U.S. public vehicle records

1981 Audi 4000: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

0 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1981 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

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

No usable records for this chart.

No records.

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: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 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.

No usable records for this chart.

No records.

Pattern summary

There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.

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

Examples from the source records

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

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

80V146000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper

Reported: 1980-11-12 (November 12, 1980)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, POROUS SPOTS MAY HAVE DEVELOPED ON THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE THREADED HOLE FOR THE BRAKE HOSE DURING THE MOULDING PROCESS. THESE SPOTS ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO SEEP FROM THE CALIPERS DURING HEAVY BRAKE APPLICATIONS.

Remedy: BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

81V039000 · Structure:Frame And Members

Reported: 1981-03-24 (March 24, 1981)

REAR BUMPER SYSTEM ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY WELDED DURING ASSEMBLY. IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, THE RIGHT SIDE BUMPER SUPPORTOR COULD BREAK LOOSE, DAMAGE THE FUEL TANK AND ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK.

Remedy: A REINFORCEMENT PLATE WILL BE INSTALLED, IF NECESSARY, TO PREVENT FUEL TANK DAMAGE. WORK WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO COST TO OWNERS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

83V117000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Reported: 1983-11-09 (November 9, 1983)

THE FUEL PUMP MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAN OCCUR BECAUSE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN THE FUSE PANEL MAY OVERHEAT AND INTERRUPT THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUSE BOX AND ITS CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION, AND CORRECT WHERE NECESSARY. A BYPASS ADAPTER TO THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL BE INSTALLED.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

UnavailableUsable mileage0 / 0 records

UnavailableValid incident date0 / 0 records

UnavailableValid filing date0 / 0 records

UnavailableOrdered incident and filing dates0 / 0 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	1980	1981	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Vehicle Speed Control	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 961055 VEHICLE HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH NO WARNING AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT OVERRIDE.OCCURED 4 TIMES. TT Look up ODI 961055 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	250.0% ODI 968436 DEFECTIVE IDLE STABILIZER CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT PRIOR TO RECALL (87V-069). *AK Look up ODI 968436 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 500686 IGNITION COIL PROBLEM. AK Look up ODI 500686 at NHTSA ↗	1100.0% ODI 8005884 FUEL PUMP BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE GOING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WOULDN'T DOWNSHIFT, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN.*AK Look up ODI 8005884 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.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	240.0% ODI 10082042 · 99,800 mi THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING GAS WHICH IN TURN LEAKED ONTO THE DRIVEWAY AND DOWN THE FUEL LINES. JB (THIS WAS A HUGE FUEL LEAK AND WAS UNDER PRESSURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION) SC *JB Look up ODI 10082042 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.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% 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.	1100.0% ODI 8005884 FUEL PUMP BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE GOING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WOULDN'T DOWNSHIFT, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN.*AK Look up ODI 8005884 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 712963 SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF TRANSMISSION UPON EITHER STARTING AND PLACING IN GEAR OR PRESSING ON BRAKE AT STOPPING. EVAPORATION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS CAUSED TRANSMISSION GEARS TO WEAR OUT AND SLIP UPON ACCELERATION. INTERNAL HARD PARTS BROKEN AND CHIPPED. Look up ODI 712963 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal	00.0% 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.	1100.0% ODI 8005884 FUEL PUMP BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE GOING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WOULDN'T DOWNSHIFT, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN.*AK Look up ODI 8005884 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 8011002 WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PAD STUCK TO THE FLOOR, COULDN'T STOP VEHICLE , AND HIT A TREE.*AK Look up ODI 8011002 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	00.0% 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.	1100.0% ODI 8005884 FUEL PUMP BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE GOING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WOULDN'T DOWNSHIFT, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN.*AK Look up ODI 8005884 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.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	00.0% 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 712963 SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF TRANSMISSION UPON EITHER STARTING AND PLACING IN GEAR OR PRESSING ON BRAKE AT STOPPING. EVAPORATION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS CAUSED TRANSMISSION GEARS TO WEAR OUT AND SLIP UPON ACCELERATION. INTERNAL HARD PARTS BROKEN AND CHIPPED. Look up ODI 712963 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1100.0% ODI 483454 VEHICLE FIRE. *AW Look up ODI 483454 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	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.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable 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
No usable records for this analysis.

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
2024-11	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	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (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

1990: 0 complaints · 1991: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1990	0	0	0
1991	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
1990	0	0	0
1991	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
No usable records for this analysis.

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

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.