2012 Audi S5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Audi S5 has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA logged 10 complaints, 80% about airbags, plus one fuel system recall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #7 of 16 S5 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 10
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2012 Audi S5 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags8 (80%)
- Electrical System1 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (10%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report waiting on Takata airbag recall (campaign 16v078000) repairs with parts unavailable for extended periods.
- Some owners questioned whether it was safe to keep driving while awaiting the airbag inflator fix.
- A mechatronic transmission malfunction caused gear shifting problems, jerking, and stuttering during starts and stops, reported at 76,456 miles.
- The backup camera intermittently failed to display on startup, an issue reported at 40,000 miles.
2012 Audi S5 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V019000Jan 20, 2015Fuel System26,008 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
2012 Audi S5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other S5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Audi S5 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2012 S5 a complaint index of 60, ranking it 7th worst among 16 model years of the S5, with a Caution verdict. Most complaints (80%) involve airbags.
- Does the 2012 Audi S5 have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 15V019000) covers the fuel system, addressing fuel injection rail and seal issues on 2011-2012 S4, S5, Q7 and related Volkswagen Group vehicles.
- What is the main problem with the 2012 Audi S5?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 8 of 10 complaints (80%), mostly tied to the Takata airbag recall and parts delays.
- How does the 2012 Audi S5 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 60 is lower than 2010 (73), 2013 (67), 2018 (80), 2020 (87), and 2025 (100), but higher than 2011 (53), 2014 (33), and 2019 (47).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Audi S5?
- The 2012 S5 gets 19 mpg combined (16 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200.