RoadVitals

1991 Audi 90

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.
3
Latest Jan 12, 2001
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.
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Audi 90, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 8 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Engine133.3%
  • Seat belts133.3%

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
PE92041ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TRANSMISSION FAILURES

Opened Apr 16, 1992
Closed Aug 3, 1992

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2001

THIS FUEL LINE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED BY MY MECHANIC DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE EXHAUST. THE LINE IS LOCATED BETWEEN A HEAT SHIELD AND THE BODY OF THE CAR. MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE LEAKS IN THE SAME AREA. I PAID $100 FOR A REPAIR OF THE LINE. THERE IS AN AUDI 20V EMAIL GROUP THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE RECENTLY AND WE CONCLUDED THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY FUEL LINE FAILURES AMONG US FOR THEM TO BE ISOLATED INCIDENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
739254
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Jun 7, 1999

DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT LOCKED, NOT EXTRACTING OR EXTENDING. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RESTRAINTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
838970
Incident
Jun 3, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 1995
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL SYS. WIRE HARNESS FRONT SHORTED, CAUSED FAN TO BURN OUT, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
960186

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SM 44-2017 EN

EQUIPMENT

This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.

ATE-17-05

EQUIPMENT

Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based suppliers to support dealers in USA and Canada.

SB-01-15-29

ENGINE

AUDI: ENGINE, ON SOME VEHICLES, WOULD RUN IRREGULARLY OR HAVE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON OR POSSIBLE FILTER ELEMENT FOR CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT VALVE CAN LOOSEN AND IN OIL CIRCUIT, THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM LOOSENED PARTICLES. MODEL ALL. ALL YEARS. *PE

AUD4927ENG

Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota.

Update91i8

Google Maps Street View (NVLW))

2015831

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

VOLKSWAGEN: EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD, REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES. HEAT SHIELDS ARE TO BE INSPECTED AFTER COMPLETION O ANY TYPE OF REPAIR TO THE UNDERBODY (EXHAUST SYSTEM TRANSMISSION, ETC.), AND IF DAMAGED, REPLACED. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi 90 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—
1997010—
1996020—
1995183045.8
1994102038.8
1993162257.0
1992011—
1991Viewing322—
1990332—
1989021—
1988410—
1987010—
1986010—
1985010—
1971010—

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.