Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Audi S4
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Audi S4 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 22 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V019000 Fuel Injection System Fuel Leak NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 14 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
- Electrical System 3 complaints
- Service Brakes 2 complaints
- Unknown or Other 2 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint
Of the 22 complaints on file, 2 report a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Audi S4 is prone to power train issues and fuel injection system recalls, leading to higher maintenance costs. The overall reliability is below-average due to these recurring issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 60,000–90,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | very common |
| fuel injection system | 50,000–70,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 10,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Air filter replacement every 20,000 miles
- Spark plug replacement at 55,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 5,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noises
- Fuel smell from engine bay
- Intermittent electrical failures
- Check engine light for fuel system
- Decreased fuel efficiency
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Audi S4 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.