1988 Audi 5000 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1988 Audi 5000, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1988 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.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Audi 5000 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“A smell of gas arose, parked the vehicle and looked back at the vehicle, a fire started in the grill in the front of the vehicle. Please provide further information. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 8, 1999 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1988 Audi 5000 (5000 CS Turbo, 5000 CS quattro, 5000 CS quattro Wagon, 5000 S, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–18 / 20–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
| Engine | 5 cyl, 2.2/2.3 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 1988 Audi 5000
How do I know if my 1988 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1988 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 87V157000).
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.