1986 Audi 5000 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
8 safety recalls list the 1986 Audi 5000, and owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
8 safety recalls for the 1986 Audi 5000
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Axle assembly (power train)
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.
Remedy: Drain and replace the differential gear oil with oil having higher performance characteristics.
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Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel injection seals may harden, due to high temperature and alcohol in some fuels, and allow fuel to escape into the engine compartment.
Remedy: Replace engines fuel injector seals with improved seals plus improvements designed to better insulate the engine against fire risk.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Repeated topping off of fuel tank during refueling reduces the expansion space within the tank allowing vapors to escape from the charcoal filter to outside rather than being inducted into the engine.
Remedy: Install redesigned filler neck and a new vent valve and hose for charcoal filter. Also, stop refueling when pump nozzle shuts off.
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Caliper (service brakes)
Certain rear brake calipers could bind and consequently overheat.
Remedy: Requires inspection of brake calipers and replacement of calipers as necessary.
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Floor shift (power train)
Sudden acceleration from a stationary position may occur, when shifting from park to reverse or drive.
Remedy: Install an automatic shift lock to prevent the transmission shift lever from being moved from park to reverse or drive unless brake pedal is applied at the same time.
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Cruise control (vehicle speed control)
The idle stabilizer may experience excessive wear, causing engine idle fluctuations, usually described as engine surge, which increase with usage of the car.
Remedy: Replace idle stabilization valve.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
Rear or front right seat belt locks may not properly engage. Consequence of defect: seat belts could separate in event of heavy brake application or impact and thus subject passengers to injury.
Remedy: Replace seat belts, as necessary.
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Fuel injection system (fuel system)
Misadjustment of fuel distributor allows fuel to escape and be absorbed by the air filter. Consequence of defect: with the fuel absorbed by the air filter and an engine backfire on restart, this fuel could ignite and result in an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Installation of an air filter modification kit to preclude fuel leaks.
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1986 Audi 5000 have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 200,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl*the contact owns a 1986 audi 5000. The vehicle has michelin xm plus 300 tires (na). While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate and the contact heard loud flapping noises. The”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 14, 2008 · Tires
“On way to work, passed car, put pedal to the floor and it stuck there, until tapped with foot, thank god, but when i got to work, car idled up and down, erratic, between 10,000 and 20,000 rpms. Turned”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2001 · Vehicle speed control
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1986 Audi 5000 (5000 CS quattro, 5000 CS quattro Wagon, 5000 S, 5000S Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–17 / 20–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
| Engine | 5 cyl, 2.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Audi 5000 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi 5000 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 Audi 5000 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 Audi 5000 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 Audi 5000 | 3 | 1 |
| 1981 Audi 5000 | 3 | 1 |
| 1982 Audi 5000 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983 Audi 5000 | 4 | 1 |
| 1984 Audi 5000 | 5 | 4 |
| 1985 Audi 5000 | 7 | 14 |
| 1986 Audi 5000 | 8 | 15 |
| 1987 Audi 5000 | 4 | 11 |
| 1988 Audi 5000 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 Audi 5000 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 Audi 5000 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 Audi 5000 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1986 Audi 5000
How do I know if my 1986 Audi 5000 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 1986 Audi 5000; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 86V103000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Audi models
- A42,895 complaints
- A61,658 complaints
- Q51,342 complaints
- Q71,047 complaints
- A3731 complaints
- S4588 complaints
- A5325 complaints
- TT319 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.