Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 23, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 74 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Oldsmobile 88. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 74 · page 1 of 3
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
Steering
Filed Oct 24, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO GO INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-53 MPH. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10002431
Incident
Dec 27, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2003
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ID
10001873
Incident
Oct 9, 2002
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 2002
Fire reported
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, NOW THE STEERING COLUMN IS SMOKING HOT AND THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM BUT WITH NO RESULTS, THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A WARNING ISSUED TO OWNERS WARNING THEM OF POSSIBLE CURRENT SURGE IN THE STARTER. NLM
NHTSA ID
786449
Incident
Mar 30, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2002
WHILE DRIVING, THE BODY OF VEHICLE CAME OFF THE FRAME, AND WHEEL FELL IN TOWARDS VEHICLE. VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ID
8014402
Incident
Jul 8, 2002
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
AFTER COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POLE, CONSUMER HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, HOWEVER WAS STILL THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA ID
566590
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Sep 17, 2001
THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILED. NLM
NHTSA ID
785601
Incident
Sep 16, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jul 24, 2001
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME WAS DUE TO ROCK DAMAGE OF THE SUB FRAME AND TRANSMISSON PAN, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSON WOULD BE INSTALLED, HOWEVER ON JUNE 17,2001 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THERE WERE METAL PIECES IN THE PAN, AND A BROKEN REVERSE DRUM, APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE TEETH HAD SEPARATED AND A DEEP GROOVE HAD WORN ALONG THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE ON ONE END OF THE REVERSE DRUM, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE FAILED TRANSMISSION WAS A REBUILT UNIT, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION.*JB
NHTSA ID
562210
Incident
Mar 19, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Jul 10, 2001
FUEL PUMP MODULAR WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING FUEL; DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *JB
NHTSA ID
892321
Incident
Jul 7, 2001
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 8, 2000
THE PROBLEM IS WITH A SEARS X-CARGO TOP CARRIER. USING THE SEARS-MANUFACTURED AND SEARS-RECOMMENDED CLASPS TO ATTACH IT TO MY CAR (MAKE & MODEL ABOVE), THE TOP CARRIER CRACKED, BROKE AND PULLED OFF THE PLASTIC DOOR MOLDING WHICH SECURED IT TO THE CAR. THE TOP CARRIER WAS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY $260, BUT THE REAL DANGER IS THAT THE TOP CARRIER COULD BREAK OFF WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA ID
735963
Brakes
Filed Apr 25, 2000
AFTER DEALER TURNED BRAKES NOTICED ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ON . DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
860869
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 2000
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED UNDER 10 MPH WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS ROLLING OVER A BUMP, BUT WAS NOT. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
857688
Incident
Feb 21, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2000
ABS BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR FAILED CAUSING ABS LIGHTS COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *ET
NHTSA ID
784437
Incident
Nov 16, 1999
Transmission
Filed Dec 29, 1999
Fire reported
WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND FUMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEITH THE VEIHCLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A TRANSMSSION COOLING LINE WHICH SEPARATED, CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE, AND RESULTING IN FIRE. ALSO, NHTSA RECALL 96V015002/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95C68 WAS ISSUED DEALING WITH FIRES CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
854520
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 3, 1999
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE HESITATED UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. ALSO, THERE WAS A CLICKING AND BANGING NOISE WITHIN THE MOTOR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA ID
846790
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Aug 24, 1999
Crash reported
WHILE IN PARK VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. *AK
NHTSA ID
845757
Incident
Aug 23, 1999
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.
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