving. And starting up the car has become more and more randomly justified. Some times it starts up right away, some times it just takes a few cranks. Doesn't matter if it's warm or cold engine. I pulled ECU code and it says u0100 which is loss of communication to ECM. Well this is a safety issue because I can be driving just fine on the road but all of a sudden it just decides to quit cause a havoc on a busy traffic in houston.
After a failed alternator and battery were replaced my entire electrical system has freaked out. 60,000mi on the dash, and my car is a brick. After a month on the lift the most well certified mechanics in my area, including some of Audi's own, are at a complete loss. The only thing we've come up with is that the computers turn on every 30 seconds while my car is off.
Fuel & propulsion system
Upon having 3 consecutive oil changes, my car suddenly began to burn oil (no leaks) after the first oil change upon driving less than 900 miles. Then the second oil change did the same thing upon driving under 300 miles. It actually ran out of oil totally. I added oil as instructed by the car, and it burn the oil withing 250 miles of driving. I took it to the dealer, who acknowledge that this model and year had the wrong engine put in the vehicle. They would need to replace the entire engine at my cost, with possible reimbursement to me. Not acceptable, since they acknowledged the defect. Oil continues to burn at a very high rate and potential cause additional engine problems while driving.
I recently purchased my 2012 Audi A4 after a few weeks the check engine light came on after taking my car to have it diagnosed I was told ( system was to lean in bank 1) I was told I needed a new o2 system, light never went off and I was told next that their was a leak in a vacuum seal and lastly my coolant level was depleting at a rapid speed and I was told that their was a leak from the water pump.
2012 Audi A4 Avant engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Audi A4 Avant a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the A4 Avant to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Audi A4 Avant?
The engine & cooling — 17 complaints, 65% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (3) and fuel & propulsion system (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 Audi A4 Avant have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Audi A4 Avant. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2012 Audi A4 Avant problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.