Model year guide

1990 Audi 90

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1990 Audi 90 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 19 on record.

1990 Audi 90 — representative photo
Representative photo

1990 Audi 90 at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints6
Combined18–20 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1990 Audi 90 recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive NHTSA Campaign #97V172000 · 06/10/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.

Power Train:axle Assembly NHTSA Campaign #93V006000 · 11/01/1993

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.

Fix: DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.

Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device NHTSA Campaign #90V070000 · 10/04/1990

IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING LOCK BOLTS COULD BREAK IF DRIVER APPLIES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK.

Fix: REPLACE COMPLETE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A MODIFIED LOCK BOLT.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1990 Audi 90 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

1990 Audi 90 MPG & running costs

Combined18–20 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,525
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,625 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1990 Audi 90 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,625
Fuel only$17,625
Per mile$0.24

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
176.0–176.4 in
Width
66.9–67.7 in
Height
54.3–54.7 in
Wheelbase
100.0–100.4 in
Curb weight
2,734–3,175 lb
Front track
55.9–56.7 in
Rear track
55.9–57.1 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1990 Audi 90 — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

INADVER.AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT Closed

NHTSA #EA94026 · Air Bags · opened Jul 1994 · closed Jul 1995

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT Closed

NHTSA #PE94023 · Air Bags · opened Mar 1994 · closed Jul 1994

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the 90. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1990 Audi 90. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Powertrain

ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, A LOW OIL LEVEL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING AND GEAR WEAR AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN POSSIBLE DRIVE WHEEL LOCK-UP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTION: DIFFERENTIAL WILL BE DRAINED AND OIL WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN ADVANCED DESIGN HIGH PERFORMANCE GEAR OIL. OWNERS WILL BE PROVID…

Transport Canada #1993008 · Jan 1993

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Audi 90

The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the Audi subdivision of the Volkswagen Group across four generations from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon, and estate — the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant. The coupé and convertible models were not badged as members of the range, but used a derivative of the same platforms.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1990 Audi 90 vehicles on record

1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA172070 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA207997 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA250934 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA117323 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ89ZLA002877 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA107699 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA067401 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA261951 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8BZLA002561 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA158660 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA225668 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA265773 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA144879 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA051575 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8BZLA010903 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA191050 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA106657 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA093354 1990 Audi 90 1990 Audi 90WAUZZZ8AZLA043558

Other Audi 90 model years

1994 1993 1991 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985

1990 Audi 90 — frequently asked questions

Does the 1990 Audi 90 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1990 Audi 90. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Audi 90?

Across all 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, electrical system, fuel system.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Audi 90 get?

The 1990 Audi 90 has U.S. EPA estimates of 18–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.