1987 Oldsmobile 88: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
150,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 14 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
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 | 4 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 3; Steering: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 13 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 | 5 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1995: 5; 1996: 3; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10068953 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
CRANK SENSOR CONSTANTLY COME LOOSE. WEATHER CHANGES AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN THE ENGINE CAUSE THIS CHANGE. REALIGNINMENT AND RETIGHTENING COSTS 25.00 EACH INSTANCE. THIS HAS OCCURED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER AS WELL [AS I CALLED HER AND ASKED HER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM] THIS HAS OCCURED MORE THAN 50 TIME AS FAR AS I KNOW. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BE INOPERATABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 478074 · 1995-01-04 (January 4, 1995)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481911 · 1995-02-26 (February 26, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487336 · 1995-10-16 (October 16, 1995)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT PRIOR TO RECALL. (88V-080)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490525 · 1995-12-11 (December 11, 1995)
ACCELERATOR CABLE STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ACCIDENT. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507690 · 1996-08-20 (August 20, 1996)
'COLD POWER STEERING'.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 564041 · 2002-01-17 (January 17, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, DRIVER NOTICED THAT SPEED STARTED TO DECREASE, DRIVER HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE, WITHIN MINUTES SMOKE FILLED THE CAR WITH MORE POPPING NOISE AND THEN FIRE STARTED, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 564041 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V135000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 1987-09-01 (September 1, 1987)
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Consequence: THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V080000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 1988-05-16 (May 16, 1988)
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗