Owners filed 74 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
11
1
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
8
0
3
0
Air Bags › Frontal
6
4
0
3
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
5
1
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
5
0
5
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
3
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
2
0
0
0
Structure › Frame and Members
2
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
2
0
0
0
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
1
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines96V015000
Filed Jan 23, 1996585,182 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk. VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 2011164,000 milesGA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (96V015000) POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: COOLING UNIT AND LINES WAS RELATED TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE MANUFACTURED STATED THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
Fuel System, GasolineCrash
Filed Feb 8, 201042,000 milesTX
1993 88 OLDS TROTTLE CABLE BROKE WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. PROCEEDED AT FULL SPEED (IN CIRCLES AS WHEEL WAS TURNED) UNTIL CRASHED INTO TREE.
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Aug 29, 2008120,000 milesMS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 200747,000 milesGA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN CMP95C1101. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER 1000 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED 75 TIMES AND BECAME WORSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *AK
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 24, 2006147,700 milesMI
THIS CAR, LIKE MANY FRONT-DRIVE CARS, USES A FRONT SUBFRAME TO CARRY THE ENGINE, TRANSAXLE, STEERING GEAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY WITH SIX RUBBER ISOLATORS, EACH OF WHICH IS FASTENED IN PLACE WITH A LARGE RETAINING WASHER AND A BOLT. ONE OF THE SIX RETAINING WASHERS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE OUTER HALF OF IT FELL OFF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO INSPECT AND REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER FIVE WASHERS. AS I SUSPECTED FROM MY VISUAL INSPECTION,ALL FIVE WERE SERIOUSLY WEAKENED BY RUST AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE SUBFRAME HAD ALSO RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, TO THE POINT THAT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD EASILY POKE A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE RUSTED SECTIONS. THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY, INCLUDING THE FLOOR PAN, ROCKER PANELS, STRUT TOWERS, FUEL TANK, TANK STRAPS AND REAR SUSPENSION PARTS, WAS VIRTUALLY FREE OF RUST. IF THE RETAINERS OR SUBFRAME HAD FAILED ON THE ROAD AND THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME HAD DROPPED DOWN, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MODE AND CONSEQUENCES ARE SIMILAR TO SAFETY RECALL 98V323000, WHICH COVERED SUBFRAME RETAINERS ON 2.6 MILLION FORD, MERCURY AND LINCOLN FRONT-DRIVE VEHICLES. I PAID FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME, THE SIX RETAINERS, THE SIX MOUNT BOLTS, AND SEVERAL OF THE RUBBER ISOLATORS THAT EXHIBITED RUST DAMAGE TO THEIR INTERNAL METAL SLEEVES. WITH LABOR CHARGES FOR THE PARTS REPLACEMENTS AND THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT THAT WAS REQ
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2005NJ
DT: THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE MOUNTS CAME OUT WITH CHASSIS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE AAA MECHANIC STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE JUNKED. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Apr 20, 2004WI
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINE FAILED. *AK *NM
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 9, 200335,200 milesMI
WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ENGINE IDLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 24, 200370,000 milesCT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO GO INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-53 MPH. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 2, 2003VA
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Sep 4, 2002MN
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, NOW THE STEERING COLUMN IS SMOKING HOT AND THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM BUT WITH NO RESULTS, THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A WARNING ISSUED TO OWNERS WARNING THEM OF POSSIBLE CURRENT SURGE IN THE STARTER. NLM
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jul 22, 2002NY
WHILE DRIVING, THE BODY OF VEHICLE CAME OFF THE FRAME, AND WHEEL FELL IN TOWARDS VEHICLE. VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 10, 2002WV
AFTER COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POLE, CONSUMER HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, HOWEVER WAS STILL THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ACCIDENT. *SLC
Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Sep 17, 2001MD
THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILED. NLM
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 24, 2001CA
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME WAS DUE TO ROCK DAMAGE OF THE SUB FRAME AND TRANSMISSON PAN, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSON WOULD BE INSTALLED, HOWEVER ON JUNE 17,2001 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THERE WERE METAL PIECES IN THE PAN, AND A BROKEN REVERSE DRUM, APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE TEETH HAD SEPARATED AND A DEEP GROOVE HAD WORN ALONG THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE ON ONE END OF THE REVERSE DRUM, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE FAILED TRANSMISSION WAS A REBUILT UNIT, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION.*JB
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jul 10, 2001PA
FUEL PUMP MODULAR WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING FUEL; DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *JB
Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Nov 8, 2000IN
THE PROBLEM IS WITH A SEARS X-CARGO TOP CARRIER. USING THE SEARS-MANUFACTURED AND SEARS-RECOMMENDED CLASPS TO ATTACH IT TO MY CAR (MAKE & MODEL ABOVE), THE TOP CARRIER CRACKED, BROKE AND PULLED OFF THE PLASTIC DOOR MOLDING WHICH SECURED IT TO THE CAR. THE TOP CARRIER WAS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY $260, BUT THE REAL DANGER IS THAT THE TOP CARRIER COULD BREAK OFF WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 25, 2000FL
AFTER DEALER TURNED BRAKES NOTICED ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ON . DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.