The defect
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 remedy
DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi 100 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Audi 200 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Audi 4000 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Audi 5000 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Audi 80 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Audi 90 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi 100 | 1985 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 100 | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 100 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 100 | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 100 | 1989 | 4 | 3 |
| Audi 100 | 1990 | 4 | 4 |
| Audi 100 | 1991 | 10 | 4 |
| Audi 200 | 1985 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 200 | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 200 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 200 | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 200 | 1989 | 5 | 3 |
| Audi 200 | 1990 | 3 | 4 |
| Audi 200 | 1991 | 10 | 4 |
| Audi 4000 | 1985 | 1 | 2 |
| Audi 4000 | 1986 | 4 | 3 |
| Audi 4000 | 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| Audi 4000 | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 4000 | 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 4000 | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 4000 | 1991 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 5000 | 1985 | 14 | 7 |
| Audi 5000 | 1986 | 15 | 8 |
| Audi 5000 | 1987 | 11 | 4 |
| Audi 5000 | 1988 | 1 | 3 |
| Audi 5000 | 1989 | 0 | 2 |
| Audi 5000 | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 5000 | 1991 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 80 | 1985 | 0 | 1 |
| Audi 80 | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
Other power train recalls in 1993
14 of the 223 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1993 concerned the power train; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC filed 204 campaigns in all.
| 93V202000 6 Dec 1993 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 93V181000 8 Nov 1993 | FRUEHAUF CORPORATION |
| 93V180000 5 Nov 1993 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 93V176000 1 Nov 1993 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 93V167000 4 Oct 1993 | HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA |
| 93V165000 1 Oct 1993 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 93V115000 12 Jul 1993 | EOS COACH (LAGUSA INC.) |
| 93V089000 17 May 1993 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1993