1992 Oldsmobile 88 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 Oldsmobile 88, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes2729.3%
- Airbags1314.1%
- Transmission1010.9%
- Engine99.8%
- Electrical66.5%
- Interior & seats55.4%
- Seat belts55.4%
- Steering44.3%
- Body & structure33.3%
- Visibility33.3%
- Tires & wheels22.2%
- Suspension22.2%
- Fuel system11.1%
- Powertrain (other)11.1%
- Driver assistance11.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONDITIONS WHERE ANTILOCK BRAKES HAVE COME ON. BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC 2 TIMES, HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS BOTH TIMES. ANTILOCK BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *AK
ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AND CAUSE WHEELS TO DRAG. ABS SENSOR LIGHNT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. *AK
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN A DEER APPEARED SUDDENLY. APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT DEER WAS HIT BY LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE ON FRONT GRILL. VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT UPPER PART OF CHEST & THROAT ON STEERING WHEEL DUE TO NO AIR BAG. WAS AT EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. WEARING NECK BRACE. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, TORQUE CONVERTER, SEAL AND TRANSMISSION FITLER REPLACED. *JB
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, TORQUE CONVERTER, SEAL AND TRANSMISSION FITLER REPLACED. *JB
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
DRIVING VEHICLE, COMING TO TOLL BOOTH 300 FT AWAY; GRAYISH SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. OTHER PEOPLE NOTICED HEAVY BLACK SMOKE. TOLL OFFICIAL CALLED FIRE DEPT; VEHICLE IN FLAMES BEFORE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED; WAS TOWED TO YARD. INS. CO. WILL LOOK AT VEHICLE IF MOVED TO DEALER. *AK POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
VEHICLE PULLED OVER BY DRIVER. DRIVER LOOKED UNDER FRONT SEAT FOR CELL PHONE. CLOTHES/ BODY. CAME IN CONTACT WITH SEAT BUTTON & PUSHED TO RIGHT. POWER SEAT CAME FORWARD & PINNED DRIVER BETWEEN SEAT& FRONT DOOR FRAME. COULD NOT GET OXYGEN; SUFFICATION OCCURRED. RESCUE SQUAD CAME & PERFORMED CPR. ON LIFE SUPPORT TWO DAYS. DIED TWO DAYS LATER. DEALER CONTACTED; FULLY AWARE OF INCIDENT. MANUFACTURER NOT AWARE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHENEVER SEAT BELTS ARE USED THEY RISE UP TO ACROSS THE NECK. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRUTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED RECENTLY. ALSO, NEWER TIRES UP FRONT. *AK
STEERING WHEEL HAS A GAP/SPLIT, CAUSING POWDER AND CHEMICAL VAPORS TO ESCAPE WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, AIR BAG IS VISIBLE. CONSUMR HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
TRANSMISSION FAILURE; ALSO, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSORS/FRONT WHEL BEARINGS/BATTERY/ALTERNATOR/POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AND MOLDING ON TOP OF WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT ON THE THE FREEWAY. PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
FLAME CAME OUT IN THE LOCATION OF THE REAR DEFROST PLUG IN AREA, RESULTING IN REAR WINDOW SHATTERING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRUTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED RECENTLY. ALSO, NEWER TIRES UP FRONT. *AK
TIRE DISCINEGRATED DUE TO BELT SEPERATION, TORE FENDER OFF RIGHT SIDE DAMAGED PASSENGER DOOR AND BENT RIM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRUTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED RECENTLY. ALSO, NEWER TIRES UP FRONT. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE; ALSO, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSORS/FRONT WHEL BEARINGS/BATTERY/ALTERNATOR/POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AND MOLDING ON TOP OF WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, TORQUE CONVERTER, SEAL AND TRANSMISSION FITLER REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER SPEEDOMETER IA ACTING ERRATICALLY BY JUMPING FROM ONE SPEED TO THE NEXT (E.G 45-50, 55-60). ALSO UPON STARTUP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM "5" AND THE SES LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .