Selling an old or non-running Audi 100
Seven of the Audi 100's 78 NHTSA complaints mention a fire, and four of them are on the 1993. The fuel system is the part owners name most often across all six years, and the last 100s share two fuel recalls. If yours leaks, won't start or simply has outlived its use, there's a simple way out.
- Model years in EPA data
- 1989-1994
- Body styles
- Sedan and wagon, each also as a quattro
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 78 (as of Oct. 10, 2026)
- Year with the most complaints
- 1992 (22)
- Recall campaigns
- 9
- Complaints mentioning a fire
- 7, four of them on the 1993
- Successor
- Audi A6
We buy whole non-running and junk cars. Sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
Two generations in the US years
The EPA lists the 100 for 1989 to 1994. Wikipedia places those years across two platforms. The C3 was built in Germany from 1982 to 1991. The C4 was built from 1990 to 1994 at Neckarsulm. Wikipedia adds that in 1993 the models were mildly restyled and renamed the A6 series.
Figures below are owner complaints in NHTSA's file, tallied on October 10, 2026.
1989-1991: the last C3 cars
These years hold 18 complaints. The 1991 has 10, with vehicle speed control named in 4 and 2 crashes. Recall 93V006 is the mechanical one: the transaxle's differential oil slowly evaporates, and once it runs low the bearings and gears grind toward failure. Dealers swapped in a better oil. Its 152,000 vehicles span several Audis; the same campaign shows up on the 80/90 and 5000. Recall 97V172 replaces the air bag sensor control module on 1989-1993 cars, in a campaign of 54,800 that may include other models. Two more are labels: the trunk jack instructions (91V050) and a missing capacity weight on the 1990's fuel door placard (91V156).
1992-1994: the C4 cars
No year of the 100 draws more complaints than the 1992, at 22, with equipment and air bags named 4 times each. Recall 93V007 covers brake vacuum booster pump blades on 1992 cars that can wear early and cut brake assist.
The 1993 is where fuel shows up. Fuel system is named in 8 of its 18 complaints, and 4 mention a fire. Recall 98V332 replaces every fuel injector on V6 cars because an internal seal can leak fuel in the engine compartment. Recall 00V084 replaces the fuel feed line on 1993-1994 cars. On the 1994, the electrical system leads with 7 of 20, and recall 96V017 replaces ignition switches that can make accessories misbehave. Those campaigns list 37,200, 11,000 and 24,000 vehicles, and each may include other models.
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Fires | Recalls | Named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Power train (2) |
| 1990 | 4 | 0 | 4 | Engine and cooling, interior lights |
| 1991 | 10 | 0 | 4 | Speed control (4) |
| 1992 | 22 | 0 | 3 | Equipment, air bags (4 each) |
| 1993 | 18 | 4 | 3 | Fuel system (8) |
| 1994 | 20 | 3 | 3 | Electrical (7) |
Every one of these cars is over 30 years old, so these counts reflect decades on the road, not a recent trend.
Worth fixing?
- Smell fuel under the hood? Park it. On a 1993 or 1994, the injector and feed line recalls are the first things to ask about.
- Run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup and ask an Audi dealer about anything open.
- Stored for a decade or more? Varnished fuel, shrunken seals and a flat battery stack up fast. Our guide to a car sitting for years walks through what usually needs doing, and old project car covers selling one unfinished.
Selling the 100 whole
Find the VIN plate and the title, then request an offer here or dial (877) 421-6008. Say which body you have, sedan or Avant, front drive or quattro, and if it will roll. Every part stays on, converter and wheels included; flag anything that's missing. When the truck arrives, the driver takes the signed title and whatever keys you have. For plates, insurance and the notice of sale, see after you sell.
Other old Audis: the 5000, the 80/90, or the full Audi list.
Questions people ask
- Which Audi 100 year has the most NHTSA complaints?
- 1992, at 22 owner complaints by NHTSA's October 10, 2026 count. Then 1994 (20) and 1993 (18). The 1989 and 1990 trail with 4 apiece.
- What were the fuel recalls on the 1993-1994 Audi 100?
- Recall 98V332 replaces all fuel injectors on cars with V6 engines, because an internal seal can let fuel leak in the engine compartment. Recall 00V084 replaces the fuel feed line from the filter to the engine on 1993-1994 cars. Either campaign may reach beyond the 100. NHTSA's VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls settles whether yours is listed.
- Will you buy a 100 that's been parked so long it won't crank?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Say roughly when it last ran and where it's stored.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- EPA fuel economy data (model years, classes, name variants) fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 91V050: jack instruction label, 1989-1991 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 91V156: capacity weight label, 1990 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 93V006: differential oil, 1988-1991 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 93V007: brake vacuum booster pump, 1992 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 96V017: ignition switch, 1994-1995 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 97V172: air bag sensor module, 1989-1993 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 98V332: V6 fuel injectors, 1993-1995 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 00V084: fuel feed line, 1993-1994 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 01V324: rear speaker amplifiers, 1991-1992 nhtsa.gov
- Wikipedia: Audi 100 (C3 and C4 generations, rename to A6) en.wikipedia.org