RecallRepo

1985 Audi 5000 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1985 Audi 5000 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 681,812 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

POWER TRAIN 93V006000 1993-01-11 152,000 affected
Defect

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 89V006000 1989-01-17 35,000 affected
Defect

FUEL INJECTION SEALS MAY HARDEN, DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE AND ALCOHOL IN SOME FUELS, AND ALLOW FUEL TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence

FUEL DRIPPING ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE ANENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy

REPLACE ENGINES FUEL INJECTOR SEALS WITH IMPROVED SEALS PLUS IMPROVEMENTS DESIGNED TO BETTER INSULATE THE ENGINE AGAINST FIRE RISK.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 87V170000 1987-10-28 57,000 affected
Defect

MALFUNCTIONS OF INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF IDLE CONTROL UNIT COULD CAUSE IDLE STABILIZER VALVE TO BECOME ACTIVATED OUTSIDE ITS NORMAL OPERATING RANGE.

Consequence

IDLE RPM MAY BECOME ERRATIC AND, IN SOMEINSTANCES,INCREASE.

Remedy

INSTALL LATEST SPECIFICATION IDLE CONTROL UNIT.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 87V157000 1987-10-06 25,000 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

ESCAPING VAPORS COULD IGNITE BY HEAT EMITTED BY THEEXHAUST SYSTEM.

Remedy

INSTALL REDESIGNED FILLER NECK AND A NEW VENT VALVE AND HOSE FOR CHARCOAL FILTER. ALSO, STOP REFUELING WHEN PUMP NOZZLE SHUTS OFF.

POWER TRAIN 87V008000 1987-01-03 251,102 affected
Defect

SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM A STATIONARY POSITION MAY OCCUR, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE.

Consequence

UNEXPECTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, CAUSING INJURIES.

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 87V009000 1987-01-03 81,000 affected
Defect

THE IDLE STABILIZER MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, CAUSING ENGINE IDLE FLUCTUATIONS, USUALLY DESCRIBED AS ENGINE SURGE, WHICH INCREASE WITH USAGE OF THE CAR.

Consequence

ENGINE SURGE COULD ULTIMATELY SEE-SAW TO THE EXTEND THATLOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD BE EXPERIENCED IF THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED INTIME. THERE IS A RISK OF A COLLISION AND INJURY IN A CONFINED SPACE.

Remedy

REPLACE IDLE STABILIZATION VALVE.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 86V103000 1986-08-04 80,710 affected
Defect

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…

Remedy

INSTALLATION OF AN AIR FILTER MODIFICATION KIT TO PRECLUDE FUEL LEAKS.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
4
2crashes6injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
2
1crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1
Total complaints29

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Radiator cooling fan shorts outs after accumulating many miles. Wiring to fan burned out completely. The affect to vehicle was unknown. Dealer was contacted . Please provide more information.*ak”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN · reported 2002-01-01

“Door locks will lock and unlock, electrical door locks, no manual release button, can open from inside or outside. *ak”

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR · reported 1996-08-10

“Consumer parked car and locked door with child in car, came back to the car and discovered the power lock wouldn't unlock, had to play with lock about one hour and the rear door would not unlock. Please describe .**ak”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · reported 1996-06-23

“Consumer parked car and locked door with child in car, came back to the car and discovered the power lock wouldn't unlock, had to play with lock about one hour and the rear door would not unlock. Please describe .**ak”

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR · reported 1996-06-23

“Transmission locked up after recall repair.”

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · reported 1996-02-05

“Intermittent stalling. *sd”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1995-07-02

“Sunroof inopertive. *sd”

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · reported 1995-07-02

“Wheel bearings noisy. *sd”

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING · reported 1995-07-02

Defect investigations

Investigation C86001 Opened 1986-08-05 · closed 1989-07-11

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

There is no summary currently available

Investigation DP86006 Opened 1986-03-19 · closed 1986-06-23

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Investigation EA85037 Opened 1985-07-31 · closed 1987-12-23

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

SUMMARY:AUDI IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (86V-103)TO PREVENT FIRES WHICH HAVE STARTED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TOSTART THE ENGINE.THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE 1984 MODELS.ANALYSIS:THE RECALL CAMPAIGN APPEARS TO RESOLVE THE MAJOR CAUSE OF FIRESIN THE 1985 MODELS BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS…

Investigation EA85037 Opened 1985-07-31 · closed 1987-12-23

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

SUMMARY:AUDI IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (86V-103)TO PREVENT FIRES WHICH HAVE STARTED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TOSTART THE ENGINE.THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE 1984 MODELS.ANALYSIS:THE RECALL CAMPAIGN APPEARS TO RESOLVE THE MAJOR CAUSE OF FIRESIN THE 1985 MODELS BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS…

Investigation EA86015 Opened 1986-05-30 · closed 1989-09-26

HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKS

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA86016 Opened 1986-05-30 · closed 1986-08-18

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1985 Audi 5000 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.