Audi 80 problems
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the Audi subdivision of the Volkswagen Group across four generations from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon, and station wagon — the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant. The coupé and convertible models were not badged as members of the range, but used a derivative of the same platforms.
In North America and Australia, the 80 was marketed as the Audi Fox for model years 1973–79, as the Audi 4000 for model years 1980–87 in the USA, as Audi 4000 5+5 from 1981 in the USA, and Audi 5+5 in Australia during 1981 through 1983.
The Audi 90 was an upmarket version of the Audi 80, although all North American sedans of the B4 generation were called Audi 90.
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Audi 80 model years
Common Audi 80 problems
The Audi 80 is a popular classic car that has been praised for its innovative design and advanced technology. However, like any vehicle, it is not without its problems. Here are some common issues with the Audi 80 based on complaints from owners of this car:
Issues with early models (1966-1978)
- Engine problems: Early models of the Audi 80 were prone to engine issues such as oil leaks and overheating. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn or damaged seals and gaskets, a faulty cooling system, or a lack of proper maintenance.
- Rust and corrosion: Another common issue with early models of the Audi 80 is rust and corrosion. This can be caused by exposure to road salt, moisture, and other environmental factors. Rust and corrosion can weaken the car's structure and lead to more serious problems over time.
Issues with second generation models (1978-1986)
- Electrical problems: Second generation models of the Audi 80 were prone to electrical issues such as faulty alternators and battery drain. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn or damaged wiring, a faulty battery, or a malfunctioning alternator.
- Fuel system problems: Another common issue with second generation models of the Audi 80 is fuel system problems. This can include issues with the carburetor, fuel pump, or fuel injectors. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of proper maintenance, wear and tear on the fuel system components, or a malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator.
- Suspension problems: Suspension problems were also common in second generation models of the Audi 80. This can include issues with the shocks, struts, or control arms. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear on the suspension components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning steering system.
Issues with third generation models (1986-1991)
- Transmission problems: Third generation models of the Audi 80 were prone to transmission problems such as slipping and rough shifting. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn or damaged transmission components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning clutch.
- Braking issues: Another common issue with third generation models of the Audi 80 is braking issues. This can include issues with the brake pads, rotors, or master cylinder. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear on the brake components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning brake system.
- Ignition system problems: Ignition system problems were also common in third generation models of the Audi 80. This can include issues with the distributor, ignition coil, or spark plugs. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear on the ignition components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning ignition system.
Issues with fourth generation models (1991-1996)
- Oil consumption problems: Fourth generation models of the Audi 80 were prone to oil consumption problems. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn or damaged engine components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning oil system.
- Electrical issues: Another common issue with fourth generation models of the Audi 80 is electrical issues. This can include issues with the sensors, dashboard, or electronic systems. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear on the electrical components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning electrical system.
- Cooling system problems: Cooling system problems were also common in fourth generation models of the Audi 80. This can include issues with the radiator, thermostat, or cooling fan. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear on the cooling system components, a lack of proper maintenance, or a malfunctioning cooling system.
To avoid these problems, it is important to properly maintain the Audi 80 and address issues as soon as they arise. This includes regular oil changes, brake inspections and replacements, tire rotations and replacements, and regular fluid checks and replacements. By taking care of the car and addressing issues as soon as they arise, drivers can ensure that their Audi 80 provides them with many years of reliable and enjoyable driving.
Are Audi 80 reliable?
All the Audi 80s are generally pretty reliable. Mechanically the 16v is the best option. They have a great engine in them and its only ever things like bushes, struts and suspension that goes. But these can be repaired fairly cheaply.
Is the Audi 80 a classic car?
In either B3 or B4 guise, the 80 is an affordable classic car. Around £1,000 buys a tatty example, while £2,000 and up should get you something pretty tidy.
How many Audi 80 are left?
There are 34,004,030 cars & other vehicles with valid MOTs. There are 833 AUDI 80 left in the UK with an MOT. 0.0024% of all UK vehicles are AUDI 80. Vehicle data is updated in near real-time as they pass & fail MOT tests.
What replaced the Audi 80?
Audi A4 saloon
The Audi A4 saloon replaced the Audi 80 in late 1994, with an Avant (estate) version going on sale in early 1996. Although the first A4 closely resembled the final 80 in both bodystyles (see below), underneath it was an all-new car.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Audi 80 years
We have researched Audi problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Audi 80 cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Audi 80 model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Audi 80 model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Audi 80 years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Audi 80 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Audi 80 , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Power train problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Electrical system problems
- Fuel system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Audi 80 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by 80 model years
A total of 2 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by 80 model years
There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 27 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Audi 80 . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Audi 80 vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Audi 80 1991
- Date Of Incident: 2007-08-24
- Date Complaint: 2007-09-04
- VIN: WAUEC58A5MA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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.
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 2002-11-12
- Date Complaint: 2004-08-31
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSAXLE SEIZED. *AK *NM
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 2002-05-05
- Date Complaint: 2003-01-23
- VIN: WAUEB58A4LA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: THERE IS LEAKAGE IN SEAL OF THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT. I FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES THEN IT COULD CAUSE A BIG STEERING FAILURE
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 2002-09-01
- Date Complaint: 2003-01-23
- VIN: WAUEB58A4LA
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: THERE IS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THERE IS A SCREECHING SOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS OF LATER AUDI MODELS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT. APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LATER MODELS, BUT I AM NOT AWARE OF ONE FOR THAT. HTTP://WWW.BBA-REMAN.COM/AUTO-MINE/AUDI/AUDIA6_IGNITION_SWITCH_PROBLEM.HTM
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-07
- Date Complaint: 2000-05-03
- VIN: WAUEA58A4LA
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: CONSUMER NOTICED DRIPPING OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT LEAK CAUSED BY RUST AT TOP OF FUEL TANK.*AK
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 1999-02-03
- Date Complaint: 1999-10-05
- VIN: WAUEA58A6LA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: BEARINGS AND SEALS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING LEAKAGE. NLM
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1999-06-03
- Date Complaint: 1999-07-11
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: NO SUMMARY
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 1998-11-25
- Date Complaint: 1999-01-08
- VIN: WAUEA58A4LA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1998-03-09
- Date Complaint: 1998-06-04
- VIN: WAUEBO899KA
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. YH
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1998-03-09
- Date Complaint: 1998-06-04
- VIN: WAUEBO899KA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO EVAPORATION OF THE OIL, (RECALL, HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED # 93V-006).
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1997-09-28
- Date Complaint: 1998-03-26
- VIN: WAUEB0899KA
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTION, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. *AK
Audi 80 1990
- Date Of Incident: 1997-07-03
- Date Complaint: 1997-07-17
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WAUEA58A8LA
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1996-09-01
- Date Complaint: 1997-04-09
- VIN: WAUEB0897KA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: TRANSAXLE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP.
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1996-09-01
- Date Complaint: 1997-04-09
- VIN: WAUEB0897KA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: BEARINGS MELTED/SHREDDED.
Audi 80 1989
- Date Of Incident: 1996-09-01
- Date Complaint: 1997-04-09
- VIN: WAUEB0897KA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: SEALS MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Latest 5 recalls Audi 80
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 9 recalls for different components of the Audi 80.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Audi 80 1990
- Report Received Date: 1997-10-06
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
- Model: Audi 80 1989
- Report Received Date: 1997-10-06
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
- Model: Audi 80 1991
- Report Received Date: 1997-10-06
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
- Model: Audi 80 1992
- Report Received Date: 1997-10-06
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
- Model: Audi 80 1990
- Report Received Date: 1993-01-11
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
Latest positive Audi 80 car reviews
Are you having problems with your Audi 80?
Coleman Grant 2024-08-23
Vehicle year: 1990
Audis are great cars! Although the newer 1.8T A4s have had some issues, the older Audis are still reliable. I loved owning my Audi, but it can be expensive to maintain. I did have to replace the transmission at 197k miles, but other than that, I haven't had any major issues. With 199k miles, it's still running strong. The gas mileage is decent, and while the power could be better, it's still a good car overall. Just be sure to have it serviced by a reputable professional.
Turner Brakus 2024-08-11
Vehicle year: 1992
You've made an excellent choice with this car! It offers great value for money, with superior build quality compared to other cars in its class. Plus, it comes with a lot of standard equipment. The gearbox is fantastic and it drives like a much larger car. The stereo is also a nice touch.
Coy Gislason 2024-08-05
Vehicle year: 1992
I hope you're doing well! I just wanted to share my experience with my Audi 80 4dr. Despite buying it used and the previous owner not taking good care of it, it has been a great car for me. I did have to replace some parts, which was a bit of a challenge finding, but it was definitely worth it because now it's running strong!
Jensen Maggio 2024-02-17
Vehicle year: 1991
You've made an excellent choice with this car! It offers great value for money, with superior build quality compared to other cars in its class. Plus, it comes with a lot of standard equipment. The gearbox is fantastic and it drives like a much larger car. The stereo is also a nice touch.