1999 Oldsmobile 88 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1999 Oldsmobile 88. The contact stated that while reversing out of a driveway, the front end of the vehicle lowered without warning. Due to the failure, the contact lost power steering assist as the steering wheel would spin with no control. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired for the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,300.

NHTSA ID

11464832

Incident

May 14, 2022

Mileage

118,300 mi

BODY IS BROKEN WHERE THE FRONT SUB-FRAME BOLTS TO. CUSTOMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS PERMANENT BODY DAMAGE TO THE BODY FRAME. THEY THEN SOLD THE VEHICLE UNDISCLOSED THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOO DAMAGED TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD SAFELY.

NHTSA ID

11217585

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

I CONTACTED GM BC THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR SAYS THE FUEL RAIL ALSO NEEDS REPLACED IF IT IS A DELPHI FUEL RAIL. THE REGULATOR ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT STILL HAS THE SAME DELPHI FUEL RAIL. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS A GAS LEAK. WHEN I SEARCH THE VIN IT DOESN'T SHOW ANY RECALLS CURRENTLY BUT BASED ON THE TSB. THE RAIL SHOULD'VE BEEN REPLACED WITH A BOSCH. I AM A SERVICE TECH AT A PRIVATE SHOP. IF I WEREN'T A TECH I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THE RAIL WASN'T REPLACED AND I MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED THE LEAK UNTIL I BURNT TO DEATH IN A FIREY CRASH. GM HAS NO ANSWER EXCEPT TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME A RIDICULOUS DIAGNOSTICS FEE WHICH I REFUSE TO PAY, ESPECIALLY FOR A RECALL REPAIR THAT WASN'T DONE PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME.

NHTSA ID

10978666

Incident

Apr 15, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

1999 OLDSMOBILE 4.8L ENGINE WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS BOTH AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR AT SLOWER SPEEDS OF 35 OR 35 MPH. ALL OF THE POWER ASSISTED FEATURES SUCH AS POWER BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO STOP WORKING WHEN THE ENGINE STOPS. THE ENGINE SHUTTING DEFECT DOES NOT OCCUR DAILY AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE ONLY CHECK ENGINE CODE PRESENT WAS A "EGR VALVE" CODE. THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $344.00. THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY DEFECT HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO REPLICATE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL THAT THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN. FROM "GOOGLING" THIS DEFECT IT APPEARS TO AFFECT A LARGE NUMBER OF SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH 3.8L GM ENGINES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

NHTSA ID

10820776

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

145,000 mi

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN DECEMBER, 2012 AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CARFAX REPORT AT THAT TIME. TODAY, THERE IS A RECALL # 1999011 DATED 3/13/1999 FOR POWER TRAIN (TRANSMISSION 4T65E MANUAL VALVE LINK REPLACEMENT) NHTSA 99V089000. THIS OWNER NOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE ANY KIND OF NOTICE FOR THIS RECALL. WAS THE SERVICE PERFORMED? WHAT HAPPENED? THANK YOU & HAVE A GREAT DAY !!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10765262

Incident

Sep 19, 2015

Mileage

159,000 mi

VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY "KILL" AND IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY - ALSO POSSIBLY SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAILING - MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH REFERENCE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619369

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

TRIED TO START CAR TO GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING OF 6-16-14. HEARD LOUD BOOM AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. OPENED HOOD AND ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. EXTINGUISHED FLAMES AND FOUND THE INTAKE MAINIFOLD HAD LITTERALLY BLOWN APART. THERE WAS A RECALL THAT SHOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604617

Incident

Jun 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A HOLE THAT HAD MELTED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,602 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,102.

NHTSA ID

10472613

Incident

Aug 19, 2012

Mileage

72,602 mi

THE FIRST TIME I PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP IS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE CAR SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. THE SECOND TIME WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL AFTER 15 MIN OR SO. I HAVE PAID $650 FOR MY IGNITION SWITCH TO BE CHANGED $280 FOR THE KEY LOCK CYLINDER WITH KEY CHANGED, AND $1150 FOR NEW HEAD GASKET AFTER CAR OVER HEATED CAUSE THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD GASKET MELTED AND CRACKED CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. I HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS WITHIN A YEAR AND THE CRAZY THING IS THE CAR ISN'T STARTING AGAIN. I REALLY THINK YOU ALL SHOULD CONSIDER A RECALL ON THIS CAR BECAUSE IM WASTING MONEY ON A CAR I NEVER GET TO DRIVE EVEN AFTER I PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10452565

Incident

Dec 25, 2011

1999 OLDSMOBILE 88 PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO HOT PIPE ROUTED NEAR IT (PER THE MECHANIC). THIS ALLOWED COOLANT AND OIL INTO THE ENGINE. ENGINE IS MAKING BAD CLANKING NOISE. COST TO REPLACE INTAKE, REPLACE PLUGS, NEW SENSOR WAS $1096. IT APPEARS FROM READING ARFC WEBSITE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359598

Incident

Sep 29, 2010

Mileage

171,000 mi

MY OLDSMOBILE 88 YEAR 1999 HAD ENGINE FAILURE IN 2005 WITH ONLY 59,930 MILES. THE UPPER PLEMUM DESINTEGRATED ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS, LOCKING UP ENGINE. NO WARNING EXCEPT RAPID RAISE IN ENGINE TEMPERATURE ONLY ABOUT A MINUTE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310700

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

Mileage

59,930 mi

ON OCCASIONAL HARD ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS CAUSED SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. IT CAN ALSO SHUDDER AT PART THROTTLE BUT THAT'S MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE THAN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289445

Incident

Oct 22, 2009

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL. HE MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHEARED BOLT BETWEEN THE RACK AND PINION AND THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $750. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10278032

Incident

Jul 22, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL LEAK AND WHILE THERE THE MECHANIC ALSO CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL. IT WAS LOW. HE PRESSURE TESTED THE SYSTEM AND FOUND THE COOLANT CAP TO BE NOT SEALING PROPERLY. I PAID FOR MY REPAIRS AND LEFT. THE NEXT MORNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING. THEY CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AGAIN AND IT WAS DRY. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD MELTED AND COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND WAS CONSUMED BY THE ENGINE. NOW I NEED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD, GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, AND AN OIL CHANGE TO THE TUNE OF $800+. I HAVE SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WHY DOES GM NOT DO ANYTHING. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS PLASTIC. PLASTIC DOES NOT BELONG IN AN ENGINE. I HOPE YOU MAKE THEM RECALL THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230797

Incident

Jun 11, 2008

Mileage

92,320 mi

AFTER FUEL REGULATOR REPLACED FOR RECALL MY OLDS DELTA 88 STALLS OUT, FAILING TO RESTART. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED FOUR TIMES. HAVE HAD FUEL PUMP AND FILTER CHANGED TWICE - DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING, UPON INITIAL STARTING AND AT STOPS. THIS PROBLEM IS "PERIODIC" AND MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH, AND THEN FAILS TO START. HAD FUEL TANK DRAINED 3 TIMES NO SOLUTION YET! *TR

NHTSA ID

10212689

Incident

Sep 23, 2007

WAS DRIVING MY 99 OLDS 88 UP A HILL IN TN AND IT STARTED TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME HOME AND THE ENGINE WAS EXCESSIVELY HOT. ALL OF THE RADIATOR WOULD TAKE THE FLUID BUT NOTHING WOULD LEAK OUT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND WAITED FOR IT TO COOL DOWN BUT THEN AFTER THE 3RD TIME TRYING TO START IT, IT MADE A CLUNK NOISE AND WOULDN'T START ANY MORE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A HYDRAULIC LOCK UP. CAR SAT FOR 5 MONTHS AND FINALLY GOT THE MONEY TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I WISH TO BE REIMBURSED AFTER IT IS FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179003

Incident

Sep 3, 2006

Mileage

166,840 mi

I EXPERIENCED STALLS AND POWER SURGES. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR DUE TO RECALL. SIX MONTHS LATER CAR REACHED EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURE THEN DIED. MECHANIC REPLACED CRACKED PLENUM. GASKETS, PIPES, ASSEMBLY, SEALS AND SENSOR RESULTING IN $1234 REPAIR BILL. CONTACTED GM AND GOT FULL REIMBURSEMENT AS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON ENGINE. LESS THAN 250 MILES AFTER REPAIR, ENGINE PRODUCES LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN 90 MILES FROM HOME ON JULY 4TH. MECHANIC SAYS ONE OF THE PISTONS/RODS IS BAD, MORE THEN LIKELY A RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THE EXTREMELY HELPFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE I WAS DEALING WITH FROM GM BUT I WILL NOT DROP THIS! LAST QUOTE FOR CURRENT REPAIR WAS $1100. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162267

Incident

Jul 4, 2006

Mileage

37,359 mi

I HAVE REPLACED THE PLENUM IN MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE 88 TWICE NOW!!! I HAVE A 3800 MOTOR IN IT WITH 107,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR PLENUMS ALSO AND MY MOTHER HAD TO CHANGE HERS WITH 40,000 MILES ON HER CAR! THE PLENUM IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS JUNK!!! GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,000 FIXING THIS INFERIOR PART! I OWN 3 GM PRODUCTS AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER IF GM DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS! *JB

NHTSA ID

10147824

Incident

Jan 12, 2006

Mileage

107,000 mi

RECEIVED RECALL #04V090000 CONCERNING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT REPAIRED ON 3/18/2005. RECALL REPAIRS FAILED WHEN 4 DAYS LATER, ON 3/24/2005, THE MANIFOLD RUPTURED AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10117630

Incident

Mar 24, 2005

I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE 88 BOUGHT IT IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THEN IN MARCH 04 THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO LOSS OF COOLANT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT IT LOST COOLANT. NOW A YEAR LATER, MARCH 2005, THE ENGINE LOST IT'S COOLANT AGAIN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . THE CAR NEVER WENT OVER SAFE TEMPERATURE. CALLED GM WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME. NO HELP AT ALL. I THINK THERE MUST BE APROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116258

Incident

Mar 30, 2004

Mileage

61,000 mi

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART WAS MANUFACTURED OUT OF RECYCLED MATERIALS AND CAUSED COOLANT AND OIL TO ENTER THE CYLINDERS AND CREATED A HRDROSTATIC STATIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109341

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

AUTOMOBILE RUPTURED INTAKE MANIFOLD. GM THEN ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH A RECALL THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND GM WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR BILL. MY OLDS DID JUST THIS AND MY DEALER SAID THAT THE PRESSURE REGULATOR COULD CAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO RUPTURE. GM REFUSES TO HELP ME. MY VIN IS [XXX]. YOU FOLK SHOULD MAKE GM TAKE CARE OF THIS.*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10098114

Incident

Nov 3, 2003

Mileage

115,347 mi

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY CAR WITH A 3800 SERIES 11 ENGINE RECENTLY BROKE DOWN DUE TO A CRACKED UPPER INTAKE PLENUM CAUSED BY THE EGR PIPE. THE SHOP PERFORMING THE REPAIRS SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED OFTEN. I COULD UNDERSTAND OTHER MOVING/MECHANICAL PARTS THAT ENDURE WEAR AND TEAR FAILING, BUT THIS IS A PART THAT SIMPLY BURNED OUT. I LIKE GM TO STAND BEHIND THIS PART INSTEAD OFF STICKING CONSUMERS WITH A $600.00 REPAIR BILL CAUSED BY THEIR POOR DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10097873

Incident

Oct 22, 2004

THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS RECALLED AND THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME TYPE OF REGULATOR WHICH LEAD TO A LEAK AND ALLOWED THE FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH LEAD TO THE ANTIFREEZE GOING INTO THE OIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND EVENTUALLY RUINING THE ENGINE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097366

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

62,692 mi

EXPERIENCED SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD. *BF THERE WAS A BACKFIRE THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH PRODUCED A LOUD BANG AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO OTHER ITEMS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED WAS THE SAME AS THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096861

Incident

Feb 1, 2004