RoadVitals

1985 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.
7
Latest May 16, 2010
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.
2
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, other / unspecified and seat belts categories. 2 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

  • Tires & wheels466.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%
  • Seat belts116.7%

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

2 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
85V028000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Mar 19, 1985
112 units potentially affected
The defect: THE TIRE PLACARD LABEL ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRINTED WITH AN ERROR WHICH SPECIFIES A HIGHER MAXIMUM LOADING THAN IS ALLOWED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: EXCESSIVE VEHICLE LOADING COULD CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: NEW TIRE PLACARD LABELS WITH CORRECT INFORMATION WILL BE INSTALLED.
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

Tires & wheels
Filed May 16, 2010
Crash reported

IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS I'VE HAD 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO TIRES NOT GRIPPING THE ROAD IN RAINY CONDITIONS. LAST OCT. I SLID 2 AND A HALF CAR LENGTHS AND HIT THE REAR OF A VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN. LAST WEEK IT HAPPENED BUT IT WASN'T AS SERIOUS. MY CLASSIC 1985 OLDS DELTA 88 WAS RUINED. I'VE KEPT DRIVING IT BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S A GOOD CAR. NOW I FACE INSPECTION AND IT WILL NEVER PASS. I HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I COULDN'T REPAIR IT'PARTS ARE EITHER UNAVAILABLE OR VERY COSTLY. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT MY INSURANCE RATES WILL SKYROCKET.THE TIRES ARE EL DORADO MARQUIS P205/75 R. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330654
Incident
Oct 10, 2009
Mileage
120,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 1, 2002
Crash reported

RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENMT INSTALLED AT 30,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 205/75R15, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. MR *TT *JB

NHTSA ID
8022048
Incident
Oct 12, 2002
Mileage
65,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 8, 2001

STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION, VEHICLE PULLING TO LEFT DURING STRAIGHT TRAVEL AND CRABBING IN LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, PROBLEMS CAUSED BY TREAD SEPARATION OF FRONT GILLETTE GOLDEN BEAR TOURING TIRES 20575R15. *CJ

NHTSA ID
558863
Incident
Dec 12, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 9, 2000

THE CAR WAS WOBBLING. PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE AND WOUND AROUND THE REAR AXLE. (DOT NUMBER: HYHHF7B109 TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)

NHTSA ID
733786
Incident
Sep 27, 2000
Filed Jul 19, 2000

I HEARD ON THE RADIO THERE IS A RECALL TO FIX THIS BUT GENERAL MOTORS AND THE OLDSMOBILE DEALERS HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THIS. ALTHOUGH GM HAS HAD SEVERAL CALLS ON THE MATTER. I PRESENTLY HAVE A BROKEN BOLT AND NO ONE TO FIX IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT DISCUSSED IN SUMMARY.*AK

NHTSA ID
725684
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 1, 1998

THE WHEEL HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED, CAUSING A VIBRATION AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AT45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
827433
Seat belts
Filed Jun 12, 1995

DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILURE, BELT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. TT

NHTSA ID
966616
Incident
Jun 12, 1995

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
1985Viewing722—
1984932—
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.