RecallMyCar

2012 Audi A6 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 2012 Audi A6, and owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

8
safety recalls
59
owner complaints to NHTSA
22–28
MPG combined (EPA)

8 safety recalls for the 2012 Audi A6

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V370000 Reported 139,249 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

    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…

  2. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 18V229000 Reported 342,867 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is…

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 17V781000 Reported 48,693 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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.

    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.

  4. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 17V002000 Reported 342,867 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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,…

    Remedy: 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…

  5. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 16V646000 Reported 28,249 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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.

    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…

  6. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 15V823000 Reported 21,074 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

    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…

  7. Fuel rail (fuel system)

    NHTSA 15V019000 Reported 26,008 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or…

  8. Air bags: side/window

    NHTSA 11V580000 Reported 317 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    Volkswagen is recalling certain model 2012 audi a6 vehicles manufactured from april 8, 2011, through may 26, 2011. Due to a problem in the stitching process of the curtain air bag, the seam of the air bag may not be stitched properly.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact volkswagen at…

59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Audi A6 have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,676 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 14 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Dear Highway Safety Authority Officer I am writing to formally request an investigation into a potential safety concern involving structural rust on the engine subframe (engine cradle) of the Audi A6,”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 28, 2025 · Structure

“Vehicle suffered sudden and total loss of power steering. Had just driven the car 5-10 minutes prior, came out to leave and had a message stating do not drive vehicle, steering defective. At that poin”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 21, 2024 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Audi A6 (A6 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined22–28 mpg
City / Highway19–25 / 28–33
FuelPremium
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S8); Automatic (variable gear ratios)

Compare Audi A6 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A6 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 Audi A612
1995 Audi A6216
1996 Audi A6251
1997 Audi A6220
1998 Audi A610130
1999 Audi A69217
2000 Audi A64148
2001 Audi A67113
2002 Audi A6488
2003 Audi A6766
2004 Audi A6435
2005 Audi A6391
2006 Audi A6467
2007 Audi A6453
2008 Audi A6471
2009 Audi A6421
2010 Audi A6317
2011 Audi A6321
2012 Audi A6859
2013 Audi A6652
2014 Audi A6441
2015 Audi A6422
2016 Audi A6351
2017 Audi A6320
2018 Audi A6211
2019 Audi A67114
2020 Audi A6925
2021 Audi A61117
2022 Audi A652
2023 Audi A612
2024 Audi A613
2025 Audi A626
2026 Audi A606

Checking a specific 2012 Audi A6

How do I know if my 2012 Audi A6 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2012 Audi A6; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V580000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Audi models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.