Most common 2012 Audi S5 problems
Share of the 10 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi S5 complaints by model year
Best S5 years: 2014, 2011, 2019. Years to avoid: 2020, 2018, 2010. Compare all years →
2012 Audi S5 recalls (1)
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.
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.
What 2012 Audi S5 owners say
Air bags
I am affected by recall 69R6 for this vehicle. I moved to Germany in 2012 and took my car with me. Audi in Germany refused to honor the recall claiming that it is not applicable to Germany due to different "climate conditions". What can I do (other than shipping the car back to the US) ? Thanks
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Audi S5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was unable to confirm when the parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2012 Audi S5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | AWD | 14 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Audi S5 a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 S5 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the S5 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Audi S5?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 80% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (1) and electrical system (1).
How many recalls does the 2012 Audi S5 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Audi S5, the most recent from January 20, 2015 (fuel rail). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi S5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2011 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2018 and 2010. See the full Audi S5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Audi S5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 33% 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.