RoadVitals

1988 Oldsmobile 88 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest May 1, 2000
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
30%
of 37 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Oldsmobile 88 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSteering
Filed May 1, 2000

RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD LOCK UP IF VEHICLE SATTOO LONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD OR HOT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS WORE OUT THE ROTORS. PADS WERE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS OF RACK & PINION STEERING, AND EACH TIME MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
861186
Steering
Filed Jul 29, 1997

CONSUMER STATED THAT ONLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE STEERING COLUMN BOX JUST LOCKS UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
814527
Steering
Filed Jun 19, 1997
4 injuries reported

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND ROLL OVER.

NHTSA ID
603404
Incident
May 7, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 4, 1997

THE STEERING IS TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN.

NHTSA ID
516171
Steering
Filed Jan 29, 1997

STEERING COLUMN: HAD SILENT RECALL IN 1993 ON STEERING COLUMN. HAD NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN. WHEN DRIVING ONE CAN FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIMMERING AND IT MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. REAPAIR SHOP SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS IF IT WAS REPLACED . *AK

NHTSA ID
808305
Incident
Jan 8, 1997
Steering
Filed Aug 22, 1996

FAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN CRACKS/SPLITS IS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ID
800216
Incident
Jul 26, 1996
Steering
Filed Apr 19, 1996

POWER STEERING SEALS LEAK. *DSH

NHTSA ID
503424
Incident
May 1, 1992
Steering
Filed Jan 24, 1996

COLD POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID
500912
Incident
Oct 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 1995

THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN CAN NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL IN BAD WEATHER. TT

NHTSA ID
976425
Incident
Dec 10, 1995
Steering
Filed Mar 28, 1995

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY. TT

NHTSA ID
962669
Steering
Filed Mar 9, 1995

ERRATIC OPERATION OF POWER STEERING. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. TT

NHTSA ID
961578
Incident
Mar 9, 1993

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .