RoadVitals

1979 Oldsmobile 88

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jul 28, 2001
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Nov 13, 1979
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1979 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the seat belts and tires & wheels categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
79V247000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Nov 13, 1979
1,326,404 units potentially affected
The defect: THE HEADS MAY BREAK OFF THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION EVEN UNDER NO LOAD CONDITIONS. THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF BOLTS USED, HIGH INSTALLATION TORQUE AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE BODY ANCHORAGE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
79V121000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

May 22, 1979
134 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES". THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GASOLINE FUEL HOSES IN PLACE OF THE VACUUM HOSE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CARBON CANISTER IN THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM LINE. SHOULD THIS HOSE RUPTURE, IT WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS WOULD INCREASE THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECT HOSE WITH THE CORRECT VACUUM HOSE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
78V247000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Nov 13, 1978
67 units potentially affected
The defect: A GASKET WAS MISTAKENLY PLACED BETWEEN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE POWER BOOST WHICH PREVENTED THE TWO PARTS FROM FITTING TOGETHER PROPERLY. DAMAGE MAY HAVE RESULTED TO THE MOUNTING EARS OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRO-BOOST. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRO-BOOST UNIT, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Jul 28, 2001

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE, SHE IS OVER 40 POUNDS BUT CAN NOT USE A BOOSTER BECAUSE THE BACK SEAT DOES NOT HAVE SHOULDER BELTS? SHOULD I PUT HER IN THE FRONT? THEY SAY THAT IS NOT SAFE EITHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
749389
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 2, 1998

TIRES (ULTRA SUPREME 770) DO NOT STOP VEHICLE, SKIDS.

NHTSA ID
527296
Incident
Jul 1, 1997

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile 88 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000001—
1999772360.1
19981641151.5
19971010146.3
1996922156.8
19951171046.5
1994631041.0
1993741154.5
1992731560.1
1991162157.7
1990242049.6
1989272053.9
1988370453.6
1987182870.9
1986191849.9
1985722—
1984932—
1982310—
1981400—
1980020—
1979Viewing230—
1978020—
1977120—
1976210—
1975020—
1974010—
1972130—
1971020—
1968030—
1967010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.