Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Oldsmobile 88, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1981
1982
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1998 Oldsmobile 88 - 145 complaints in its first 8 years (164 to date)
- 1997 Oldsmobile 88 - 94 complaints in its first 8 years (101 to date)
- 1995 Oldsmobile 88 - 93 complaints in its first 8 years (117 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 1994 Oldsmobile 88 - 54 complaints in its first 8 years (63 to date)
- 1993 Oldsmobile 88 - 59 complaints in its first 8 years (74 to date)
- 1999 Oldsmobile 88 - 63 complaints in its first 8 years (77 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Oldsmobile 88 | 77 | 63 | 2 |
| 1998 Oldsmobile 88 | 164 | 145 | 1 |
| 1997 Oldsmobile 88 | 101 | 94 | 0 |
| 1996 Oldsmobile 88 | 92 | 68 | 2 |
| 1995 Oldsmobile 88 | 117 | 93 | 1 |
| 1994 Oldsmobile 88 | 63 | 54 | 1 |
| 1993 Oldsmobile 88 | 74 | 59 | 1 |
| 1992 Oldsmobile 88 | 73 | 64 | 1 |
| 1991 Oldsmobile 88 | 16 | 13 | 1 |
| 1990 Oldsmobile 88 | 24 | 16 | 1 |
| 1989 Oldsmobile 88 | 27 | 19 | 2 |
| 1988 Oldsmobile 88 | 37 | 21 | 0 |
| 1987 Oldsmobile 88 | 18 | 2 | 2 |
| 1986 Oldsmobile 88 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 Oldsmobile 88 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 Oldsmobile 88 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| 1982 Oldsmobile 88 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 Oldsmobile 88 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V090000 | 1998-1999 | Fuel System, Gasoline | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. |
| 99V089000 | 1999 | Power Train | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4T65E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. |
| 96V116000 | 1996 | Fuel System, Gasoline | A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. |
| 96V015000 | 1992-1993 | Power Train | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. |
| 95V204000 | 1996 | Electrical System | THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. |
| 94V138000 | 1994-1995 | Exterior Lighting | A SPRING IN THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE HEAD PARK LAMP SWITCH CAN FAIL PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION. |
| 91V167000 | 1991 | Parking Brake | WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES. |
| 91V034000 | 1990 | Exterior Lighting | CARS WERE BUILT MISSING A WIRE BETWEEN THE DIGITAL CLUSTER AND THE DIMMER CONTROL, THEREBY FAILING TO PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO LEVELS OF LIGHTING. |
| 89V188000 | 1989 | Structure | VEHICLES MAY HAVE DISCREPANT WELDS IN THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANEL WHICH CAN CAUSE DEFORMATION OF THE PANEL. |
| 89V102000 | 1984-1985 | Vehicle Speed Control | A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH... |
| 88V143000 | 1989 | Fuel System, Gasoline | FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. |
| 88V080000 | 1987 | Vehicle Speed Control | EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY. |
| 87V135000 | 1987 | Electrical System | AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE. |
| 86V122000 | 1986 | Suspension | THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT STUD TO KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED. |
| 85V028000 | 1985 | Equipment | THE TIRE PLACARD LABEL ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRINTED WITH AN ERROR WHICH SPECIFIES A HIGHER MAXIMUM LOADING THAN IS ALLOWED. |
| 84V027000 | 1984 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE LOCATED IN A POSITION LOWER THAN NORMAL. |
| 83V118000 | 1984 | Vehicle Speed Control | THE THROTTLE MAY JAM AND MAY NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE OMISSION, DURING ASSEMBLY, OF A NUT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD WHICH LIMITS TRAVEL IN THE... |
| 82V012000 | 1982 | Fuel System, Gasoline | UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE GOVERNOR WEIGHT RETAINER IN THE INJECTION PUMP MAY FAIL. |