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 2 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports
161,000 miles · Sep 4, 2007
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 AUDI 80. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE GEAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE BUT EVENTUALLY RELEASED. THERE WAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 93V006000 (POWER TRAIN: AXLE ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER; THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CU…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 AUDI 80. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE GEAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE BUT EVENTUALLY RELEASED. THERE WAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 93V006000 (POWER TRAIN: AXLE ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER; THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 161,000.
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.
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
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
1991 Audi 80 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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