The 1989 Audi 80 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 206,800 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
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.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
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.
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.
DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“No summary”
“Differential failed due to evaporation of the oil, (recall, however vehicle denied # 93v-006).”
“Master cylinder failure caused brakes to fail and resulted in accident. Yh”
“While driving master cylinder malfunction, causing brakes to fail, resulting in a minor collision. *ak”
“Transaxle/transmission assembly failed due to lack of differential fluid prior to recall, repairs were never done (93v-006). *ak”
“Transaxle failed, causing vehicle to skid to a stop.”
“Bearings melted/shredded.”
“Seals melted, causing transmission fluid to leak into the differential.”
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Audi 80 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.