RoadVitals

1981 Audi 5000

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Oct 21, 1996
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jan 3, 1987
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1981 Audi 5000, most frequently naming the heating & air conditioning category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Heating & air conditioning1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
87V008000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

Jan 3, 1987
251,102 units potentially affected
The defect: SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM A STATIONARY POSITION MAY OCCUR, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE.
The risk: UNEXPECTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, CAUSING INJURIES.
The remedy: INSTALL AN AUTOMATIC SHIFT LOCK TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE UNLESS BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
83V095000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Sep 22, 1983
117,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT HEIGHT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS.
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE DRIVER COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPRESS BOTH PEDALS AT ONE TIME, LOSE CONTROL, AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A BRAKE PEDAL PLATE WHICH WILL RAISE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE PROPER HEIGHT.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
82V037000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Apr 21, 1982
92,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, AN IMPROPERLY PLACED MAT INTERFERES WITH THE VIBRATION ABSORBER ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE PEDAL MAY NOT FULLY RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION.
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENTIONAL ACCLERATION WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL, WHERE NECESSARY, A GUIDE FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INSPECT THE ENTIRE THROTTLE SYSTEM.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

C86001ClosedInvestigation

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Aug 5, 1986
Closed Jul 11, 1989

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP86006ClosedDefect Petition

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Mar 19, 1986
Closed Jun 23, 1986

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 21, 1996

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
510389
Incident
Oct 21, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi 5000 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1991012—
1990011—
1989021—
1988131—
1987114159.0
1986159367.2
1985148569.4
1984464—
1983152—
1982232—
1981Viewing132—
1980132—
1979032—
1978032—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.