RoadVitals

1986 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.
19
Latest Apr 19, 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.
1
Latest Aug 28, 1986
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.
8
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 8 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

  • Brakes416.0%
  • Driver assistance416.0%
  • Engine312.0%
  • Steering312.0%
  • Visibility28.0%
  • Fuel system28.0%
  • Other / unspecified14.0%
  • Powertrain (other)14.0%

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

1 campaign 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
86V122000

SUSPENSION:REAR

Aug 28, 1986
38,309 units potentially affected
The defect: THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT STUD TO KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS COULD ALLOW THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT STUD TO LOOSEN AT THE KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT. A LOOSE BALL JOINT STUD COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE. SEPARATION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: REPLACE AND TIGHTEN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT STUD NUTS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA90017ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Mar 26, 1990
Closed Apr 22, 1991

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE89171ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Sep 26, 1989
Closed Mar 26, 1990

===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EA89028ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR BRAKE PIN

Opened Jul 28, 1989
Closed Jul 27, 1990

SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE89101ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

REAR BRAKE PIN

Opened Mar 15, 1989
Closed Jul 28, 1989

===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 19
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER FIRST START, MOSTLY WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NLM

NHTSA ID
8008047
Incident
Mar 30, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 22, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE TRAVELING WENT INTO EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION WITHOUT INDICATION DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL BEING STUCK. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND WAS INJURED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
859030
Engine
Filed Sep 21, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS/ AND HESITATES. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
848209
Incident
Aug 2, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 12, 1999

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN PUT IN REVERSE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
544891
Incident
Mar 11, 1998
Steering
Filed Jan 6, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM GETS STUCK OR CANNOT MOVE PROPERLY WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
833104
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 1998

MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
539791
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Other / unspecified
Filed May 19, 1998

FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF HITTING OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
535708
Incident
Apr 18, 1998
BrakesPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 1997

BRAKE SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
603357
Incident
Mar 25, 1993

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
1986Viewing191849.9
1985722—
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.