Audi 5000 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints across the 3 model years of the Audi 5000 (1985–1987) that have at least 5 complaints. 1986 has the most, with 15. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (12 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All 5000 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 11 | — | 4 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 15 | 200,000 | 8 | 0 | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 14 | — | 7 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain12 27%
- Vehicle speed control7 16%
- Electrical system7 16%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)4 9.1%
- Steering4 9.1%
- Brakes4 9.1%
- Body and structure3 6.8%
- Fuel system3 6.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1986: “I started the car in a driveway, intending to back onto the street. When I placed the car in reverse, the car accelerated backward at top speed. I could not stop the car by applying the brakes. I had 40 feet of skid marks visible on the pavement. The car was stopped by it's impact with a parked car. I have been told that this type of incident has happened many times with 1986 Audi 5000 models. What should I do with this car? Is it safe to continue to use?”
NHTSA complaint #710716, filed 1999-081987: “Consumer was driving approximately 20mph when the axle assembly gave way. Consumer lost all power. The wheels did not lock up. There is a recall for power train axle assembly mandated in 1993. Consumer had recall repairs done on 5-5-93 at 48,651 miles, but never experienced the defect until now.”
NHTSA complaint #825290, filed 1998-071985: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #8010943, filed 2002-06Other Audi models
2,893 complaintsAudi A6
1,653 complaintsAudi Q5
1,348 complaintsAudi Q7
1,052 complaintsAudi A3
727 complaintsAudi S4
577 complaintsAudi A5
324 complaintsAudi TT
306 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology