RoadVitals

1984 Oldsmobile Ciera

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
3
Latest Mar 3, 1997
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Mar 29, 1985
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Oldsmobile Ciera, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 NHTSA investigations name it.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Engine133.3%
  • Seat belts133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Mar 29, 1985
121,095 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY LEAK AT THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTION FUEL FEED PIPE CONNECTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL FEED PIPE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Feb 6, 1984
76,586 units potentially affected
The defect: SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
The remedy: INSPECTION OF SEAT BACK LOCKS WILL BE PERFORMED. LOCKS THAT HAVE BENT, BROKEN OR MISSING HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE88027ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE

Opened Feb 9, 1988
Closed May 11, 1988

===

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EA87006ClosedEngineering Analysis

POWER ST. ASSIST

Opened Dec 16, 1986
Closed Sep 19, 1988

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======

STEERING
DP86018ClosedDefect Petition

POWER STEERING FAILURE

Opened Sep 5, 1986
Closed Dec 19, 1986

POWER STEERING FAILURE

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EA85046ClosedEngineering Analysis

POWER BRAKE ASSIST

Opened Aug 30, 1985
Closed Jul 24, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: IN ANALYZING THIS MATTER GMIDENTIFIED THREE PRIMARY SOURCES FOR THE COMPLAINTS.THE FIRST INVOLVESA GRADUAL DETERIORATION IN PERFORMANCE OF BELT DRIVEN VACUUM PUMPS.AC-CORDING TO GM, VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VACUUM PUMPS ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITHA LOW VACUUM WARNING LIGHT, WHICH IS ILLUMINATED WHEN BOOSTER VACUUMFALLS BELOW 10 IN. HG.THIS SIGNALS THE DRIVER THAT MAINTENANCE IS NEED-ED.THE SECOND SOURCE OF COMPLAINTS WAS TRACED TO A QUALITY CONTROL PROB-LEM ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER DIAPHRAGM SUPPLIERS. USE OFPARTS FROM THIS SUPPLIER WAS DISCONTINUED IN SEPTEMBER 1984.THE THIRDCOMPLAINT SOURCE IDENTIFIED BY GM IS THE LOW VACUUM WARNING LIGHT IN 1982MODELS. ACCORDING TO GM, THE LIGHT INDICATED LOW VACUUM WHEN THERE WAS NOPROBLEM OR A LEAK IN THE SWITCH RESULTED IN REDUCED VACUUM AND ILLUMINA-TION OF THE LIGHT.THIS WAS ALSO TRACED TO A GM SUPPLIER THAT WAS DIS-CONTINUED IN 1982.GM ISSUED FIELD SERVICE INFORMATION COVERING SWITCHREPLACEMENT IN LATE 1982.ANALYSIS: GM HAS IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC VEHICLE COMPONENTS RESPONSIBLE FORREDUCED POWER BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST AMONG THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE NUMBERAND NATURE OF THE ODI AND GM COMPLAINTS RECEIVED ALONG WITH THE ALLEGEDACCIDENTS REPORTED INDICATE A POTENTIAL VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEM.STATUS:THE FINAL REPORT CONCERNING THE OWNER SURVEY FROM THEAUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS RECEIVED ON 6/10/87.===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 3, 1997

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SLAMS INTO A STOP AND THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING INTO PARK, DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. OWNER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE STALLING THAT IS INTERMITTENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
809587
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 1996

BOSCH SPARK PLUGS CAUSED HESITATION AND ONE EXPLODED. TT

NHTSA ID
501274
Incident
Nov 1, 1993
Seat belts
Filed Jun 5, 1995

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH HAS FALLEN APART. TT

NHTSA ID
966313
Incident
May 10, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile Ciera by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996831046.2
1995341045.3
1994464053.8
1990202160.3
1989311149.2
1988251349.2
1987171557.8
1986140443.6
1985804
1984Viewing326
1983015
1982004
1981001
1980001

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.