1986 Audi 5000 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Audi 5000, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance423.5%
- Electrical317.6%
- Fuel system317.6%
- Exterior lighting317.6%
- Powertrain (other)211.8%
- Tires & wheels15.9%
- Visibility15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON WAY TO WORK, PASSED CAR, PUT PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT STUCK THERE, UNTIL TAPPED WITH FOOT, THANK GOD, BUT WHEN I GOT TO WORK, CAR IDLED UP AND DOWN, ERRATIC, BETWEEN 10,000 AND 20,000 RPMS. TURNED OFF ENGINE, NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. RESTARTED OK, STILL IDLED FUNNY. TURNED OFF ENGINE. WAITED A MINUTE, NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SMOKE. INSIDE NWA BUILDING WORKING 15 MINUTES AND MY MANAGER SAID CAR WAS ON FIRE...FLAMES UNDERHOOD ABOUT 20 FEET IN THE AIR...BURNED CAR NEXT TO IT TOO. FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUT OUT, MILLERSVILLE, MD HQS DEPT. SAID STARTED IN ENGINE, SO BAD BURNT AND MELTED HARD TO TELL WHAT FAILED. I HAD NO FIRE INSURANCE ON CAR. ANY RECOURSE AGAINST AUDI? PLEASE ADVISE. I HAD JUST SPENT $3,000 IN REPAIRS ON CAR...SEAT, CRUISE, EXHUAST, TUNE UP, INJECTORS...AT LOCAL SHOPS. I AM SICK...WAS PLANNING TO ADD COMPREHENSIVE,BUT HAD TO TAKE TO GEICO FOR INSPECTION FIRST. MOREOVER, I LIVE IN CONDO, WITH GARAGE, 4 FAMILY UNIT, HAD BEEN PARKING IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT...A FEW HOURS LATER WE MIGHT HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED OR INJURED...WHOLE PLACE IS WOOD FRAME. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR/OWNER WHO TOWED CAR TO HIS SHOP, SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THIS MODEL MANY TIMES...HE SAID CAR WILL BE THERE TO INSPECT FOR A FEW WEEKS...THE JUNKED.*AK
I STARTED THE CAR IN A DRIVEWAY, INTENDING TO BACK ONTO THE STREET. WHEN I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARD AT TOP SPEED. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. I HAD 40 FEET OF SKID MARKS VISIBLE ON THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY IT'S IMPACT WITH A PARKED CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITH 1986 AUDI 5000 MODELS. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS CAR? IS IT SAFE TO CONTINUE TO USE?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON WAY TO WORK, PASSED CAR, PUT PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT STUCK THERE, UNTIL TAPPED WITH FOOT, THANK GOD, BUT WHEN I GOT TO WORK, CAR IDLED UP AND DOWN, ERRATIC, BETWEEN 10,000 AND 20,000 RPMS. TURNED OFF ENGINE, NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. RESTARTED OK, STILL IDLED FUNNY. TURNED OFF ENGINE. WAITED A MINUTE, NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SMOKE. INSIDE NWA BUILDING WORKING 15 MINUTES AND MY MANAGER SAID CAR WAS ON FIRE...FLAMES UNDERHOOD ABOUT 20 FEET IN THE AIR...BURNED CAR NEXT TO IT TOO. FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUT OUT, MILLERSVILLE, MD HQS DEPT. SAID STARTED IN ENGINE, SO BAD BURNT AND MELTED HARD TO TELL WHAT FAILED. I HAD NO FIRE INSURANCE ON CAR. ANY RECOURSE AGAINST AUDI? PLEASE ADVISE. I HAD JUST SPENT $3,000 IN REPAIRS ON CAR...SEAT, CRUISE, EXHUAST, TUNE UP, INJECTORS...AT LOCAL SHOPS. I AM SICK...WAS PLANNING TO ADD COMPREHENSIVE,BUT HAD TO TAKE TO GEICO FOR INSPECTION FIRST. MOREOVER, I LIVE IN CONDO, WITH GARAGE, 4 FAMILY UNIT, HAD BEEN PARKING IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT...A FEW HOURS LATER WE MIGHT HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED OR INJURED...WHOLE PLACE IS WOOD FRAME. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR/OWNER WHO TOWED CAR TO HIS SHOP, SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THIS MODEL MANY TIMES...HE SAID CAR WILL BE THERE TO INSPECT FOR A FEW WEEKS...THE JUNKED.*AK
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP AND DAMAGED ENGINE. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON WAY TO WORK, PASSED CAR, PUT PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT STUCK THERE, UNTIL TAPPED WITH FOOT, THANK GOD, BUT WHEN I GOT TO WORK, CAR IDLED UP AND DOWN, ERRATIC, BETWEEN 10,000 AND 20,000 RPMS. TURNED OFF ENGINE, NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. RESTARTED OK, STILL IDLED FUNNY. TURNED OFF ENGINE. WAITED A MINUTE, NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SMOKE. INSIDE NWA BUILDING WORKING 15 MINUTES AND MY MANAGER SAID CAR WAS ON FIRE...FLAMES UNDERHOOD ABOUT 20 FEET IN THE AIR...BURNED CAR NEXT TO IT TOO. FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUT OUT, MILLERSVILLE, MD HQS DEPT. SAID STARTED IN ENGINE, SO BAD BURNT AND MELTED HARD TO TELL WHAT FAILED. I HAD NO FIRE INSURANCE ON CAR. ANY RECOURSE AGAINST AUDI? PLEASE ADVISE. I HAD JUST SPENT $3,000 IN REPAIRS ON CAR...SEAT, CRUISE, EXHUAST, TUNE UP, INJECTORS...AT LOCAL SHOPS. I AM SICK...WAS PLANNING TO ADD COMPREHENSIVE,BUT HAD TO TAKE TO GEICO FOR INSPECTION FIRST. MOREOVER, I LIVE IN CONDO, WITH GARAGE, 4 FAMILY UNIT, HAD BEEN PARKING IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT...A FEW HOURS LATER WE MIGHT HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED OR INJURED...WHOLE PLACE IS WOOD FRAME. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR/OWNER WHO TOWED CAR TO HIS SHOP, SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THIS MODEL MANY TIMES...HE SAID CAR WILL BE THERE TO INSPECT FOR A FEW WEEKS...THE JUNKED.*AK
RECALL 89V006000, FUEL INJECTION SEAL HAS HARDENED DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, LOW-HIGH BEAM SWITCH FAILURE OCCURS, CAUSING HEADLAMP HIGH BEAMS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, LOW/HIGH BEAM SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING HEADLAMP HIGH BEAMS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
TRANSAXLE SEAL FAILED, RESULTING IN A LEAK PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. (93V-0060). *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 AUDI 5000. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN XM PLUS 300 TIRES (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE CONTACT HEARD LOUD FLAPPING NOISES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LOST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ITS TREAD, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VIN AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,100. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOCATION OF BUBBLES IN FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS, IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .