U.S. public vehicle records

Audi 80 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

95,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 to 1993 model years. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 23 complaints (17.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	5	21.7%
Braking behavior	3	13.0%
Electrical and battery issues	1	4.3%
Steering behavior	1	4.3%
Fuel system concerns	1	4.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Power Train:Axle Assembly

Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft

Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder

Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	4
Power Train:Axle Assembly	4
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft	3
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal	3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder	3
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit	2
Air Bags:Frontal	1
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	1

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 4; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 3; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 3; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2003

2004

2007

1995: 4; 1996: 5; 1997: 4; 1998: 2; 1999: 3; 2000: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2007: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 511814 · 1996-11-27 (November 27, 1996)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 511814 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 516308 · 1997-04-09 (April 9, 1997)

SEALS MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 516308 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 533351 · 1998-03-26 (March 26, 1998)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 533351 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 605800 · 1998-06-04 (June 4, 1998)

MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 605800 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 814325 · 1997-07-17 (July 17, 1997)

THE BATTERY DIED, CALLED AAA AND HAD THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW THE CONSUMER MORE THAN 5 FEET AWAY INTO A BRICK WALL. *AK THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE DESTROYED. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 814325 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003308 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 861316 · 2000-05-03 (May 3, 2000)

CONSUMER NOTICED DRIPPING OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT LEAK CAUSED BY RUST AT TOP OF FUEL TANK.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861316 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 2; 1990: 3; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Audi 80 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1985	0	1	Not available
1986	0	1	0
1987	0	1	0
1988	4	1	0
1989	7	2	+1
1990	9	3	+1
1991	2	2	-1
1992	1	1	-1
1993	0	1	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

23 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

17.4%Usable mileage4 / 23 records

91.3%Valid incident date21 / 23 records

100.0%Valid filing date23 / 23 records

91.3%Ordered incident and filing dates21 / 23 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	228.6% ODI 708495 NO SUMMARY Look up ODI 708495 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 981405 WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, ALMOST RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT. *AK Look up ODI 981405 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 508332 TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS/SHIFTS HARD. Look up ODI 508332 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Axle Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	228.6% ODI 484152 OIL LUBRICATING TRANSAXLE GEARS WAS LOST DUE TO EVAPORATION, CAUSING VEHICLE NOISE PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (93V-006). *AK Look up ODI 484152 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 807130 RECALL ON DIFFERENTIAL DONE ON VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY. IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HIGH GRINDING NOISE, CAR SLOWS DOWN SEEMS LIKE HITTING BRAKES BUT DIDN'T. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK Look up ODI 807130 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 10201855 · 161,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 AUDI 80. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE GEAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE BUT EVENTUALLY RELEASED. THERE WAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 93V006000 (POWER TRAIN: AXLE ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER; THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 161,000. Look up ODI 10201855 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 516308 SEALS MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL. Look up ODI 516308 at NHTSA ↗	222.2% ODI 10003308 · 95,000 mi THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 516308 SEALS MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL. Look up ODI 516308 at NHTSA ↗	222.2% ODI 10003308 · 95,000 mi THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 809145 MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED, TOOK TO DEALER AND HE REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK Look up ODI 809145 at NHTSA ↗	228.6% ODI 533351 WHILE DRIVING MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTION, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. *AK Look up ODI 533351 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 500522 DIFFERENTIAL DAMAGED, CAUSING LOW FLUID LEVEL, PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO VEHICLE NOT BEING SERVICED BY AUDI DEALER. *DSH Look up ODI 500522 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	111.1% ODI 702009 THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE WAS DUR TO "LACK OF OIL IN THE CHAMBER" THE VEHICLE STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL COMPONENT AND THE RECORD KEPT BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER INDICATE THAT NO DIFFERENTIAL RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACT AUDI OF AMERICA'S NATION CONSUMER OFFICE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE Look up ODI 702009 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	111.1% ODI 814325 THE BATTERY DIED, CALLED AAA AND HAD THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW THE CONSUMER MORE THAN 5 FEET AWAY INTO A BRICK WALL. AK THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE DESTROYED. YH Look up ODI 814325 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	111.1% ODI 814325 THE BATTERY DIED, CALLED AAA AND HAD THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW THE CONSUMER MORE THAN 5 FEET AWAY INTO A BRICK WALL. AK THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE DESTROYED. YH Look up ODI 814325 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Power Train:Axle Assembly	Too few reports for a range	161,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10201855 · 161,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 AUDI 80. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE GEAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE BUT EVENTUALLY RELEASED. THERE WAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 93V006000 (POWER TRAIN: AXLE ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER; THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 161,000. Look up ODI 10201855 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft	Too few reports for a range	95,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10003308 · 95,000 mi THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal	Too few reports for a range	95,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10003308 · 95,000 mi THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1992: 0 complaints · 1993: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1992	0	0	0
1993	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1992	1	0	0
1993	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Power Train:Axle Assembly	Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft	Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder	Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit	Air Bags:Frontal	Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Axle Assembly	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft	0	0	—	3 ODI 516308 SEALS MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL. Look up ODI 516308 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10003308 · 95,000 mi THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 548904 BEARINGS AND SEALS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING LEAKAGE. NLM Look up ODI 548904 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal	0	0	3 ODI 516308 SEALS MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL. Look up ODI 516308 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10003308 · 95,000 mi THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE Look up ODI 10003308 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 548904 BEARINGS AND SEALS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING LEAKAGE. NLM Look up ODI 548904 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Air Bags:Frontal	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 814325 THE BATTERY DIED, CALLED AAA AND HAD THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW THE CONSUMER MORE THAN 5 FEET AWAY INTO A BRICK WALL. AK THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE DESTROYED. YH Look up ODI 814325 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 814325 THE BATTERY DIED, CALLED AAA AND HAD THE BATTERY RECHARGED. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW THE CONSUMER MORE THAN 5 FEET AWAY INTO A BRICK WALL. AK THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE DESTROYED. YH Look up ODI 814325 at NHTSA ↗	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 4.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 508332

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS/SHIFTS HARD.

Look up ODI 508332 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule