RoadVitals

1996 Oldsmobile Oldsmobile

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.
3
Latest Jul 4, 1999
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Oldsmobile Oldsmobile, most frequently naming the fuel system, exterior lighting and suspension categories. 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Exterior lighting133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

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.

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Jul 4, 1999

WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH A CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE THE ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE THE FUEL IN THE GAS TANK SURGES TO ONE SIDE. GENERALLY OCCURS WHEN THE GAS GAUGE INDICATES ONE QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. ALSO, LONG SWEEPING TURNS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION. THE ENGINE STALLS JUST WHEN I AM TRYING TO MERGE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL BAFFLES SHOULD BE IN THE GAS TANK AND/OR THE FUEL PUMP PICKUP SHOULD BE MODIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
708216
Incident
Jun 24, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jul 23, 1998

EXTREME VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REPAIRS TO WHEEL AND TIRES HOWEVER CONTINUES TO VIBRATE.

NHTSA ID
538207
Incident
Jul 9, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 1997

WATER LEAKS INTO LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT AS A RESULT, BULB BLOWS/WATER SEAPS INTO TRUNK.

NHTSA ID
605450

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

990866002A

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

THIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT. *TT

990941004

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

INFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS. *TT

990940004

SEATS

GENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO REQUESTED THEM. *TT

431701B

STRUCTURE:BODY

MODEL YEAR 1994-99 PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS , BUMPS OR RUST COLORED SPOTS IN THE PAINT DUE TO RAIL OR IRON DUST. YD

98104

SITUATION WITH INTERIOR LAMPS MAY ILLUMINATE WHEN DRIVING 'J', 'L' AND 'N' VEHICLES. *YC

970901738318

THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) IS ACCURATE WHEN DISPLAYING "AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY" AND "FUEL USED". *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile Oldsmobile by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003300—
2002200—
2001700—
2000400—
1999400—
1998800—
1997100—
1996Viewing300—
1995120032.7
1994400—
1993401—
1992301—
1991101—
1990201—
1989301—
1988002—
1987203—
1986005—
1985005—
1984202—
1983101—
1982100—
1969010—
1968010—
1967010—

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.