1990 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.
Social links
Common 1990 Audi 80 problems
The 1990 Audi 80 is known for a few common problems that have been reported by owners. These issues are primarily related to the engine and transmission, but there are also some concerns about the car's electrical system and overall performance.
- Starting problems: Another common issue with the 1990 Audi 80 is difficulty starting the engine, particularly after it has been turned off for a while. This can be caused by a number of factors, including a faulty ignition system, a weak battery, or issues with the car's electrical system. In some cases, the engine may shake or shudder when it is turned off, which can make it harder to restart.
- Transmission problems: The 1990 Audi 80 was available with both manual and automatic transmissions, and some owners have reported problems with both. Manual transmissions may have issues with grinding or jumping gears, while automatic transmissions may shift roughly or slip out of gear. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn or damaged clutch components, low transmission fluid, or issues with the car's electrical system.
- Electrical system issues: Some owners of the 1990 Audi 80 have reported issues with the car's electrical system, including problems with the lights, windows, and other accessories. These problems can be caused by a number of factors, including blown fuses, faulty wiring, or issues with the car's battery or alternator.
- Overall performance: Some owners of the 1990 Audi 80 have reported issues with the car's overall performance, including poor handling, a harsh ride, and excessive noise. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn or damaged suspension components, issues with the car's tires or wheels, or problems with the engine or transmission.
In general, the 1990 Audi 80 is a reliable and well-built car, but like any vehicle, it can experience a range of common problems. Owners who are experiencing issues with their car should consider having it inspected by a qualified mechanic to diagnose and address any issues. Regular maintenance and care can also help to prevent many common problems and ensure that the car remains in good condition for years to come.
Are 90s Audis reliable?
Audi 90 Sport Quattro
Great all weather traction, ample power with the V6, and excellent reliability. Good value for the money new, and an even better value used. If you can find one of the newer vintage ones (94-95) with short miles, it will treat you right for a long, long time.
Is The Audi 80 A Good car?
The suspension does a commendable job of ironing out road-surface imperfections, and it's fairly quiet in the cabin on the move for an old car. It would still make for a great daily driver and one you'd quite happily clock significant mileage in without a second thought.
What is the difference between Audi 80 and 90?
In Europe, the 80 was the standard model, while after a 1984 facelift the Audi 90 was launched as a larger-engined version of the 80; with more options, and, aside from the 70 PS (51 kW; 69 bhp), four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbodiesel (TD) engine which was also available for the 80, two five-cylinder in-line petrol ...
How many Audi 80 are left?
These stats won't show how many AUDI 80 were made or sold but they do show how many AUDI 80 are left on the road. There are 33,705,243 cars & other vehicles with valid MOTs. There are 848 AUDI 80 left in the UK with an MOT. 0.0025% of all UK vehicles are AUDI 80.
Are 90s Audis reliable?
Audi 90 Sport Quattro
Great all weather traction, ample power with the V6, and excellent reliability. Good value for the money new, and an even better value used. If you can find one of the newer vintage ones (94-95) with short miles, it will treat you right for a long, long time.
Is The Audi 80 A Good car?
The suspension does a commendable job of ironing out road-surface imperfections, and it's fairly quiet in the cabin on the move for an old car. It would still make for a great daily driver and one you'd quite happily clock significant mileage in without a second thought.
What is the difference between Audi 80 and 90?
In Europe, the 80 was the standard model, while after a 1984 facelift the Audi 90 was launched as a larger-engined version of the 80; with more options, and, aside from the 70 PS (51 kW; 69 bhp), four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbodiesel (TD) engine which was also available for the 80, two five-cylinder in-line petrol ...
How many Audi 80 are left?
These stats won't show how many AUDI 80 were made or sold but they do show how many AUDI 80 are left on the road. There are 33,705,243 cars & other vehicles with valid MOTs. There are 848 AUDI 80 left in the UK with an MOT. 0.0025% of all UK vehicles are AUDI 80.
1990 Audi 80 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi 80 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
- Air bags problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Audi 80 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1990 Audi 80 complaints
The NHTSA has received 10 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Audi 80.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-11-12
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSAXLE SEIZED. *AK *NM
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-05-05
- 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-09-01
- 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
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-07
- 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-02-03
- VIN: WAUEA58A6LA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: BEARINGS AND SEALS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING LEAKAGE. NLM
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-11-25
- 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-07-03
- 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-11-07
- VIN: WAVEA58A5LA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-03-26
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, ALMOST RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT. *AK
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-07-23
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WAUEA58A7LA
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH
1990 Audi 80 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1990 Audi 80.
- 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.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
- Summary: IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING LOCK BOLTS COULD BREAK IF DRIVER APPLIES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK.
- Consequence: BOLT BREAKAGE WOULD CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO REMAIN LOCKED EVEN AFTER THE DRIVER TURNS THE IGNITION KEY AND ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THE CAR; THIS TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy: REPLACE COMPLETE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A MODIFIED LOCK BOLT.
Positive 1990 Audi 80 car reviews
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1990 Audi 80 problems:
Audi 80 2.0E ABK Bad fuel consumption, Ignition Failure, smell of fuel
Oct 19, 2012 ... A common problem: Audi 80 2.0L ABK engine juddering/misfire - Page 5 ... 1990 Audi coupe 20v x 2. merton1973 said: 01 ... i had problems with my air ...
Should i buy an 1990 Audi 90 for 950$ : r/cars
Apr 28, 2013 ... I've been a parts boarder for a while, so any common failure ... I had a 1990 Audi 80 diesel, I get it at ... problems. It would be a cheap buy ...
My First B4 (Common Issues?) - AudiWorld Forums
Sep 15, 2017 ... Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet - My First B4 (Common Issues?) - Hey there guys. First time posting here in Audi World.
1990 Audi 80 Quattro Repair: Service and Maintenance Cost
Get 1990 Audi 80 Quattro repair and maintenance costs, common problems, recalls, and more. Find certified Audi mechanics near you.
1990 Coupe Quattro Transmission Problems - AudiWorld Forums
May 25, 2014 ... Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet - 1990 Coupe Quattro Transmission Problems - The tranny on my 90 CQ has shifted poorly since I ...
Other years of Audi 80
Are you having problems with your 1990 Audi 80?
Coleman Grant 2024-08-23
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.