Model year guide

2012 Audi Q5

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Audi Q5 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 210 on record.

2012 Audi Q5 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Audi Q5 at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints4
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$25,139

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Audi Q5 recalls 6

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #18V818000 · 19/11/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.

Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly NHTSA Campaign #17V001000 · 03/01/2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger comp…

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V082000 · 30/01/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This rec…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #16V660000 · 13/09/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V078000 · 10/02/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are a…

Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly NHTSA Campaign #12V299000 · 28/06/2012

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 AUDI Q5 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 21, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT SUNROOF GLASS PANEL THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER/TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.

Fix: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUNROOF GLASS PANEL, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-253-2834.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Audi Q5 common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2012 Audi Q5 safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Audi Q5 SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Audi Q5 MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,625

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Audi Q5 worth?

Low
$13,980
Typical price
$25,139
High
$32,500

From 208 comparable 2012 Audi Q5 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Audi Q5 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,125
Depreciation (5 yrs)$14,000
Total$32,125
Per mile$0.43

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($25,139) with the same model 3 model-years older ($16,740), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Audi Q5 trims & engines on record

Trims
2.0T Premium quattro · 3.2 Premium Plus quattro · Premium Plus · Premium · Prestige
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 211 hp · 3.2L 6-cyl 270 hp

2012 Audi Q5 vehicles on record

Other Audi Q5 model years

2012 Audi Q5 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Audi Q5 have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2012 Audi Q5. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Audi Q5?

Based on 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, suspension, air bags.

What is the 2012 Audi Q5 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Audi Q5 crash-test ratings of rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Audi Q5 get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Audi Q5 at about 21 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2012 Audi Q5 worth?

Comparable 2012 Audi Q5 listings run roughly $13,980–$32,500, typically around $25,139 (from 208 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.