1997 Oldsmobile 88 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
57 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
63,629 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 57 complaints (17.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 10; 2002: 15; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10043997 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHIMMIES. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089467 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)
WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDERNEATH ,AND SAW THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062271 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
MISFIRING, BACKFIRING, STALLING AND COOLANT LEAKS DUE TO LEAKING PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEMS IN SEPT. 2000. KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS. TOOK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, FAILED 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN. LEAKS COOLANT ONTO FLOOR. CAN SMELL COOLANT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND GARAGE WHERE PARKED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100167 · 2004-11-18 (November 18, 2004)
ON FEBRUARY 25, 2004 MY GRANDPARENTS PURCHASED A 1997 OLDSMOBILE LSS FROM NORTH LAKE FORD IN LAKEPORT CALIFORNIA. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT STALL, AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IN FACT THE VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AND THEY WERE NEARLY RAN OVER BY A SEMI TRUCK WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, AND IT STILL STALLS TO THIS DAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056659 · 2004-02-06 (February 6, 2004)
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL WARMS UP, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY OLDS DEALER IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE $700+ AIR BAG BECAUSE ALL THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IS RUN THROUGH THE AIR BAG. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE WAS NO "INCIDENT" BUT APPARENTLY I HAVE TO PUT IN A DATE SO I WILL JUST MAKE ONE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402922 · 2011-05-27 (May 27, 2011)
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE WERE NOTICING LEAKS FROM THE CAR ON THE DRIVEWAY. WE KNEW FROM TOUCHING IT WAS NOT OIL. THE CAR STARTED TO HESITATE AT TIMES AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. EVENTUALLY IT DID STALL OUT AND CONTINUED TO DO SO, IT ALWAYS STARTED RIGHT UP THOUGH, SO WE KNEW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHEN IT STALLED. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND REPAIR CODES P0300 AND P0135, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON RESULTING IN RANDOM MISFIRE AND 02 SENSO…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 559200 · 2001-01-25 (January 25, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGN OF TROUBLE, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT ONLY 30K MILES. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 559200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720281 · 2000-03-18 (March 18, 2000)
MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 88- ANTI-LOCK BRAKE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOX REPLACEMENT AND NOW THE CAR HAS A SHAKING PROBLEM THAT DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WITH 54000 MILES IT IS ON IT'S 5TH SET OF TIRES AND NUMERIOUS COMPUTER BALANCING'S AND CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM THE ARE HAS HAD ROTORS TURNED, WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. AXELS AND ROD'S CHECKED INTO BUT DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND HAS GIVEN UP!!! PLEASE HELP THANKS( DOT NUMBER: )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086248 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
I HAVE A 1987 OLDSMOBILE 88 LSS THAT I TOOK IN FOR INSPECTION. IT PASSED INSPECTION, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT COULD CAUSE THE BEARINGS TO LOCK UP, BURN THE BELT AND I WOULD LOSE STEERING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,348 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002092 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
THIS VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND THE GAS LINES HAVE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK BETWEEN THE INCLINE FUEL FILTER AND THE GAS TANK. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 77,232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002092 at NHTSA ↗