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1990 Audi 80

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
9Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

3Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19874
19887
19899
19902
19911
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1993
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
6Electrical System
2Air Bags
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1

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: 3 of 9 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1997
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #814325

Official recalls

3

97V172000 · 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.

90V070000 · Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Apr 10, 1990

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

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

2

EA94026 · 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

PE94023 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment

Opened Mar 7, 1994 · Closed Jul 19, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

There is no summary currently available