The 2012 Audi A8 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 9,067 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING16V6190002016-08-249,067 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
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 contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
4
AIR BAGS
2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
STEERING
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
SEATS
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1
Total complaints17
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Check engine on. Diagnosed as cam shaft timing chain failure”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a8. The contact's vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 16v619000 (engine and engine cooling). The recall repair was performed by fletcher jones audi (1523 w north ave, chicago, il 60642, [REDACTED]). Two years after the repair was performed, the vehicle…”
“Power steering pump mechanical malfunction/ no power assist customer states steering wheel is stiff no power assit. Power steering pump malfunction pump assembly failed and power steering pump”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a8. While driving 45 mph, the electronic power control warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted after 25 minutes and towed to audi…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a8. While driving 45 mph, the electronic power control warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted after 25 minutes and towed to audi…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Audi A8 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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