RoadVitals

1997 Oldsmobile 88 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest May 8, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 101 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Oldsmobile 88 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed May 8, 2013

DIED WHILE AT STOP LIGHT. WONT RESTART, TURNS OVER BUT WONT KEEP RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511176
Incident
Apr 29, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 18, 2004

ON FEBRUARY 25, 2004 MY GRANDPARENTS PURCHASED A 1997 OLDSMOBILE LSS FROM NORTH LAKE FORD IN LAKEPORT CALIFORNIA. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT STALL, AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IN FACT THE VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AND THEY WERE NEARLY RAN OVER BY A SEMI TRUCK WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, AND IT STILL STALLS TO THIS DAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10100167
Incident
Feb 27, 2004
Electrical
Filed Feb 6, 2004

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL WARMS UP, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY OLDS DEALER IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE $700+ AIR BAG BECAUSE ALL THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IS RUN THROUGH THE AIR BAG. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE WAS NO "INCIDENT" BUT APPARENTLY I HAVE TO PUT IN A DATE SO I WILL JUST MAKE ONE UP SO I CAN PROCEED WITH MY COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10056659
Incident
Nov 9, 2003
Electrical
Filed Mar 13, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AWHILE. HAD GOT IN AND INSERTED KEY IN IGNITION AND STARTED IT. SUDDENLY, VEHICLE BLEW UP AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD BLOWN. HAD NO INDICATION OF CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK FIRE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882968
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
Electrical
Filed Feb 14, 2001

AT 27 MPH VEHICLE STALLS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AIK

NHTSA ID
880555
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed May 4, 2000

SPARK PLUG WIRES BURNED OUT AT THE PLUG END, CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND BUCK. DELAER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION WIRES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID
861400
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2000

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES IS CAUSING THE HORN TO SOUND WHILE THE VEHICLES IS PARKED (OFF), THE COURTESY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATED AND THE TRUNK WOULD POP UP ON IT'S OWN. NLM

NHTSA ID
551892
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 21, 1999

SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF AND AFTER REPAIR THE KNOB ADJUSTER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
545130
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 1998
Fire reported

DRIVER HEARD A POP IN THE RADIO, SHORTLY ATER THE RADIO WENT DEAD AND A FIRE ERUPTED ON THE PASSEGERS DOOR.

NHTSA ID
541938
Incident
Jul 14, 1998
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 14, 1998

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID
539980
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Jul 31, 1998

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
538659
Incident
Oct 29, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLES ENGINE DIED FOR NO REASON. DEALER FOUND A FAULTY CODE FROM VEHICLE COMPUTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
825618
Incident
Jul 17, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jul 13, 1998

HAD SWITCH ON HEADLIGHTS. HEARD A NOISE & LEFT VEHICLE. OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT DID NOT GO OUT ON OITS WN. WENT BACK TO VEHICLE & BATTERY DEAD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BATTERY WAS GONE & NOT SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRING. *AK BATTERY WAS A DELCO, ONLY USED FOR 7 MONTHS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
825351
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 1998

INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SHOWS THAT VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT IS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL. DRIVER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR CORRECT PROLBEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
823833
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 20, 1997

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HAS BEEN TO DEALER 2 TIMES AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK *SLC DEALER FELT THE PROBLEM WAS A COMBINATION OF A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM, OLDSMOBILE TOOK VEHICLE BACK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
815531

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine28Brakes11Transmission11Fuel system9Visibility8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .