Succeeding the popular Audi 80 sedan, the A4 became an instant hit and a favorite of the shoppers looking for a compact luxury car. Furthermore, the highly-dependable characteristics of the sedan make it even more appealing as compared to its peers. Officially, the 2012 Audi A4 has seen zero recalls along with only 40 complaints to date as compared to 39 complaints of the last year’s model. Among the registered reports, only the powertrain of the sedan received the major number of complaints where issues such as timing chain failure and coarse sound from the powertrain were reported. Despite the complaints, the brand did not issue any recalls for the problems yet and we can only expect the issues to be ironed out in the next model year. In its class, the Audi A4 competes against the Mercedes-Benz C Class, the BMW 3 Series, and the Infiniti G25.
2012 Audi A4 Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, and Recalls and which year to avoid?
Audi A4 user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Timing chain failure: This has been a known issue with the Audi A4 for a couple of years now. The owners experienced a sudden engine stall or loss of power while driving due to the timing chain failures. The timing chains of the affected vehicles degraded prematurely and required replacement. In a few instances, the failure resulted in engine failures as well.
- Excessive oil consumption: Apart from the timing chain issue, some owners had to deal with excessive oil consumption problems with their A4 sedans. Due to the excessive oil consumption, the sedans required frequent top-ups of engine oil, even after covering as little as 1,000 miles within the city limits. In some instances, the vehicles showed low oil warning lights while driving due to the failure as well.
- Transmission failure: A single case of transmission failure is there for the 2012 A4. According to the owner, the vehicle showed a transmission warning sign after which, the transmission was replaced. However, the replacement transmission unit started giving a similar issue shortly after.
Electrical problems
- Fire from headlight compartment: One case of fire from the headlight compartment has been reported against the 2012 Audi A4. As per the complainant, the fire started from the headlight compartment shortly after the car was parked. The owner was unable to put out the fire with water and the fire department was informed. Later, the vehicle was towed to the dealership where it was declared a total loss.
- Alternator failure: The alternator failure on a unit of the 2012 A4 resulted in a complete electrical failure. After the alternator was replaced, the battery was also replaced but the complete electrical system of the car failed. The dealership wasn’t able to fix the vehicle as well.
Miscellaneous problems
- Steering failure: A couple of owners report power steering failures on their vehicles. They experienced excessive vibrations from the steering wheel while driving and the steering wheel became difficult to turn as well. In one instance, the owner paid repeated visits and spent a lot on the repairs but the issue was not resolved.
2012 Audi A4 recalls
The 2012 Audi A4 doesn’t have any recalls yet.
Should you buy a used Audi A4?
The Audi A4 successfully carried forward the fame of the Audi 80 and is a brilliant luxury sedan with a reasonable price tag and a smaller footprint. Moreover, the excellent fuel economy and the agile handling of the sedan further add to its versatility as well. Apart from a few reported issues such as the timing chain failures and the excessive oil consumption problem, the overall reliability aspect of the sedan is great when compared to its rivals. Even though there aren’t any recalls for the reported issues, the number of complaints is not significant enough. A used example makes the sedan even more accessible for people on a tight budget and promises a great bang for the buck. While getting a used example, look out for the timing chain and the oil consumption issues.
