RoadVitals

1990 Oldsmobile Toronado

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.
16
Latest Nov 14, 2015
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.
3
Latest May 31, 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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado, most frequently naming the interior & seats, brakes and seat belts categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Interior & seats531.3%
  • Brakes531.3%
  • Seat belts212.5%
  • Electrical16.3%
  • Body & structure16.3%
  • Steering16.3%
  • Visibility16.3%

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

3 campaigns 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
95V110000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

May 31, 1995
113,343 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THEIR RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A WEBBING STOP BUTTON IF THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS REPAIR.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
90E043004

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Oct 30, 1990
39 units potentially affected
The defect: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
The risk: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASESTO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
90V164000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

Sep 6, 1990
63,964 units potentially affected
The defect: TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
The risk: DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL GEARPOSITION THE TRANSAXLE IS IN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENTAND AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA94010ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS

Opened Feb 28, 1994
Closed Jun 16, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTORLed to recall 95V110000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 16
Seat belts
Filed Nov 14, 2015

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UNLOCKS BY ITSELF. CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ID
10790380
Incident
Oct 17, 2015
Mileage
121,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE COMPUTER CHIP TO START THE VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DASHBOARD READS STARTING DISABLED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8020889
Body & structure
Filed Aug 29, 2000

ENGINE CRADLE BROKE UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF CAR BUT MANAGED TO STOP IT BEFORE IMPACTING ANYTHING. CRADLE WAS REMOVED FROM CAR AND FOUND TO BE SOUND AND ALMOST RUST FREE EXCEPT FOR A SECTION ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (AND DIRECTLY BELOW THE AC UNIT). THAT 6 INCH LONG SECTION WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND WHAT LITTLE MATERIAL REMAINED APPARENTLY BROKE DURING THE LEFT HAND TURN. THE ENGINE CRADLE REMAINED FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE BODY AT THE 6 MOUNTING POINTS.

NHTSA ID
729417
Incident
Aug 21, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 22, 1999

THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EXPERIENCED AND ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS AND INDICATOR NOT TO WORK ON DAMP OR COLD WEATHER. NLM

NHTSA ID
783803
Brakes
Filed Aug 9, 1999

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER NOW EXPERIENCING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH ABS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
844703
Filed Aug 6, 1999

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS INOPERATIVE. OCCUPANT CANNOT SEE OR USE THE GAUGES ON THE PANEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID
844517
Incident
Aug 6, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 28, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACKWARDS, WHEN CHECKED OUT THE STEEL BRACKET WAS BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
834176
Incident
Jan 27, 1999
Brakes
Filed Feb 8, 1998

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA ID
530461

Manufacturer communications

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

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

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 Toronado by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1995100—
1993001—
1992422—
1991411—
1990Viewing163151.0
1989230—
1988412—
1987123—
1986133—
1985212—
1984112—
1983011—
1982112—
1981110—
1980220—
1979010—
1977010—
1975010—
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.