RoadVitals

1989 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.
31
Latest Jan 24, 2002
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.
1
Latest Sep 15, 1995
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.
1
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.
4
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 31 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Oldsmobile Ciera, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names 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

  • Seat belts825.0%
  • Electrical618.8%
  • Driver assistance515.6%
  • Brakes412.5%
  • Body & structure26.3%
  • Tires & wheels26.3%
  • Fuel system26.3%
  • Transmission13.1%

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

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.gov
95V173000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Sep 15, 1995
2,216,325 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE94048ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE

Opened Jun 21, 1994
Closed Dec 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 31
Body & structure
Filed Jan 24, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH DURING HIGH WINDS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LANDAU ROOF HAD BLOWN OFF, MANUFACTUER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ID
564092
Incident
Sep 29, 2001
Brakes
Filed May 23, 2001

BRAKES LOCK WHEN WET, EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKES AND MASTER CYCLINDER INSTALLED , DOING IT SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND BOUGHT BY MY MOTHER WITH 3 MILES ON IT. ONE BRAKE OR ANOTHER WILL LOCK AFTER A RAIN STORM. AFTER CONTINUAL PUMPING THEY WILL DRY AND STOP LOCKING TILL THEY GET WET AGAIN. HAVE HAD ALL NEW PARTS PUT ON OVER YEARS OF WORK ON IT AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS .

NHTSA ID
745770
Incident
May 23, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Dec 30, 1999

FUEL LINE RUSTED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
853778
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 1999

WHILE CROSSING A MAIN INTERSECTION CAR DIED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY GET OUT OF CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
849628
Incident
Sep 21, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 25, 1998

ALL 4 TIRES HAD DEEP CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS BY 30,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
539381
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 1, 1998

CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF, EVEN WHEN TURNED COMPLETELY OFF, DURING HUMID OR DAMP DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID
531575
Body & structure
Filed Dec 29, 1997

BODY IS CRAKCING AT THE B-PILLAR, NEAR THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT, CAUSING THE DOORS TO CLOSE HARD AND MAY COME OPEN IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ID
527586
Incident
Nov 25, 1997
Brakes
Filed Nov 4, 1997

WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE BRAKE LEVER MAY RELEASE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
818305
Incident
Nov 3, 1997

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
1989Viewing311149.2
1988251349.2
1987171557.8
1986140443.6
1985804—
1984326—
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.