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Audi 5000Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 50 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on record for the Audi 5000.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints50Top: Power trainSafety recalls121978–1991 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Audi 5000 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 5000 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1987Not rated–/10011 complaints · 4 recalls1986Not rated–/10015 complaints · 8 recalls1985Not rated–/10014 complaints · 7 recalls1984Not rated–/1004 complaints · 5 recalls1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1980Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Audi 5000 problems

All model years combined: 50 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train155
Vehicle speed control96
Electrical system81
Visibility60
Service brakes, hydraulic50
Steering51
Engine and engine cooling41
Structure30
Exterior lighting30
5 other systems72
12 recalls

Audi 5000 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Power train: axle assembly93V-006 · 1985–1991 · Jan 11, 1993 · 152,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline89V-006 · 1984–1989 · Jan 17, 1989 · 35,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: cruise control87V-170 · 1984–1985 · Oct 28, 1987 · 57,000 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly87V-157 · 1984–1988 · Oct 6, 1987 · 25,000 vehicles–Disc: caliper87V-158 · 1986–1987 · Oct 6, 1987 · 16,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: cruise control87V-009 · 1985–1986 · Jan 3, 1987 · 81,000 vehicles–Lever and linkage: floor shift87V-008 · 1978–1986 · Jan 3, 1987 · 251,102 vehicles–Front: buckle assembly86V-113 · 1986 · Aug 18, 1986 · 8,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system86V-103 · 1985–1986 · Aug 4, 1986 · 80,710 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings85V-099 · 1983–1984 · Jul 30, 1985 · 105,000 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages83V-095 · 1978–1983 · Sep 22, 1983 · 117,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal82V-037 · 1978–1983 · Apr 21, 1982 · 92,000 vehicles
9 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 5000

  1. TRANSMISSION FAILURESEA92028 · 1986–1991 · closed Feb 9, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-006
  2. TRANSMISSION FAILURESPE92041 · 1991 · closed Aug 3, 1992
    No recall
  3. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONC86001 · 1978–1986 · closed Jul 11, 1989
    No recall
  4. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONDP86012 · null · closed Jul 16, 1986
    No recall
  5. HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKSEA86015 · 1985 · closed Sep 26, 1989
    No recall
  6. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA86016 · 1984–1985 · closed Aug 18, 1986
    No recall
  7. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONDP86011 · null · closed Jun 24, 1986
    No recall
  8. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONDP86006 · 1978–1986 · closed Jun 23, 1986
    No recall
  9. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA85037 · 1984–1985 · closed Dec 23, 1987
    Led to recall 86V-103