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U.S. public vehicle records

Oldsmobile 88 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

638 owner complaints analyzed

38 distinct recall campaigns

84,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 178 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 54 of 638 complaints (8.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior9715.2%
Steering behavior589.1%
Engine operation487.5%
Transmission and shifting264.1%
Electrical and battery issues253.9%
Fuel system concerns182.8%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
54
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
40
Engine And Engine Cooling
36
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
33
Air Bags:Frontal
31
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
29
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
24
Vehicle Speed Control
24
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline54
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe40
Engine And Engine Cooling36
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine33
Air Bags:Frontal31
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip29
Power Train:Automatic Transmission24
Vehicle Speed Control24

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 54; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 40; Engine And Engine Cooling: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 33; Air Bags:Frontal: 31; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 29; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 24; Vehicle Speed Control: 24

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
21
50,000 to 74,999
50
75,000 to 99,999
33
100,000 to 149,999
40
150,000 and above
28
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99950
75,000 to 99,99933
100,000 to 149,99940
150,000 and above28

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 40; 150,000 and above: 28

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 460 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.

1995
96
1996
62
2000
78
2001
61
2002
71
2003
77
2004
81
2005
22
2006
10
2007
13
2008
10
2009
7
2010
7
2011
6
2012
6
2013
5
2014
7
2015
7
2016
6
2017
3
2018
1
2019
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199596
199662
200078
200161
200271
200377
200481
200522
200610
200713
200810
20097
20107
20116
20126
20135
20147
20157
20166
20173
20181
20191
20221

1995: 96; 1996: 62; 2000: 78; 2001: 61; 2002: 71; 2003: 77; 2004: 81; 2005: 22; 2006: 10; 2007: 13; 2008: 10; 2009: 7; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 5; 2014: 7; 2015: 7; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 97 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 48 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 484667 · 1995-08-03 (August 3, 1995)

POWER BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED PRIOR TO/AFTER SERVICE RECALL (86-C-15). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484667 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10054367 · 2004-01-17 (January 17, 2004)

1) MY 1987 DELTA 88 OLDSMOBILE WILL NOT STEER LEFT WHEN COLD, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. 2) MY BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THEY KEEP PULSATING. THIS WEARS OUT MY TIRES VERY FAST. 3) WHEN FIRST CRANKED, IT WILL DRIVE FOR A MILE AT A MEDIUM RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR BECAUSE THE IDLE IS MESSED UP, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN ADJUSTED. 4) THE WINDSHIELD WASHER HAS NEVER WORKED. ALL THESE THINGS CONTINUALLY HAPPEN THE 5 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054367 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 558863 · 2001-01-08 (January 8, 2001)

STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION, VEHICLE PULLING TO LEFT DURING STRAIGHT TRAVEL AND CRABBING IN LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, PROBLEMS CAUSED BY TREAD SEPARATION OF FRONT GILLETTE GOLDEN BEAR TOURING TIRES 20575R15. *CJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558863 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 973889 · 1995-10-25 (October 25, 1995)

STEERING EFFORT INCREASES DURING COLD WEATHER. TT STEERING WAS HARD AND JERKY WHEN THE VEHICLE FIRST STARTS ESPECIALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973889 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8008047 · 2002-04-19 (April 19, 2002)

VEHICLE STALLS ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER FIRST START, MOSTLY WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008047 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801932 · 1996-09-06 (September 6, 1996)

WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING AT A LIGHT THE CAR STALLS AND ONE OCCASION THERE WAS NO POWER AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801932 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985676 · 1996-06-17 (June 17, 1996)

VEHICLE REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. DLRS. DIAGNOSIS: IDLE CONTROL MOTOR FAILED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985676 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504117 · 1996-05-10 (May 10, 1996)

TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE LOOSE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION LEAK. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 972525 · 1995-09-27 (September 27, 1995)

STEERING WHEEL SMOKE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10192370 · 2007-06-04 (June 4, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES ON ONE OCCASION. SEVERAL DEALERS DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, OR ALTERNATOR. THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE CONTACT HAS THE INVOICES FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND WILL PROVIDE THE DEALER INFORMATION WHEN THE COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED. THE CURR…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192370 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10422912 · 2011-09-01 (September 1, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1982 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 EQUIPPED WITH A SPECTRA FUEL TANK. WHILE REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, FUEL OVERFLOWED ONTO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BUT THE CONTACT DENIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 10/4/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 6, 2011, HE PURCHASED A NEW SPECTRA GAS TANK. AFTER INSTALLING THE TANK, HE WENT TO THE GAS STATION. WHEN THE PUMP HANDLE WAS PULLED , IT WOU…

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422912 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 478360 · 1995-01-04 (January 4, 1995)

GAS LINES RUSTED, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478360 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1984
3
1985
2
1986
1
1987
2
1988
0
1989
2
1990
1
1991
1
1992
1
1993
1
1994
1
1995
1
1996
2
1997
0
1998
1
1999
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19843
19852
19861
19872
19880
19892
19901
19911
19921
19931
19941
19951
19962
19970
19981
19992

1984: 3; 1985: 2; 1986: 1; 1987: 2; 1988: 0; 1989: 2; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1995: 1; 1996: 2; 1997: 0; 1998: 1; 1999: 2

Year-by-year records

Oldsmobile 88 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196701Not available
196803+2
197102Not available
197213+1
197401Not available
197502+1
197611-1
197712+1
1978020
197913+1
198002-1
198130-2
198221+1
198453Not available
198562-1
198681-1
1987142+1
1988230-2
1989212+2
1990101-1
1991610
19924510
19934410
19943410
19957410
1996692+1
1997570-2
19981451+1
1999682+1