RoadVitals

1984 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.
9
Latest Sep 12, 2002
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 Jun 16, 1989
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.
2
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and body & structure categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

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

  • Engine333.3%
  • Seat belts222.2%
  • Body & structure111.1%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Driver assistance111.1%
  • Steering111.1%

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
89V102000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jun 16, 1989
1,755,897 units potentially affected
The defect: A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
The risk: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
84V027000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Mar 12, 1984
139 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE LOCATED IN A POSITION LOWER THAN NORMAL.
The remedy: BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
83V118000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Nov 15, 1983
68 units potentially affected
The defect: THE THROTTLE MAY JAM AND MAY NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE OMISSION, DURING ASSEMBLY, OF A NUT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD WHICH LIMITS TRAVEL IN THE THROTTLE MECHANISM.
The remedy: VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE MISSING NUT ADDED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD WITHOUT CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

C89001ClosedInvestigation

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989
Closed Jan 16, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE88027ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE

Opened Feb 9, 1988
Closed May 11, 1988

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EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 9
Body & structure
Filed Sep 12, 2002

THE OVERHEAD UPHOLSTER HAD DROPPED DOWN AND PARTICLES OF GLUE, DUST AND CLOTH WERE FALLING ON THE CONSUMERS SKIN CAUSING ITCHING AND SORES. *YH

NHTSA ID
567439
Driver assistance
Filed May 31, 2000
Crash reported

CRUISE CONTROL SERVO SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE WHEN UNEXPECTED, CAUSING INCREASE IN SPEED. DRIVER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
862759
Incident
May 3, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Mar 10, 2000

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS LOCKED, AND IT WON'T RELEASE THE SEAT. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO RESTRAIN CHILD. *AK

NHTSA ID
858296
Incident
Mar 9, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 2000
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA ID
550597
Incident
Dec 20, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 1998
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
826653
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 1997

ABS, ANTI- SKID SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE, ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER HAS SINCE REPLACED THE UNIT.*JB

NHTSA ID
816135
Steering
Filed Mar 28, 1997

STEERING WHEEL CRACKED/SEPARATED IN THREE PLACES. *AK

NHTSA ID
809761
Engine
Filed Feb 11, 1997

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
514686

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—
1984Viewing932—
1982310—
1981400—
1980020—
1979230—
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.