1996 Oldsmobile 88 Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE NOT REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

MY CAR WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS STARTING AND STAYING STARTED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BACK FIRE AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP. WE CHECKED THE PLUGS AND ALSO TESTED TO SEE IF WAS GETTING FUEL. YES, THE PLUGS WERE FINE, AND IT WAS GETTING FUEL. I THEN TOOK OFF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE HAD THAT TESTED AND THAT WAS FINE. I WAS TOLD THEN IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. REPLACED THAT, THE CAM SENSOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, VALVE COVER GASKET, THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS THAT WERE CRACKED, PIECES MISSING, AND COVERED IN THICK BROWN GOOD. MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START, AND HAS WATER FALLS OF WATER COMING OUT THE PLUG HOLES. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 95V204000 CONCERNING IGNITION ANTI THEFT CONTROLLER. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED FUEL CAUSING FIRE,WHEN IT STARTED UP,I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT THAT HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88 LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLASTIC, WHICH FAILED AND CAUSED THE FUEL LINES TO BURN AND MELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIRBAG EXPLOSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE AIR BAG DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AND SENT SHARDS OF GLASS FLYING. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE HORN WAS DEACTIVATED. WHILE LEAVING THE MECHANIC, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHT WITH A SET OF MASTERCRAFT GLACIER GRIP II TIRES, SIZE P205/70/R15, AND THE DOT NUMBER: U9MOFHB296A16L029248E4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE AS IF IT WERE BOUNCING. WHEN HE FINALLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRE TREAD HAD DETACHED, WHICH ULTIMATELY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TIRE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE TREAD HAD BEGAN SHIFTED WHICH CAUSED THE BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER MULTI-MILE GRAND AM RADIAL SE, SIZE P205/70R15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING. THE TIRE MECHANIC BALANCED THE TIRES, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HE REPLACED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRES. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A BULGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND HE REPLACED BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 97,016. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ

BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVERS DOOR SILL LEAKS BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE LINE IS RUSTED OUT. FLUID LEVEL IN BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR LOW AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO RESERVOIR. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES ARE NOT GALVENIZED, ARE EXPOSED TO SALT AND MOISTURE, AND ARE NOT PAINTED SO THEY RUST! *TR

APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, BRAKES MADE A THUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED EXCESSIVELY, ABS LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY FOUND THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE TO BE FAULTY. REPLACED MODULE AND PAID FOR REPAIR. ENGINE PROBLEM STARTED CAR, SLIGHT BACKFIRE OCCURED, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAR ROUGH IDLED, HAD SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY FOUND THE UPPER INTAKE CRACKED ALONG WITH THE LOWER INTAKE AND GASKETS TO BE CRACKED. REPLACED AT COST TO ME. DT

WHILE WASHING THE CAR A CHIP CAME OFF THE TRUNK. THERE AFTER THE PAINT CONTINUED TO FLAKE OFF THE REST OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES

SIR'S I HAVE A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88 LS. I WAS DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE,STARTED TO PULL OUT OF AN INTERSECTION AND THE 4 REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME, WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE DROPPED AND THE STEERING SHAFT CAME APART AND I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEELS TO GUIDE THE CAR. LUCK HAD IT THAT NO ONE WAS COMING AT THE TIME. I HAVE NEVER IN ALL MY YEARS AS A DRIVER EVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. I KNOW IT'S AN OLDER CAR AND THINGS HAPPEN ,BUT NEVER THIS. IF THE MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHY WEREN'T THEY RECALLED, THEY WERE ON OTHER MODELS OF THE OLDSMOBILES OF THIS YEAR. SHERIFF DEPUTY CAME AND ASSISTED WHILE WE COULD LOAD IT ONTO A FLATBED WRECKER. DON'T KNOW IF THEY MADE A REPORT OR NOT. *TR

I AM TRYING TO INSTALL CAR SEATS FOR BOTH MY CHILDREN IN MY 1996 OLDSMOBILE LSS AND THERE ARE NO ANCHOR POINTS INSTALLED FOR THE TETHER STRAP, THUS MAKING THE CHILD SEAT USELESS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF NO ANCHOR POINTS ARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE TO CALL YOUR LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED IN THE LOCATIONS SHOWN IN THE MANUAL. THE LOCAL GM DEALER SAYS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANCHOR POINTS AND WILL NOT INSTALL THEM. THEY ARE TELLING ME TO GO TO THE CAR SEAT MANUFACTURER TO GET THE ANCHOR POINTS. THE CHILD SEAT MANUFACTURER (BRITAX) DOES NOT MAKE THEM. THE LOCAL AGENCY THAT INSTALLS AND ENSURES PROPER CHILD SEAT INSTALLATION TOLD ME TO GO TO THE GM DEALER. SO NOW, I AM BACK A SQUARE ONE AND CANNOT HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR! I ALSO HAVE A 1999 GMC SUBURBAN THAT HAS ANCHOR POINTS FOR THE 3RD ROW SEAT, BUT MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE SECOND ROW. AGAIN, GM WILL NOT INSTALL ANCHOR POINTS FOR ME. *TR

HEAD RESTRAINT DESIGN PROBLEMS.

CAR LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. REPAIRS CONSISTED OF REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION, REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER, MODULATOR, SHAFT OUTPUT, CLUTCH DRUM WHICH TOTALED $2600. DT

CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FUEL, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO TECH WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM (PINPOINT HOLES IN SENDING UNIT), AND REPAIRED IT, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE LINE WAS LEAKING AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A MINOR LEAK.*AK *JG

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS AT ZERO, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *AK *SC *JB

ALARM SYSTEM WILL COME AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND WEAR THE BATTERY DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR VEHICLE TO START.*AK

ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 8, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHT ON NORTHBOUND US-27, NEAR ALMA, MICHIGAN. AT ONE POINT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT IT WAS RAINING QUITE HEAVILY PRIOR TO AND THROUGHOUT THIS INCIDENT. MY CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED AND IS BEING REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND THE AIR BAGS ARE BEING REMOVED. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR A WEEK IN ORDER TO KEEP PRIOR ENGAGEMENTS. *TR

ELECTRICAL WINDOW WILL COME UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

FUEL GAUGE FAILURE--SENDING UNIT GOT SO HOT IT FUSED THE WIRES TOGETHER AND THEN SENT A JOLT OF ELECTRICITY TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BURNING OUT PART OF THE CLUSTER; IN ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES WERE SO BRITTLE THAT THEY FELL APART THEREFORE, IT WOULD SEEM THAT EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION. I HAVE THE SENDING UNIT OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WITH THE FUSED WIRES. *NM

THE DOME LIGHTS AND OTHER INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT IS A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION.*JB

STEERING WHEEL- THERE ARE HARD TO TURN SPOTS (BINDING?), EVERY HALF TURN AND THE WHEELS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO STRAIGHT AFTER TURNING.*AK THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR, AND GETTING PROGRESSIVLY WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, AND HARDLY NOTICABLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT.

CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FUEL, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO TECH WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM (PINPOINT HOLES IN SENDING UNIT), AND REPAIRED IT, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE LINE WAS LEAKING AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A MINOR LEAK.*AK *JG

IT IS MY OPINION THAT MODERN HALLOGEN LAMPS ARE DANGEROUSLY AND UNECESSARILY BRIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN INDICATED TO ME WHEN I USE MY CAR EQUIPPED WITH SEALED BEAM LIGHTS SET ON HIGH BEAM. NO ONE" BRIGHT LIGHTS "ME , INDICATING THAT OTHER DRIVERS DO NOT PERCIEVE THAT THE HIGH BEAM IS BRIGHTER THAT LOW BEAM HALLOGEN LAMPS. ON-COMING LIGHTS THAT ARE TOO BRIGHT IMPAIR VISION AND MAY CAUSE INJURY TO THE EYE. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A STANDARD OF LIGHT INTENSITY BASED ON ACTUAL COMPARISON OF HALLOGEN AND SEALED BEAM LAMPS. *AK

LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

CAR LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. REPAIRS CONSISTED OF REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION, REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER, MODULATOR, SHAFT OUTPUT, CLUTCH DRUM WHICH TOTALED $2600. DT

SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING OR AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR VIBRATES . *AK

CAR JACK BROKE WHEN USING, DESIGN TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE.

AIR CONDITIONER IS NOISY WHEN SET ON LOW SPEED.