Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the fuel system, driver assistance and seat belts categories. 2 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 2 | 2 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 7 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 8 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Mar 1996 | 2 | 14 |
| Apr 1996 | 1 | 15 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 17 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 18 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 19 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 20 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 21 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 22 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 23 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 24 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 25 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 26 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 27 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.govSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES TWICE.*JB
MICHELIN, RADIAL, DOTB9CTCRPE-299; WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, THEN LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS A LANE AND HIT GUARD A RAIL. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE LANE, IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER SIDE AND THE TIRE BLEW NEAR WHITE SIDE WALL. *YH
GAS LINES AND FITTINGS BADLY CORRODED AND LEAKING. NLM
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE DIES CLEANLY. THAT IS THERE IS NO SPUTTERING/COUGHING OR ERRATIC FIRING. OFCOURSE YOU LOOSE ALL BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE . AFTER YOU COAST TO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO START AND THE ENGINE STARTS WITH NO HESITATION AT ALL. THE CAR MAY GO 100, 350 OR 400 MILES BEFORE IT DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN. THIS IS EXTEMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU COULD EASILY REAR END SOME ONE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I CALLED THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER AND HE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE HE COULD DO UNLESS THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE I MENTIONED THE SITUATION TO MY FRIENDS THEY HAVE SAID THEY KNEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR. *AK
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL (89C-01) REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP. NLM
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TILT STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BOLTS LOOSE.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1999 | 77 | 2 | 3 | 60.1 |
| 1998 | 164 | 1 | 1 | 51.5 |
| 1997 | 101 | 0 | 1 | 46.3 |
| 1996 | 92 | 2 | 1 | 56.8 |
| 1995 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 46.5 |
| 1994 | 63 | 1 | 0 | 41.0 |
| 1993 | 74 | 1 | 1 | 54.5 |
| 1992 | 73 | 1 | 5 | 60.1 |
| 1991 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 57.7 |
| 1990 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 1989Viewing | 27 | 2 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 1988 | 37 | 0 | 4 | 53.6 |
| 1987 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 70.9 |
| 1986 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 49.9 |
| 1985 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1984 | 9 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.