RoadVitals

1989 Audi 80

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.
7
Latest Jul 11, 1999
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.
2
Latest Oct 6, 1997
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.
1
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 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Audi 80, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), brakes and transmission categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names 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

  • Powertrain (other)450.0%
  • Brakes225.0%
  • Transmission225.0%

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

2 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
97V172000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Oct 6, 1997
54,800 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
93V006000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Jan 11, 1993
152,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA94026ClosedEngineering Analysis

INADVER.AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

Opened Jul 19, 1994
Closed Jul 28, 1995

There is no summary currently available

AIR BAGSLed to recall 97V172000

Recent owner complaints

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

Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
708495
Incident
Jun 3, 1999
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 4, 1998

DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO EVAPORATION OF THE OIL, (RECALL, HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED # 93V-006).

NHTSA ID
605800
Incident
Mar 9, 1998
Brakes
Filed Mar 26, 1998

WHILE DRIVING MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTION, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
533351
Incident
Sep 28, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 1997

TRANSAXLE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID
516308
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 27, 1996

TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILED DUE TO LACK OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS WERE NEVER DONE (93V-006). *AK

NHTSA ID
511814
Incident
Oct 15, 1996
Transmission
Filed Jul 17, 1995

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED THREE YEARS AGO FOR THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGED AGAIN DUE TO LOW OIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
968912
Incident
Jul 9, 1995
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 1995

OIL LUBRICATING TRANSAXLE GEARS WAS LOST DUE TO EVAPORATION, CAUSING VEHICLE NOISE PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (93V-006). *AK

NHTSA ID
484152
Incident
Jan 1, 1993

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi 80 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1995000—
1994000—
1993010—
1992111—
1991221—
1990932—
1989Viewing721—
1988410—
1987010—
1986010—
1985010—

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.