Most Audi 80 VINs open with WAU (Germany, 1988–1991). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often A (94%); a 1991 80 carries M in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 3 recall campaigns and 17 owner complaints from NHTSA.
Got a VIN from another make? The free VIN decoder reads any 17-character VIN, whatever built it.
How to read a Audi 80 VIN
Every Audi 80 VIN follows the same 17-character layout:
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Audi 80 VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Audi 80 we have on record, from 1988 to 1991, opens with the same three characters, WAU:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAU | 1988–1991 | Germany | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Audi 80 it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1988–1991 | 16 | |
| 1 | 1989–1989 | 1 |
Counted from 15 dated Audi 80 VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Audi 80
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Audi 80 has not yet outlived: its 4 years still map one-to-one. All 4 model years of the Audi 80, 1988 to 1991, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
What a decoded Audi 80 VIN gets you
Behind a Audi 80 VIN: 17 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 3 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 17 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 21 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 4 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Audi 80
Four places on a Audi 80 carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Audi 80 VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 3 recall campaigns and 17 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Audi 80.
What year is my 80 by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1991 80 carries M, a 1990 80 carries L, a 1989 80 carries K.
Where was my 80 built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 17 dated Audi 80 VINs it reads A 94%, 1 6%.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Audi 80 check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with WAU. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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