- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- Drain and replace the differential gear oil with oil having higher performance characteristics.
Vehicle safety record
1988 Audi 5000 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 1988 Audi 5000 with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in January 1993 for the axle assembly. For comparison, the 1987 has 12 and the 1989 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical 5000 year, for its age
#191 most complained-about 1988 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1988 Audi 5000 problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1988 Audi 5000 recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Fuel injection seals may harden, due to high temperature and alcohol in some fuels, and allow fuel to escape into the engine compartment.
- The risk
- Fuel dripping onto hot engine components could cause anengine compartment fire.
- The fix
- Replace engines fuel injector seals with improved seals plus improvements designed to better insulate the engine against fire risk.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Escaping vapors could ignite by heat emitted by theexhaust system.
- The fix
- Install redesigned filler neck and a new vent valve and hose for charcoal filter. Also, stop refueling when pump nozzle shuts off.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 1988 Audi 5000
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
A smell of gas arose, parked the vehicle and looked back at the vehicle, a fire started in the grill in the front of the vehicle. Please provide further information. *Ak
Audi 5000: every year compared
All 5000 years1988 Audi 5000 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Audi 5000 | 1 | 3 | C | |
| 1988 Audi 80 | 4 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 1988 Audi 90 | 4 | 1 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1988 Audi 5000
Does the 1988 Audi 5000 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 1988 Audi 5000: axle assembly (January 1993); fuel system, gasoline (January 1989); tank assembly (October 1987). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Audi 5000?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (1).
How many complaints has the 1988 Audi 5000 had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 8, 1999 and the latest on January 8, 1999. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1988 Audi 5000 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 47 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Audi 5000 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Audi 5000 years have the most complaints?
1985 (17), 1986 (15), 1987 (12). See every Audi 5000 year compared.
What should I do if my 1988 Audi 5000 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data