Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 24 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the engine, brakes 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 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 7 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 9 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 13 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 14 |
| Jul 1997 | 1 | 15 |
| Oct 1997 | 3 | 18 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 19 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 20 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 21 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 22 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 23 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 24 |
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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
DT: 1990 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. THE CONTACT CALLED OLDSMOBILE, AND THEY STATED SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT GET FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR A MONTH. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUT HIS SEA BELT INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. *AK
THE REAR BRAKE LINE BROKE RENDERING THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES. *PH *JB
HAS ANYONE COMPLAINED THAT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE 1990 OLDSMOBILE 88 ROYALE? THEY ALWAYS LAY ACROSS THE OCCUPANTS NECK? IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I THINK YOU MIGHT BE HURT MORE IF YOU HAD THE BELT ON BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION. I THINK IT COULD BREAK YOUR NECK! IN ADDITION, IT MIGHT CUT INTO YOUR NECK IF YOU STOP SHORT AND ARE FORCED FORWARD. THE PERSON'S HEIGHT DOES NOT MATTER; BECAUSE IT WORKS ITS WAY TOWARDS YOUR NECK ON EVERYONE. THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE ON THIS MODEL OF CAR. IS OLDSMOBILE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT? THOMAS FIORENZE TS
HOOD STRUTS FAIL TO HOLD ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER, ENGINE TENDS TO STALL ON RIGHT-TURN HIGHWAY ON-RAMPS OR SHARP RIGHT TURNS WITH 5 GALLONS OR LESS IN THE TANK, (ORIGINAL) SILVER PAINT IS PEELING BADLY FROM ENGINE HOOD AND BEGINNING NOW ON ROOF AS WELL. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASES UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH WONT PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. *AK
DUE TO A FUEL LEAK IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
COMPUTER UNIT FAILED. MJS
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 |
| 1990Viewing | 24 | 2 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 1989 | 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.