1983 Audi 5000: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1983 Audi 5000. The newest campaign is 87V008000. NHTSA received the report on 3 Jan 1987. The NHTSA record gives the component Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Floor Shift. NHTSA has 1 complaint on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 87V008000, in the NHTSA record

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.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 15 May 2019. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns, newest first. 565,102 units in total.

87V0080003 Jan 1987Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Floor Shift
85V09900030 Jul 1985Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
83V09500022 Sep 1983Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Pedals and Linkages
82V03700021 Apr 1982Vehicle Speed Control / Accelerator Pedal

87V008000Received 3 Jan 1987. 251,102 units.
Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Floor Shift
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Sudden acceleration from a stationary position may occur, when shifting from park to reverse or drive.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Unexpected sudden acceleration without prior warningcould result in a vehicle crash, causing injuries.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Feb 1987.
85V099000Received 30 Jul 1985. 105,000 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Under adverse weather conditions, outer rubber layer of brake hoses may become brittle and develop cracks. Consequence of defect: cracks could lead to loss of brake fluid resulting in an increase in stopping distance and possibly an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace brake hoses as necessary.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC.
83V095000Received 22 Sep 1983. 117,000 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Pedals and Linkages
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Certain vehicles were assembled with an insufficient height differential between the accelerator and brake pedals.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Consequence of defect: the driver could inadvertently depress both pedals at one time, lose control, and have an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will install a brake pedal plate which will raise the brake pedal to the proper height.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Sep 1983.
82V037000Received 21 Apr 1982. 92,000 units.
Vehicle Speed Control / Accelerator Pedal
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On the involved vehicles, an improperly placed mat interferes with the vibration absorber attached to the underside of the accelerator. The pedal may not fully return to the idle position.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Consequence of defect: this could result in unintentional accleration which could cause loss of vehicle control and an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will install, where necessary, a guide for the accelerator pedal and inspect the entire throttle system.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 May 1982.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

1 complaint, 2 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1983 Audi 5000: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Power Train		1
Visibility		1

Complaints that report a crash: 0
Complaints that report a fire: 0
Injuries in the complaints: 0
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 3 Mar 1996

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1983 Audi 5000, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1996, with 1 complaint.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1983 Audi 5000
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP86006	Defect petition	SUDDEN ACCELERATION	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	19 Mar 1986	23 Jun 1986

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1983 Audi 5000The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1983 Audi 5000: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/audi/5000/1983/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 15 May 2019
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1983 Audi 5000?: 565,102 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Audi 5000 have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the Audi 5000, model years 1978 to 1991. 4 of them name the 1983 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1983 Audi 5000 name most often?: Power Train: 1 of 2 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1983 Audi 5000 open?: No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.