IllustrationNO SUMMARY
1989 Audi 80
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →7Owner complaints
Model-year median: 1
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1989 Audi 80
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 7 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Power Train: 6 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 80 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 0 of 7 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 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
Power Train complaints
6 reportsDIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO EVAPORATION OF THE OIL, (RECALL, HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED # 93V-006).
TRANSAXLE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP.
TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILED DUE TO LACK OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS WERE NEVER DONE (93V-006). *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED THREE YEARS AGO FOR THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGED AGAIN DUE TO LOW OIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
OIL LUBRICATING TRANSAXLE GEARS WAS LOST DUE TO EVAPORATION, CAUSING VEHICLE NOISE PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (93V-006). *AK
Recall campaigns
297V172000 · 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.