1992 Oldsmobile 88: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
45 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 45 complaints (17.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 31.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 44 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 | 15 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 16; 2000: 5; 2001: 6; 2002: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 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 484746 · 1995-07-18 (July 18, 1995)
SHIFT LEVER PIN FALLS OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485750 · 1995-07-02 (July 2, 1995)
LOCATION OF HORN BUTTONS CAUSES DIFFICULTY ACCESSING IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF IMPENDING ACCIDENT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490997 · 1996-01-17 (January 17, 1996)
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 491002 · 1996-01-02 (January 2, 1996)
REAR BRAKE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SPRING BROKE, CAUSING ADJUSTING GEAR/SPRING TO FALL INTO BRAKE DRUM. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 491002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501169 · 1996-01-20 (January 20, 1996)
BRAKE FLUID LOW SHORTLY AFTER BEING FILLED, NO APPARENT LEAKS. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501169 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 504883 · 1996-05-30 (May 30, 1996)
REAR BRAKE SPRING BROKE, COULD HAVE CAUSED REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND VEHICLE BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504883 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V015000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
Reported: 1996-01-23 (January 23, 1996)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗