RecallMyCar

2012 Audi A8 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2012 Audi A8, and owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
11
owner complaints to NHTSA
16–21
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 2012 Audi A8

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

  1. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 16V619000 Reported 9,067 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Audi A8 vehicles manufactured May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The affected vehicles have a coolant valve that may leak, allowing coolant to enter the engine control module causing a loss of power or the engine to stall.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant valve and inspect for coolant that has leaked through the electrical connector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2016. Owners may…

11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Audi A8 have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 81,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 3 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Check Engine ON. Diagnosed as cam shaft timing chain failure”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 10, 2021 · Engine

“Air bag light comes on and stays on even after the initial startup. Vehicle is stationary and has not been moved. Coded error is driver head curtain igniter short circuit to ground. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 23, 2020 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Audi A8 (A8 L). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16–21 mpg
City / Highway14–18 / 21–28
FuelPremium
EPA classLarge Cars, Midsize Cars
Engine8/12 cyl, 4.2/6.3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Compare Audi A8 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A8 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Audi A810
1996 Audi A821
1997 Audi A8210
1998 Audi A834
1999 Audi A849
2000 Audi A823
2001 Audi A826
2002 Audi A811
2003 Audi A813
2004 Audi A8120
2005 Audi A816
2006 Audi A826
2007 Audi A824
2008 Audi A818
2009 Audi A815
2010 Audi A811
2011 Audi A8115
2012 Audi A8111
2013 Audi A8649
2014 Audi A8518
2015 Audi A8531
2016 Audi A8411
2017 Audi A838
2018 Audi A820
2019 Audi A8314
2020 Audi A853
2021 Audi A8105
2022 Audi A830
2023 Audi A820
2024 Audi A820
2025 Audi A810
2026 Audi A810

Checking a specific 2012 Audi A8

How do I know if my 2012 Audi A8 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2012 Audi A8; your car may already have been repaired under it.

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 16V619000).

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.