AI DamageAudi 90: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Audi 90 across 7 model years: 55 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 44% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 15% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 24 complaints (44% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (15% of all).
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (13% of all).
- Fuel system: 6 complaints (11% of all).
- Structure: 5 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 55 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tie rods midas auto repair center put on my 1993 audi 90 cs where both defective that they got from car quest. The day the tie rods failed was when I and my wife where coming out of the drive through at taco bell on wilson street in brewer maine.
The accelerator stuck, and when the brakes were applied the engine continued to rev; and the car went off the road, and landed in a yard between two houses.
The contact placed all four windows down and they will currently not go back up or down. The windows are stuck in the down position. The dealer stated that the failure was the contact's responsibility.
Owner noticed that while starting the vehicle the key goes back into accessory position and car won't start. There is recall 96v017000 concerning electrical system: ignition switch. But owner's vehicle not included in recall due to vin. The owner contacted the regional office of audi, but they would not help.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with the electronic ignition switch. It causes a malfunction with the signal lights and the blinkers as well as the windshield wipers. Manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was a recall but this vehicle was not included due to vin.
Mfr#kb & nhtsa#96 v 017 000/vw electrical system: consumer states that the vehicle has intermittent problem with delayed in starting, intermittently the turn signal and the headlight become inoperative while driving and loss of power.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.