RoadVitals

1988 Oldsmobile Calais Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
9
Latest Feb 2, 2000
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.
50%
of 18 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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Oldsmobile Calais submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 engine

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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 2, 2000

BATTERY FAILED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
550649
Incident
Nov 8, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 1999

VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL QUAD-4 ENGINE HEADS. NO HELP FROM OLDSMOBILE DUE TO AGE/MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
704764
Incident
Mar 20, 1999
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 1997

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, OWNER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
808773
Incident
Oct 3, 1996
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Sep 4, 1996

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA ID
508209
Incident
Apr 19, 1996
ElectricalEngineTransmission+1 more
Filed Nov 10, 1995

HEAD GASKETS REPLACED TWICE.*SD

NHTSA ID
503970
Incident
Nov 10, 1995
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 31, 1995

STARTER REPLACED. *SKD

NHTSA ID
484763
Incident
Jul 31, 1995
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 1995

THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BEFORE ON A SECRET BULLETIN. NOW 20,000 MILES LATER THE HEAD GASKET HAS GONE AGAIN AND HAS DESTROYED THE ENGINE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA ID
967332
Incident
Jun 15, 1995
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 7, 1995

PCV VALVE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
485016
Incident
Feb 14, 1995
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 1995

ENGINE OIL PUMP FAILED. *SKD

NHTSA ID
482294
Incident
Feb 8, 1995

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .