RoadVitals

1997 Oldsmobile 88 Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
11
Latest Aug 2, 2002
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.
11%
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.
0
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 automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 11 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Aug 2, 2002

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT GEARS BEFORE IT GETS TO CORRECT SPEED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. MAUFACTURER AND DEALERS CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AKI

NHTSA ID
8015412
Transmission
Filed Jan 25, 2001

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGN OF TROUBLE, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT ONLY 30K MILES. NLM

NHTSA ID
559200
Incident
Jan 8, 2001
BrakesPowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Mar 18, 2000

MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 88- ANTI-LOCK BRAKE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOX REPLACEMENT AND NOW THE CAR HAS A SHAKING PROBLEM THAT DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WITH 54000 MILES IT IS ON IT'S 5TH SET OF TIRES AND NUMERIOUS COMPUTER BALANCING'S AND CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM THE ARE HAS HAD ROTORS TURNED, WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. AXELS AND ROD'S CHECKED INTO BUT DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND HAS GIVEN UP!!! PLEASE HELP THANKS( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
720281
Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 1999

WHEN VEHICLE IS IDLING AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE VEHICLE ISN'T DOING ANYTHING, WON'T MOVE INTO ANY GEAR UNTIL 30 SECOND LATER. THEN VEHICLE WILL JUMP INTO REVERSE. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
847412
Incident
Dec 12, 1998
Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 1999

VEHICLE IS HAVING TROUBLE GOING INTO REVERSE GEAR IF NOT IN GEAR SHIFT IN THE RIGHT POSITION, MOVING GEAR SHIFT TO DRIVE AND REVERSE GEAR AGAIN SOLVES PROBLEMS. MJS

NHTSA ID
548450
Transmission
Filed Aug 3, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO MODULATING VALVE. MJS

NHTSA ID
547747
Incident
Jul 6, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jul 28, 1999

THE CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. STARTED AGAIN WITH ENOUGH POWER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE GM DEALER IN TRAVERSE CITY MI. STATED THE CAR NEEDED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT. IF THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD, IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. THIS CAR WAS NEVER ABUSED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT 49000. MILES.

NHTSA ID
709334
Incident
Jul 25, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jul 17, 1998

TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE ENGAGING INTO REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA ID
537976
Transmission
Filed Apr 27, 1998

TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE (STICKING) INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO PISTON SEAL LEAK.

NHTSA ID
534732
Incident
Mar 18, 1998
Transmission
Filed Aug 22, 1997

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
815605
Incident
Jun 28, 1997
Transmission
Filed Aug 5, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO NEUTRAL WITH SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BOX IS WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
815066
Incident
Jun 29, 1997

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

Engine28Electrical15Brakes11Fuel system9Visibility8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .