1995 Oldsmobile 88 Steering Problems

A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FORTUNATELY DID NOT OCCUR. THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME MOUNTING WASHERS ON BOTH SIDES RUSTED THROUGH. MY MOTHER (75 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE TURNING. THE ENGINE CRADLE DROPPED DOWN PREVENTING HER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CLOSE SHE WOULD HAVE DRIVEN DIRECTLY INTO IT. SHE WAS EXTREMELY SCARED AND SHAKEN. THIS IS SUCH A SMALL ITEM THAT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY GM OR WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SINGLE VEHICLE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434381

Incident

Oct 27, 2011

Mileage

100,700 mi

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE GM RECALL ABOUT THE FAILURE OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING, WIPERS. I HAVE A 1995 OLDS 88 ROYALE. BACK IN NOVEMBER MY WIFE WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND HER POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. I E-MAILED OLDSMOBILE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AFTER I READ ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY SENT ME BACK A E-MAIL AND SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE VIN AND MODEL YEAR DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A LOCAL DEALER IF I FELT THAT THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR VEHICLE. THE CAR IS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION? IF SO I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10053211

Incident

Nov 5, 2003

Mileage

141,305 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP BOLTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040720

Incident

Sep 20, 2003

LOST STEERING CONTROL - THREE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE PUMP JUST BROKE OFF & WENT ON TO PUSH RIGHT BOOT INTO RIGHT TIRE. WATER PUMP BROKE & ALSO OVERFLOW ANTIFREEZE TANK BROKE. HAD TO REPLACE TWO TAIL LAMPS BECAUSE OF BROKEN BRACKETS OR PRONGS THAT HOLD IT.

NHTSA ID

9004264

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

WHILE LEAVING A SERVICE STATION AND TURNING RIGHT HEARD NOISE AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEM TURNING. WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT BOLTS ON STEERING PUMP BROKE. AK THE LOSS OF STEERING RESULTED REARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO LOST POWER BRAKES. *YH

NHTSA ID

877515

Incident

May 18, 2000

POWER STEERING MOTOR COMPLETELY FELL OFF THE ENGINE. I LOST ALL POWER . HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ANOTHER OLDSOMIBLE WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THE SHOP FOREMAN SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY VEHICLE BEFOR MINE AND THE OTHER CAR. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THEY WERE BOTH OLDS. I FEEL THAT FAULTY BOLTS ARE BEING USED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CARS. THE BOLTS HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. I DON'T THINK THAT BOLTS SHOULD CORODE AFTER 81,000 MILES. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OLDSOMOBILE VEHICLES SOMEONE WILL LOOSE THIER LIVES BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ID

731816

Incident

Jul 17, 2000

THE MOUNTING BOLTS HOLDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVE BOTH COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THIS OCCURRED DURING ENGINE STARTUP UNDER NO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ENGINE / CAR HAS NOT HAD ANY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED IN ANY AREA NEAR THIS COMPONENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TORQUED ON INITIAL INSTALLATION. MY CONCERN IS TO KNOW IF THIS IS A PREVIOUS KNOW PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

731027

Incident

Sep 6, 2000

ATTACHMENT BOLTS OF THE POWER STEERING BROKE OFF CAUSING THE BELT TO COME LOOSE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. MJS

NHTSA ID

549496

Incident

Oct 29, 1999

THE 2 BOLTS TO THE POWER STEERING BRACKETS BROKE LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. DLR REPLACED BOLTS TO POWER STEERING BRACKET.MJS

NHTSA ID

848627

BOLT SECURING POWER STEERING BELT SHEARED, LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTION DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN MIDST OF SNOW STORM. LUCKILY HAD EXITED HIGHWAY JUST PRIOR TO FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

706074

Incident

Mar 9, 1999

BROKEN BOLT ON POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID

542392

Incident

Sep 2, 1998

STEERING PINS SHEARED OFF. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. *AK

NHTSA ID

982177

Incident

Mar 13, 1996

SHOCK ABSORBERS HAVE POOR STABILITY AND FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE CROSSING FIVE LANE HIGHWAY. SHOCKS ARE TOO SOFT FOR CONTROL. TT

NHTSA ID

964806

Incident

May 1, 1995

STEERING GEAR REPLACED DUE TO NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *SKD

NHTSA ID

489796

Incident

Dec 20, 1994