AudiA8L2012Overview/audi/a8l/2012/base/

2012 Audi A8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 A8L.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2012 Audi A8L is a passenger car that requires a substantial 12.2 quarts of 5W-30 or 5W-40 API oil for its engine. Owner feedback for this specific year is limited, recording just 11 total complaints—predominantly focused on the engine—alongside a single recall. When placed within the model's 2004–2015 complaint history, the 2012 A8L sits well below even the lowest recorded year of 18 complaints in 2014, meaning it represents a notably stable point in the lineup prior to the 47-complaint peak that followed in 2013.

Model year20122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity12.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 850 CCA battery, OE oil filter 079103121BE. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter079103121BE alt 07C115562E
Engine air filter4H0129620M
Fuel filter4H0201511A
Spark plug101905621B alt 079905620
Battery000915089BD alt 000915089BE
Front wiper blades4H1955425B alt 4H1955426B
Serpentine belt079903137AA alt 07P145933B
Thermostat079121119C alt 079121115BG
Cabin air filter4H0819439

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length207.1 in
Overall width76.8 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase122.8 in
Curb weight4451 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 12.2 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.4 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidAudi part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-4.9
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity12.2 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8.1 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper BoltsDiagonally tighting 11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.3 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9
Spark Plug Torque22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06-4.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188 °F
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature207 °F
Engine Compression145-203 PSI @ RPM. 44 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 USE NEW BOLTS ONLY ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH 1LL, 1LM
Torque Caliper to Bracket41 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle145 USE NEW BOLTS ONLY ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.181 in / 0.866 in / 1.417 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.181 in / 0.866 in / 1.417 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in / 0.787 in / 1.339 in / 1.417 in
Brake ApplicationWITH 1LL, 1LM

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages
190
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4544 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1hand tighten, step 215 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1install by hand, step 211 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 55,000 mi; coolant at 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 15,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
At 15,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 35,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
At 55,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 75,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Audi A8L shows only 6 total complaints across its top areas (Engine and Steering each with 2, plus two single-count categories) and zero crash or fire reports, which is notably lower than the 47 complaints and 6 recalls recorded for 2013, the next year in the generation. The 2013–2015 trend shows complaints fluctuating (47, 18, 30) while recalls remain at 5–6 per year, indicating persistent service actions. The 2012 model falls at the start of this generation and, based solely on the provided data, appears to have far fewer reported issues than the years immediately after. However, the data does not specify root causes for the 2012 complaints, and recall information for 2012 is absent from the record. Given the minimal complaint count and absence of safety events, this is a relatively good year to buy within the generation, though the lack of recall data means you should verify any outstanding campaigns before purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1093
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
11
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine2
Steering2
Electrical System,Air Bags,Unknown Or Other1
Fuel System, Gasoline,Engine1
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System,Visibility/Wiper1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Unknown Or Other1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V619000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 24/08/2016

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1093 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2074729_32026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2028902_52026-06-23Power TrainThis bulletin provides informaiton when the transmission warning message appears in the…
TSB_2028985_132026-06-23Power TrainThis bulleitn procides informaiton when tehre is a transmission warning mssage in the…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2082046_12026-06-22Power TrainThis bulletin provides information when there is a strong jolt after engine automatically…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific A8L. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 A8L take?

12.2 qt of 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 A8L have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.