RoadVitals

1992 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.
73
Latest Jun 4, 2007
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 Jan 23, 1996
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.
5
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.
19
30 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 73 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the brakes, airbags and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 15 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

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
96V015000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Jan 23, 1996
585,182 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
The risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA94024ClosedEngineering Analysis

INADVERTENT SHIFT OF TRANS

Opened Jun 30, 1994
Closed Jun 30, 1995

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN
PE94009ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TURBOCHARGER MALFUNCTION

Opened Jan 31, 1994
Closed May 24, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEMLed to recall 94V094000
PE94006ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INADVERTENT SHIFT OF TRANSMISSION

Opened Jan 28, 1994
Closed Jun 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN
PE93007ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LINE FAILURE

Opened Feb 10, 1993
Closed May 3, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 73
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES ON ONE OCCASION. SEVERAL DEALERS DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, OR ALTERNATOR. THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE CONTACT HAS THE INVOICES FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND WILL PROVIDE THE DEALER INFORMATION WHEN THE COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
10192370
Incident
Jun 4, 2007
Mileage
98,000 mi
Filed Nov 4, 2002
16 injuries reported1 death reported

THE VICTIM WAS DEPRIVED OF OXYGEN BEFORE RESCUERS ARRIVED, SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE AND DIED FROM HIS INJURY 11/25/98. OUR INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND 15 OTHERS THAT REPORTED VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO GM. DT

NHTSA ID
769254
Incident
Nov 23, 1998
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2002
Crash reported

HAVE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PUSHED INTO BUILDING, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017158
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 29, 2001
Fire reported2 injuries reported

THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL SHORTED OUT. IT STARTED TO GET HOT, THEN IT SMOKED AND THEN THERE WAS A SMALL SPARK AND A SMALL FLAME. IT COMPLETELY MELTED. THIS CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID
756157
Incident
Dec 16, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Oct 3, 2001

REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE FAR ENOUGH TO FASTEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT RETRACTOR NEEDED REPLACING.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*SLC

NHTSA ID
897302
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
EngineFuel systemTransmission
Filed Apr 1, 2001

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, TORQUE CONVERTER, SEAL AND TRANSMISSION FITLER REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
560615
Incident
Jan 28, 2000
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 12, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AND TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, VEHICLE HAD WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED HOOD, FLAMES WERE COMING FORM BENEATH. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE. *AK POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882738
Incident
Mar 7, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 15, 2001
4 injuries reported

CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN DURING HARD BRAKING AND THE BUMPER WENT BELOW THE OTHER VEHICLE AND NEVER TOOK IMPACT BUT RESULTED IN $6000. IN DAMAGE (HOOD, RADIATOR, HEADLIGHTS, FENDERS, SIDE MARKERS AND CRUMPLE ZONE), THE CONSUMER BELIEVES NO VEHICLE SHOULD BE TOTALED FOR A 15 MPH FRONT END CRASH. NLM

NHTSA ID
559716

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

990730030A

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT

990730030

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT

832006

STRUCTURE:BODY

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC

831704

STRUCTURE:BODY

CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC

98833005

SUSPENSION

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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
1992Viewing731560.1
1991162157.7
1990242049.6
1989272053.9
1988370453.6
1987182870.9
1986191849.9
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.