1990 Audi 80 recalls & problems

The 1990 Audi 80 has 3 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (8 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive

NHTSA recall 97V172000 · Oct 6, 1997 · 54,800 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.

Risk: IN THE EVENT THE SENSOR SHOULD MALFUNCTION, THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAN INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.

Power train › Axle assembly

NHTSA recall 93V006000 · Jan 11, 1993 · 152,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL OF THE TRANSAXLE IS LOST OVER TIME DUE TO EVAPORATION. LOW OIL LEVELS CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING AND GEAR WEAR AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE, THE VEHICLE'S DRIVE WHEELS COULDLOSE POWER. IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK, CAUSING RAPIDDECELERATION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Fix: DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.

Steering › Column locking › Anti-theft device

NHTSA recall 90V070000 · Apr 10, 1990 · 6,600 vehicles

Problem: IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING LOCK BOLTS COULD BREAK IF DRIVER APPLIES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK.

Risk: BOLT BREAKAGE WOULD CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO REMAIN LOCKED EVEN AFTER THE DRIVER TURNS THE IGNITION KEY AND ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THE CAR; THIS TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Fix: REPLACE COMPLETE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A MODIFIED LOCK BOLT.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

80

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

80

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

80 quattro

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 5 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power train Axle assembly › Axle shaft; Axle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal	8	0	0	95,000 mi
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery; Ignition › Switch	2	1	1	—
Air bags Frontal	1	1	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Nov 12, 2002 · 76,948 milesPower train
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSAXLE SEIZED. *AK *NM
Sep 1, 2002 · 95,000 milesElectrical system › Ignition › Switch
THERE IS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THERE IS A SCREECHING SOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS OF LATER AUDI MODELS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT. APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LATER MODELS, BUT I AM NOT AWARE OF ONE FOR THAT. HTTP://WWW.BBA-REMAN.COM/AUTO-MINE/AUDI/AUDIA6_IGNITION_SWITCH_PROBLEM.HTM
May 5, 2002 · 95,000 milesPower train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal
THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE
Apr 7, 2000Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
CONSUMER NOTICED DRIPPING OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT LEAK CAUSED BY RUST AT TOP OF FUEL TANK.*AK
Feb 3, 1999Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
BEARINGS AND SEALS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING LEAKAGE. NLM
Nov 25, 1998Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE WAS DUR TO "LACK OF OIL IN THE CHAMBER" THE VEHICLE STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL COMPONENT AND THE RECORD KEPT BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER INDICATE THAT NO DIFFERENTIAL RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACT AUDI OF AMERICA'S NATION CONSUMER OFFICE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE
Jul 3, 1997 · crash · 1 injuryElectrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
THE BATTERY DIED, CALLED AAA AND HAD THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW THE CONSUMER MORE THAN 5 FEET AWAY INTO A BRICK WALL. *AK THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE DESTROYED. *YH
Nov 7, 1996Power train › Axle assembly
RECALL ON DIFFERENTIAL DONE ON VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY. IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HIGH GRINDING NOISE, CAR SLOWS DOWN SEEMS LIKE HITTING BRAKES BUT DIDN'T. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA94026 · opened Jul 19, 1994 · closed Jul 28, 1995 · led to recall 97V172000INADVER.AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
There is no summary currently available
PE94023 · opened Mar 7, 1994 · closed Jul 19, 1994INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
There is no summary currently available