RoadVitals

1993 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.
74
Latest Jun 22, 2011
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.
1
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
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 74 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Oldsmobile 88, most frequently naming the brakes, transmission and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 17 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

  • Brakes2123.6%
  • Engine1112.4%
  • Airbags77.9%
  • Electrical77.9%
  • Fuel system66.7%
  • Body & structure44.5%
  • Seat belts44.5%

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

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.

PE93013ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LEAKS

Opened Mar 5, 1993
Closed Jul 13, 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

Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (96V015000) POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: COOLING UNIT AND LINES WAS RELATED TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE MANUFACTURED STATED THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

NHTSA ID
10408456
Incident
Jun 10, 2011
Mileage
164,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2010
Crash reported

1993 88 OLDS TROTTLE CABLE BROKE WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. PROCEEDED AT FULL SPEED (IN CIRCLES AS WHEEL WAS TURNED) UNTIL CRASHED INTO TREE.

NHTSA ID
10307437
Incident
Dec 21, 2009
Mileage
42,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+2 more
Filed Aug 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10240200
Incident
Feb 10, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN CMP95C1101. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER 1000 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED 75 TIMES AND BECAME WORSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10189264
Incident
Apr 26, 2007
Mileage
47,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 24, 2006

THIS CAR, LIKE MANY FRONT-DRIVE CARS, USES A FRONT SUBFRAME TO CARRY THE ENGINE, TRANSAXLE, STEERING GEAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY WITH SIX RUBBER ISOLATORS, EACH OF WHICH IS FASTENED IN PLACE WITH A LARGE RETAINING WASHER AND A BOLT. ONE OF THE SIX RETAINING WASHERS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE OUTER HALF OF IT FELL OFF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO INSPECT AND REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER FIVE WASHERS. AS I SUSPECTED FROM MY VISUAL INSPECTION,ALL FIVE WERE SERIOUSLY WEAKENED BY RUST AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE SUBFRAME HAD ALSO RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, TO THE POINT THAT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD EASILY POKE A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE RUSTED SECTIONS. THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY, INCLUDING THE FLOOR PAN, ROCKER PANELS, STRUT TOWERS, FUEL TANK, TANK STRAPS AND REAR SUSPENSION PARTS, WAS VIRTUALLY FREE OF RUST. IF THE RETAINERS OR SUBFRAME HAD FAILED ON THE ROAD AND THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME HAD DROPPED DOWN, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MODE AND CONSEQUENCES ARE SIMILAR TO SAFETY RECALL 98V323000, WHICH COVERED SUBFRAME RETAINERS ON 2.6 MILLION FORD, MERCURY AND LINCOLN FRONT-DRIVE VEHICLES. I PAID FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME, THE SIX RETAINERS, THE SIX MOUNT BOLTS, AND SEVERAL OF THE RUBBER ISOLATORS THAT EXHIBITED RUST DAMAGE TO THEIR INTERNAL METAL SLEEVES. WITH LABOR CHARGES FOR THE PARTS REPLACEMENTS AND THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT THAT WAS REQUIRED AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THOSE PARTS, THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO $1558. I HELD ONTO THE RUSTED RETAINER THAT FELL OFF THE CAR; THE DEALER DISPOSED OF THE REMAINING PARTS, SINCE I DID NOT HAVE STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THE LARGE SUBFRAME. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND AND REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT LED TO AN INJURY OR FATALITY ACCIDENT. THIS SUBFRAME AND RETAINER DESIGN IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE OLDS 88, BUT IS SHARED BY THE GM H-BODY AND C-BODY PLATFORMS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10151163
Incident
Feb 17, 2006
Mileage
147,700 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE MOUNTS CAME OUT WITH CHASSIS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE AAA MECHANIC STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE JUNKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10129428
Incident
Jul 19, 2005
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINE FAILED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10059573
Incident
Feb 12, 2004
Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2003

WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ENGINE IDLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050282
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
35,200 mi

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

98833005

SUSPENSION

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE

831704

STRUCTURE:BODY

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

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
1993Viewing741154.5
1992731560.1
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.