1987 Oldsmobile Ciera Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 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
- Steering417.4%
- Seat belts313.0%
- Driver assistance313.0%
- Engine313.0%
- Brakes313.0%
- Body & structure28.7%
- Fuel system28.7%
- Suspension14.3%
- Transmission14.3%
- Visibility14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHENEVER DRIVING STEERING MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE RACK & PINION FAILURE, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. ALSO MAKES LOUD NOISES. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. *AK
LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TEFLON TO NYLON JOINT TO FAIL.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD PASSENGER IN PLACE DURING IMPACT, CAUSING INJURY. *DSH
THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LAP BELTS DON'T LOCK UP . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY CAR ACCELERATE HIT FENCE . TT
PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A BRICK WALL. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM STALLING SUCH AS, ENGINE MOUNTS,TIMING CHAIN, FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLEANED, FULE FILTER WAS REPLACED,THROTTLE SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL SEEMS TO PERSIST.*JB
ENGINE STALLED AFTER PANIC STOP.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS DAMP THE BRAKES GRAB, SOMETIMES THEY SQUEAL AND SOMETIMES THEY CAUSE THE WHEELS TO LOCK AND YOU SKID A LITTLE.*AK
ENGINE STALLED AFTER PANIC STOP.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE A MAJOR FRAME COMPONENT BROKE LOOSE AT BOTH FRONT MOUNTING POINTS, CAUSING ENGINE AND MOST EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO IT TO DROP ALMOST TO THE GROUND. *AK
HEADLINER CAME OFF.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601896)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM STALLING SUCH AS, ENGINE MOUNTS,TIMING CHAIN, FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLEANED, FULE FILTER WAS REPLACED,THROTTLE SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL SEEMS TO PERSIST.*JB
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED, CAUSING FUEL TO BE RELEASED DIRECTLY INTO ENGINE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM STALLING SUCH AS, ENGINE MOUNTS,TIMING CHAIN, FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLEANED, FULE FILTER WAS REPLACED,THROTTLE SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL SEEMS TO PERSIST.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE STALLED AFTER PANIC STOP.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLINER CAME OFF.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601896)
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .