1996 Oldsmobile AURORA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
83 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
116,530 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 83 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 13.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 7.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 21 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 10 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 21; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 10; Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 3
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2000: 7; 2001: 7; 2002: 7; 2003: 14; 2004: 28; 2005: 6; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10009978 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037776 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028364 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
THE FUEL LINE SPLIT (CRACKED) BETWEEN THE #5 AND #7 FUEL INJECTOR / SPRAYING OVER 1/4 TANK OVER FUEL ON TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE IN ONLY A FEW MILES OF DRIVING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045442 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
I HAD A FUEL RAIL LEAK ON MY 1995 OLDSMOBILE AURORA SIMILAR TO OTHERS REPORTED ON MSNBC NEWS. FUEL RAIL REPLACED BY SAINT CLAIRE CADILLAC/OLDSMOBILE OF SANTA CLARA, CA AT MY EXPENSE IN OCTOBER10, 2003. THEY CHARGED ME $1,024.11 FOR THIS WORK (ALSO CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS). THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH LEAKS AT THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOW.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 90,445 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073962 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE BEFORE CATCHING ON FIRE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE CONSUMERS MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. (UNDERHOOD) THE FIRE SEEMED TO HAVE STARTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE, AROUND THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 106,477 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076131 · 2004-06-11 (June 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES FROM THE VENT. AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10076131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118857 · 2005-05-02 (May 2, 2005)
THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE CUT OFF WHICH HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK WITH LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. WHEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF INTO DRIVER'S HANDS. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150718 · 2006-02-21 (February 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTO THE CONTACT'S LAP. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PUSHED OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, THE BRAKES VIBRATE AND PULSATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079458 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND STILL VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, SURGING FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO HELP CONSUMER TO STOP AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073610 · 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FUEL SPILLING ON TO THE TOP OF ENGINE. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE NYLON FUEL CONNECTORS. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL CONNECTORS CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE ON THE NYLON. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. ALSO, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT SLAMMED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL OR SKIP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759199 · 2002-03-11 (March 11, 2002)
54,697 MILES, THROTTLE STICKING. 62000 MILES, ENGINE MISFIRING, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. 63K MILES, SERPINTINE BELT BROKE. 68,560 MILES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. INPUT SPEED SENSOR INSIDE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. INTERNAL HARNESS FOUND TO BE LEAKING FLUID PAST TERMINALS TO OUTSIDE OF TRANSMISSION WHICH IN TURN CAUSED SATURATION OF EXTERNAL HARNESS ALSO. AIR CONDITIONING ALSO NOT WORKING. AT 69,356 MILES THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COLOMN BROKE. THE TOW TRUCK MAN TRIED TO TURN THE WHEELS WHEN T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759199 at NHTSA ↗