Oldsmobile CIERA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
146 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1983 to 1996 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 146 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 18.5% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 8 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 8; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 143 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 70 |
| 1996 | 36 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1995: 70; 1996: 36; 2000: 19; 2001: 7; 2002: 8; 2003: 4; 2004: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 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 980822 · 1996-03-18 (March 18, 1996)
THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE LOCKING UP WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND NOT STOP. THE BRAKES ARE HYDRUALIC. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958410 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503475 · 1996-04-15 (April 15, 1996)
DEFECTIVE 'O' RINGS IN RACK/PINION CAUSE STEERING TO LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502942 · 1996-03-27 (March 27, 1996)
STEERING LOCKS UP BRIEFLY WHEN CAR IS BEGINNING TO MOVE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958292 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)
CAR STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 977120 · 1995-12-28 (December 28, 1995)
THE ENGINE STALLS/HESITATION/STUMBLE/STOP. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483400 · 1995-08-23 (August 23, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 975910 · 1995-12-01 (December 1, 1995)
WHEN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE SURGES AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 985428 · 1996-06-10 (June 10, 1996)
VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS LOOSE AND HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND REWIRED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979109 · 1996-02-12 (February 12, 1996)
VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND BRAKE AND STEERING ABILITY IS LOST, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979109 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 2 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1994 | 4 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
1983: 1; 1984: 2; 1985: 0; 1986: 0; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 2; 1994: 4; 1995: 1; 1996: 1