1986 Audi 5000: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 1986 Audi 5000. The newest campaign is 93V006000. NHTSA received the report on 11 Jan 1993. The NHTSA record gives the component Power Train / Axle Assembly. NHTSA has 15 complaints on file for this model year. 2 NHTSA investigations name 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, 93V006000, in the NHTSA record

Drain and replace the differential gear oil with oil having higher performance characteristics.

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

8 campaigns, newest first. 648,812 units in total.

93V00600011 Jan 1993Power Train / Axle Assembly
89V00600017 Jan 1989Fuel System, Gasoline
87V1570006 Oct 1987Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
87V1580006 Oct 1987Service Brakes, Air / Disc / Caliper
87V0080003 Jan 1987Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Floor Shift
87V0090003 Jan 1987Vehicle Speed Control / Cruise Control
86V11300018 Aug 1986Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
86V1030004 Aug 1986Fuel System, Gasoline / Fuel Injection System

93V006000Received 11 Jan 1993. 152,000 units.
Power Train / Axle Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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 NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Drain and replace the differential gear oil with oil having higher performance characteristics.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 29 Jan 1993.
89V006000Received 17 Jan 1989. 35,000 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Fuel injection seals may harden, due to high temperature and alcohol in some fuels, and allow fuel to escape into the engine compartment.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel dripping onto hot engine components could cause anengine compartment fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace engines fuel injector seals with improved seals plus improvements designed to better insulate the engine against fire risk.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Jan 1989.
87V157000Received 6 Oct 1987. 25,000 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Escaping vapors could ignite by heat emitted by theexhaust system.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install redesigned filler neck and a new vent valve and hose for charcoal filter. Also, stop refueling when pump nozzle shuts off.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 6 Oct 1987.
87V158000Received 6 Oct 1987. 16,000 units.
Service Brakes, Air / Disc / Caliper
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Certain rear brake calipers could bind and consequently overheat.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Overheated calipers could cause brake pedal to feelspongy and could result in one brake circuit becoming inoperative. Brakingability would be affected.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Requires inspection of brake calipers and replacement of calipers as necessary.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Dec 1987.
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.
87V009000Received 3 Jan 1987. 81,000 units.
Vehicle Speed Control / Cruise Control
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The idle stabilizer may experience excessive wear, causing engine idle fluctuations, usually described as engine surge, which increase with usage of the car.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Replace idle stabilization valve.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Feb 1987.
86V113000Received 18 Aug 1986. 8,000 units.
Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Rear or front right seat belt locks may not properly engage. Consequence of defect: seat belts could separate in event of heavy brake application or impact and thus subject passengers to injury.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace seat belts, as necessary.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Oct 1986.
86V103000Received 4 Aug 1986. 80,710 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Fuel Injection System
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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 restart, this fuel could ignite and result in an engine compartment fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Installation of an air filter modification kit to preclude fuel leaks.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 9 Oct 1986.

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

15 complaints, 17 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.

1986 Audi 5000: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Vehicle Speed Control		4
Exterior Lighting		3
Fuel System, Gasoline		3
Electrical System		3
Power Train		2
Visibility		1
Tires		1

Complaints that report a crash: 2
Complaints that report a fire: 2
Injuries in the complaints: 2
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 14 May 2008

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 1986 Audi 5000, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1996, with 6 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1986 Audi 5000
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA92028	Engineering analysis	TRANSMISSION FAILURES	Power Train	3 Aug 1992	9 Feb 1993	93V006000
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 1986 Audi 5000The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1986 Audi 5000: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/audi/5000/1986/. 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 1986 Audi 5000?: 648,812 units in 8 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. 8 of them name the 1986 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1986 Audi 5000 name most often?: Vehicle Speed Control: 4 of 17 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1986 Audi 5000 open?: No. Each of the 2 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.