Audi 100 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
93,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1972 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 52 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 19.2% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 13.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 3; 2000: 6; 2001: 9; 2002: 9; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10050439 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED OIL INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DAMAGED THE GEARS. *AK A RECALL WAS ISSUED RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976200 · 1995-12-06 (December 6, 1995)
THE CONSUMER IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111709 · 2005-02-17 (February 17, 2005)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION ACCIDENT DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT OPERATING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT AS WELL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038962 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, A SUDDEN SURGE IN SPEED CAUSED I BELIEVE BYTHE AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE ON MY 1992 AUDI CS 100. I HIT MY BRAKES, SHIFTEDMY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL AND STOMPED THE ACCELERATOR SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE ENGINE STOPPED RACING. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, IT WAS. THE SAME THING OCCURED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED, AFTER WHICH THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193071 · 2007-06-12 (June 12, 2007)
RUNAWAY THROTTLE. UNCOMMANDED ENGAGEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL? WOULD NOT RESPOND TO BRAKE OR SHUTTING CRUISE CONTROL OFF ON STEERING COLUMN STALK SWITCH. VERY DANGEROUS!!! ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH, VERY INEFFECTIVE BRAKING WITH ENGINE TRYING TO KEEP CAR GOING AT ABOUT 55 MPH, BUT I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF. I PULLED THE CRUISE CONTROL FUSE AND PROBLEM HAS NOT REAPPEARED. I AM AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 861362 · 2000-05-03 (May 3, 2000)
STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING, AND HAD AN ELECTRICAL SMELL. ALSO, LOCAL DEALER HAS HAD EXACT INCIDENTS WITH OTHER AUTOMOBILES WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. EFFECT IS THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAN CATCH FIRE OR BURN OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481122 · 1995-02-10 (February 10, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR, ALSO HIGH RPM. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051483 · 2004-01-01 (January 1, 2004)
BOSCH FUEL DISTRIBUTOR SENSOR PLATE FAILURE, WHICH IS LOWER HALF OF UNIT. CAR STALLS, FLOODS, CREEPS, LOOSES ALL POWER, WILL NOT ACCEL OVER 20 MPH. MUST PURCHASE ENTIRE UNIT FOR OVER $1,500 USD TO REPAIR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346781 · 2010-08-02 (August 2, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 AUDI 100 CS QUARTO.(N/A) THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHEN HE TRAVELED OVER AN EXTREMELY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT THEN AUTONOMOUSLY RELEASED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO ABRUPTLY HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS EYES, HEAD AND NOSE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY TO HIS KNEE FROM ABRUPTLY STRIKING THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HE SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147065 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT 10146994 FILED ON 1-05-06. IT CONCERNS THE RUSTED OUT FUEL LINES ON MY 100CS WAGON FROM AUDI. I HAVE STARTED TO TEAR DOWN TO REPLACE THE LINES, AND SEE WHERE THE MAIN ISSUE SEEMS TO BE. AT ALL OF THE MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE FUEL LINES ON THE UNDERBODY FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. THERE WERE ACTUALLY 8 LEAKS INSTEAD OF THE THREE THAT I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WERE PRESENT. DUE TO THE RUBBER MOUNTS BEING COMPRESSED AROUND THE LINES, NOT ALL OF THEM SHOWED THE LEAKS U…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560983 · 2001-04-30 (April 30, 2001)
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V084000) CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS PERFORMED DUE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAVING A MAJOR FUEL LEAK, CONSUMER IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560983 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 3 |
| 1990 | 4 |
| 1991 | 4 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 3 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 3; 1990: 4; 1991: 4; 1992: 3; 1993: 3; 1994: 3; 1995: 2; 1996: 1; 1998: 0; 2001: 0