SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE
Opened Jun 21, 1994
Closed Dec 30, 1994
There is no summary currently available
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1986 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.
14
Latest Oct 16, 2000
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.
0
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.
4
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.
1
Overview
Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Oldsmobile Ciera, most frequently naming the steering, brakes and electrical categories. 4 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 2 | 2 |
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 1995 | 2 | 7 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 9 |
| Apr 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 13 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 14 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Steering533.3%
- Brakes213.3%
- Electrical213.3%
- Engine213.3%
- Visibility213.3%
- Body & structure16.7%
- Seat belts16.7%
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
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FRONT BRAKE DISC/HUB SEP
Opened Aug 30, 1991
Closed Nov 4, 1991
There is no summary currently available
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STALLING
Opened Aug 27, 1987
Closed Nov 27, 1991
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
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
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Body & structure
Filed Oct 16, 2000
WHEN TRYING TO AVOID A CRASH BY SWERVING TO THE LEFT FRAME OF VEHICLE BROKE. DRIVER NOTICED FRAME WAS BROKEN WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN OVERHEATING. ENGINE FELL FORWARD AND CUT RADIATOR HOSE. MOTOR MOUNTS ARE THE ONLY ONES HOLDING UP THE ENGINE. A DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BY THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 873084
- Incident
- Oct 9, 2000
Steering
Filed Jul 30, 1998
POWER STEERING UNIT IS FAILING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SOMETIMES BE HARD TO TURN AT RANDOM OR CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTE BEFORE STEERING RETURNED. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AT 66000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 826058
- Incident
- Jul 29, 1998
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 1996
Fire reported
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
- NHTSA ID
- 512224
- Incident
- Nov 21, 1996
Steering
Filed Sep 25, 1996
WHEN TRYING TO PARK THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DURING TIME THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN IN TO PARKING OR OUT OF A STREET AND BEHIND AND BETWEEN CARS, CONSUMER STATES GREAT EFFORT IS NEEDED IN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *SLC
- NHTSA ID
- 802888
EngineVisibility
Filed Apr 14, 1996
CAM NOISY. *DSH
- NHTSA ID
- 503426
- Incident
- Mar 1, 1996
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 1996
STEERING LOCKS UP BRIEFLY WHEN CAR IS BEGINNING TO MOVE. *DSH
- NHTSA ID
- 502942
- Incident
- Jul 15, 1990
Visibility
Filed Jan 23, 1996
WHEN USING HEATER, SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE/GAS LIKE ODOR ENTERS INTO INTERIOR COMPARTMENT; CAUSES FILM TO BUILD UP ON WINDSHIELD; IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 978051
- Incident
- Oct 15, 1995
Steering
Filed Oct 31, 1995
WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT THE STEERING FEELS STUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 974235
- Incident
- Oct 31, 1995
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.