IllustrationDIFFERENTIAL LEAKED OIL INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DAMAGED THE GEARS. *AK A RECALL WAS ISSUED RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM
1989 Audi 100
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 100 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsSPEEDOMETER FAILED. YH THE SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER RECORDS SPEED, IT BOBS UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 20-40 MPH, THE ODOMETER NO LONGER RECORDS MILEAGE, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE (CASE # 990-329-290). NLM 12-APR-01
WINDOWS FOG OVER AND THE DEFROSTER ONLY MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE.
FAN MOTOR FAILED.
Official recalls
397V172000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Oct 6, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
93V006000 · Power Train:axle Assembly
Jan 11, 1993
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
91V050000 · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift; Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer
Apr 2, 1991
INSTRUCTION LABEL IN THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE IS INCORRECT FOR THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT USE CAN RESULT IN THE JACK COLLAPSING, WITHINJURY TO INDIVIDUALS UNDER OR NEAR VEHICLE DURING COLLAPSE.
Remedy: SUPPLY INSERT TO OWNER'S MANUAL NOTING CORRECT USAGE, AS WELL AS A CORRECTED INSTRUCTION LABEL FOR THE TRUNK.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer
INSTRUCTION LABEL IN THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE IS INCORRECT FOR THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: INCORRECT USE CAN RESULT IN THE JACK COLLAPSING, WITHINJURY TO INDIVIDUALS UNDER OR NEAR VEHICLE DURING COLLAPSE.
Remedy: SUPPLY INSERT TO OWNER'S MANUAL NOTING CORRECT USAGE, AS WELL AS A CORRECTED INSTRUCTION LABEL FOR THE TRUNK.
Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift
INSTRUCTION LABEL IN THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE IS INCORRECT FOR THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: INCORRECT USE CAN RESULT IN THE JACK COLLAPSING, WITHINJURY TO INDIVIDUALS UNDER OR NEAR VEHICLE DURING COLLAPSE.
Remedy: SUPPLY INSERT TO OWNER'S MANUAL NOTING CORRECT USAGE, AS WELL AS A CORRECTED INSTRUCTION LABEL FOR THE TRUNK.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA94026 · Inadver.air Bag Deployment
Opened Jul 19, 1994 · Closed Jul 28, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available