Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera, most frequently naming the transmission, engine and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 1995 | 2 | 3 |
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Sep 1995 | 2 | 8 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 11 |
| Mar 1996 | 3 | 14 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 15 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 16 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 18 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 20 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 21 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 22 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 23 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 24 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 25 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign 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.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
STOP LAMPS
SUMMARY:A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN DATED JULY 1988 INDICATES THAT BOTHSOCKETS MUST BE REPLACED USING PART NUMBER 5972532.THIS SERVICE STOCKUSES A NEW HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL.PRODUCTION STOCK WAS ALSO CORRECTEDBEGINNING WITH VINS J7163799 AND JJ187909.===
BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRO-FIT KIT THAT WAS GIVEN BY OLDSMOBILE HAS A VERY LARGE BUCKLE THAT HITS RIGHT IN THE STERNUM. IF IN AN ACCIDENT BUCKLE COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE CHEST. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THEY MADE THEM, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP
ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER PERIOD. THEREFORE, VEHICLE IS "STUCK" IN ROAD, USUALLY ON A BLIND TURN, EXTREEME DANGER WITH TRUCKS COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN.
WHILE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF, AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY SOLENOID IN TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING. *AK
ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY.
BRAKE SYSTEM: COMING DOWN BRASS TOWN MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA, BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. STOPPED AT BOTTOM OF MOUNTAIN AND LET BRAKES COOL OFF AND THEN THEY WORKED OKAY. MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
TVS TRANSMISSION VALVE FAILED.
FLYWHEEL BROKE TWICE.
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.