RoadVitals

1986 Oldsmobile Ciera Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Oldsmobile Ciera, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 30, 1998

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 · filed Sep 25, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLES REAR BRAKING SYSTEM LOCK-UP WHEN HARD BRAKING OCCURS. TT

NHTSA ID 960888 · filed Mar 1, 1995

REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. TT

NHTSA ID 958410 · filed Jan 9, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN YOU TRY TO START IN THE MORNING. TT

NHTSA ID 967325 · filed Jun 20, 1995

CAR STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. TT

NHTSA ID 958292 · filed Jan 5, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA ID 512224 · filed Dec 4, 1996

CAM NOISY. *DSH

NHTSA ID 503426 · filed Apr 14, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CAM NOISY. *DSH

NHTSA ID 503426 · filed Apr 14, 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 · filed Jan 23, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Oct 16, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. TT

NHTSA ID 965358 · filed May 15, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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 .