Independent automotive buying guidance · U.S. vehicle data · Evidence-ranked recommendations
USED-CAR BUYER MODE · RISK RADAR

2012 Audi A6
reported issues, recalls & what to inspect

This report uses official federal safety records plus VeroRoad’s vehicle × tool evidence. It is a screening tool, not a reliability grade or prediction that your specific car will fail.

59 unique complaint records8 recall campaigns returned0 complaint rows with usable mileage10 local vehicle/tool evidence rows
Read the numbers correctly.

NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted allegations, not verified failures. Raw complaint totals are not failure rates because vehicle sales/exposure are not normalized here. A recall is an official safety campaign, but your VIN may or may not be included.

REPORTED-ISSUE RADAR

Which systems appear most often in the complaint record?

Use this to prioritize inspection effort, not to label the vehicle “good” or “bad.”

0 crash-tagged0 fire-tagged0 reported injuries0 reported deaths
SRS & restraints14 complaints tagged to AIR BAGS
Electrical & 12V system13 complaints tagged to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Engine & powertrain13 complaints tagged to ENGINE
Engine & powertrain9 complaints tagged to FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine & powertrain8 complaints tagged to POWER TRAIN
Steering6 complaints tagged to STEERING
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3 complaints tagged to ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Engine & powertrain3 complaints tagged to ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MILEAGE TIMELINE

Where were mileage-at-failure values reported?

NHTSA did not return enough usable mileage values for a timeline.

0–30k mi0No usable mileage sample
30–60k mi0No usable mileage sample
60–100k mi0No usable mileage sample
100k+ mi0No usable mileage sample
SAFETY RECALLS

Official campaigns returned for this model-year query

Open the exact VIN before purchase to determine whether a campaign applies and whether the remedy was completed.

Decode VIN first →
18V229000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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 from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

Why it matters: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

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 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

Reported 11/04/2018 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
18V370000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

Why it matters: 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.

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.

Reported 04/06/2018 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
17V002000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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, resulting in the pump overheating.

Why it matters: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

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 February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

Reported 03/01/2017 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
17V781000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

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.

Reported 06/12/2017 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
16V646000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

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.

Reported 07/09/2016 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
15V019000FUEL 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.

Why it matters: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

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.

Reported 20/01/2015 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
15V823000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

Why it matters: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.

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.

Reported 08/12/2015 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
11V580000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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.

Why it matters: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE HEAD CURTAIN AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN INJURY.

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 1-800-822-8987.

Reported 06/12/2011 · Verify exact VIN applicability.
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTOR

What I would inspect before money changes hands

The highest reported component groups are converted into inspection tasks. They are not diagnoses.

1

SRS & restraints

14 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.

  • SRS warning lamp self-test
  • SRS module codes
  • Seat-belt latch/retractor operation
  • Recall completion for restraint campaigns
2

Electrical & 12V system

13 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.

  • 12V resting and charging voltage
  • Module communication scan
  • Battery age and terminal condition
  • Unexpected warning lights or intermittent electrical behavior
3

Engine & powertrain

13 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.

  • Cold-start behavior and idle quality
  • Acceleration under light and moderate load
  • Current, pending and permanent DTCs
  • Freeze-frame and fuel/engine live data where available
4

Steering

6 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.

  • Steering warning lights
  • Straight-line tracking and steering effort
  • Steering-angle data/calibration if relevant
  • Noise or binding during lock-to-lock movement
5

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

3 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.

  • Inspect the affected system carefully
  • Scan all modules before clearing codes
  • Review service history and previous repair records
SCAN INTEGRITY CHECK

Make it harder for a recently cleared warning light to fool you.

A clean dashboard is not the same as a clean scan. Readiness monitors, pending codes and permanent codes provide useful context during a pre-purchase inspection.

TSBs & MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS

Look beyond recalls.

Manufacturers submit service bulletins, warranty extensions, repair instructions and other communications to NHTSA. These documents can reveal service procedures and known conditions that are not necessarily safety recalls.

SCANNER × VEHICLE EVIDENCE

Tools that intersect this inspection path

These recommendations use VeroRoad’s existing exact vehicle/function evidence. Fit comes before price.

Run the full vehicle finder →
INSPECTION KIT

Useful supporting equipment

A scanner cannot replace physical inspection and measurement. These tools cover common gaps.

TOPDON BT600 Plus
Battery & resistance testerTOPDON BT600 Plus

Professional battery and resistance testing with sequence testing for higher-volume work.

Check price on Amazon →
TOPDON TC005
Professional handheld thermal cameraTOPDON TC005

Useful for locating abnormal heat in electrical, mechanical and EV-related troubleshooting without assuming it is mandatory for every job.

Check price on Amazon →
Autel MaxiBAS BTAK
Multimeter/current-clamp accessory kitAutel MaxiBAS BTAK

Adds multimeter and current-clamp measurements for deeper electrical troubleshooting when paired with supported MaxiBAS tools.

Check price on Amazon →
Autel MaxiTPMS TS900
TPMS diagnostic/programming tabletAutel MaxiTPMS TS900

Dedicated TPMS workflow plus diagnostics and service functions; strong fit when TPMS is a frequent shop job.

Check price on Amazon →
COMPARE NEARBY MODEL YEARS

Audi A6 Risk Radar by year

SOURCE TRANSPARENCY

Where these signals come from

Federal data are fetched from NHTSA’s public APIs. VeroRoad aggregates the records into screening signals and keeps complaints separate from confirmed recalls.

NHTSA complaints API ↗NHTSA recalls API ↗NHTSA datasets & APIs ↗NHTSA recall / complaint / TSB resources ↗