Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Audi 90. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗VW/AIR BAG GROUND CONTACT WIRE
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
- Consequence
- ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
VW/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Summary
- DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
- Consequence
- SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (0)
0 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings).
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
NHTSA has no component data for this model year.
How 1996 compares with other 90 years
Best and worst 90 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 3 |
| 1991 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993 | 16 | 2 |
| 1994 | 10 | 2 |
| 1995 | 18 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1996 90 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1996 Audi 90 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Audi 90 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 97V175000 (air bag), 96V017000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
How does the 1996 90 compare with other years?
Among the 1988–1995 Audi 90 model years at least five years old, the 1990 drew the fewest complaints (3) and the 1995 the most (18). The 1996 drew 0. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.