RoadVitals

1990 Audi V8

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.
8
Latest Oct 25, 2006
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 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.
0
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 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Audi V8, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and electrical categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Brakes330.0%
  • Driver assistance220.0%
  • Electrical220.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Steering110.0%

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
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
96V084000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

May 10, 1996
3,100 units potentially affected
The defect: A BUSHING WHICH GUIDES THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD CAN, OVER TIME, DETERIORATE AND CAUSE THE CONTROL ROD TO BIND.
The risk: A BINDING CONTROL ROD CAN IMPEDE THE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE PLATE TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONTROL ROD BUSHING WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
91V050000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT; EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:INTEGRATED JACK/LEVELER/STABILIZER

Apr 2, 1991
20,800 units potentially affected
The defect: INSTRUCTION LABEL IN THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE IS INCORRECT FOR THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE.
The risk: INCORRECT USE CAN RESULT IN THE JACK COLLAPSING, WITHINJURY TO INDIVIDUALS UNDER OR NEAR VEHICLE DURING COLLAPSE.
The remedy: SUPPLY INSERT TO OWNER'S MANUAL NOTING CORRECT USAGE, AS WELL AS A CORRECTED INSTRUCTION LABEL FOR THE TRUNK.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Oct 25, 2006

REAR SPEAKERS MAKE NOISE UPON TURNING RADIO ON. NOISE INCLUDES HUM, HISSING, SQUEAL AND POOP NOISES. ACCORDING TO AUDI, THE SPEAKERS AND AMPLIFIERS IN MY CAR ARE THE ASME AS THOSE IN 1991 AND 1992 VERSIONS. 1991 AND 1992 CARS HAD A RECALL ON THESE BOSE SPEAKERS AS THE FAILURE CAN CUASE A FIRE. AUDI IS NOT EXTENDING THE SAME REPAIR TO MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEMS ARE THE SAME AS ARE THE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID
10171815
Incident
Aug 10, 2006
Mileage
75,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 5, 2004

THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
10065558
Incident
Mar 27, 2004
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2002

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE DOES NOT FIT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF RECALL 01V-324 DUE TO THE VIN, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME RISK OF FAILURE AND FIRE.

NHTSA ID
755043
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
8010322
Incident
Sep 22, 1990
Electrical
Filed Jan 14, 2002

NHTSA ALREADY HAS A DEFECT NOTED AS #01V324000 - THIS NOTICE IS TO ADVISE THE CONDITION EXISTS ON 1990 MODELS NOT JUST THE 1991 AS LISTED IN THE NHTSA REPORT. MY SPEAKERS HAVE FAILED JUST AS THE REPORT INDICATES CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE ADD 1990 AS A YEAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.*AK

NHTSA ID
756808
Incident
Nov 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Oct 27, 1998

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL THE SPEED REACHES 25 TO 30 MPH, THEN THE VEHICLE OPERATES CLOSE TO NORMAL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
829602
Incident
Nov 1, 1991
Brakes
Filed May 22, 1997

THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY (10,000-15,000) MILES BECAUSE OF WARPING. BECAUSE OF THE WARPED ROTORS, WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING VIRBRATION. IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS (3) SETS OF ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED A (4TH) TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
812462
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Aug 8, 1996

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAED, HIT RESUME, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, APPLIED THE BRAKES REAL HARD TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK MECHANIC DISENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL ROD AND INFORMED CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL 96V084, CONSUMER IS ANGRY THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
800668
Incident
Aug 7, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi V8 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1994000—
1993010—
1992120—
1991240—
1990Viewing830—
1989020—

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.