1996 Oldsmobile Aurora

Routine

Owners filed 100 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline › delivery › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
116,530 milesMedian miles at failure

35 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings19
021
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail9
011
Vehicle Speed Control5
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump5
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System4
000
Fuel System, Gasoline4
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline4
000
Electrical System4
010
Seats3
111
Steering › Column2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings04V110000
Filed Mar 4, 2004483,477 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NYLON TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE 1995 MODEL YEAR USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY CRACK. CRACKING OF THE FUEL RAIL OR RETURN LINE TUBING CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL WITH A NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAIL. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2004, FOR 1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES. OWNERS OF 1995 CADILLACS AND 1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA WERE SENT LETTERS ON AUGUST 6, 2004. ADDITIONAL LETTERS TO OWNERS WILL BE FORTHCOMING. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module95V204000
Filed Oct 23, 199532,869 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 26, 201318,614 milesOH

MY 1996 OLD AURORA FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND EMITTING A STRONG GAS ORDER. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 04014. *TR

Equipment
Filed Jul 17, 2012NC

CPSC#I1250398A. BLITZ RHINO RAMPS, 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. CONSUMER STATED AFTER DRIVING HIS CAR ONTO THE RAMP, HE NOTICED THE BASE OF THE RAMP UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE COLLAPSED. HE ALSO STATED HE ONLY USED THE RAMP FIVE TIMES AFTER PURCHASE. *LN

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Mar 9, 2012140,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUEL WOULD LEAK ONTO THE FUEL LINES ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER OFFERED TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 22, 2009207,000 milesMN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN INTENSE ODOR OF GASOLINE AND FOUND A PINHOLE IN THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE OFFERED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2004 ACCORDING TO A RECALL, AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT ALL OF THE PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL REPAIR, AND THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED DUE TO IMPROPER REPAIR WORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 207,000.

SeatsFire
Filed May 6, 2009150,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE DURING THE WINTER. HE HOOKED UP A BATTERY CHARGER TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HE OPENED THE DOOR AND OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. AS HE WAS EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. HE WAS AT A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT THE TIME AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HELPED HIM EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED, AND STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 06/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/09/09. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Mar 24, 2009MD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WHEN THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT CRANK. THE CONTACT MUST EXIT AND RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WILL START. IN ADDITION, SHE SMELLED GASOLINE WHILE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Mar 18, 2008195,000 milesIA

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON THE FIRST TRY, BUT WOULD ALWAYS START ON THE SECOND TRY. ALSO NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR WHILE IDLING AND DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE ODOR PROGRESSIVELY GOT STRONGER UNTIL A PINHOLE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED IN ONE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL. WHEN I CALLED OLDSMOBILE ABOUT THIS THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS (AND OF COURSE REPAIR) AT A GM DEALERSHIP. THE IRONIC THING IS THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONTACTED BY GM (ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO) ABOUT THE FUEL RAIL RECALL AND TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE FUEL RAIL REPLACED EVEN THOUGH NOW OLDSMOBILE IS SAYING THAT THE RECALL NEVER EFFECTED MY VIN. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Feb 5, 2008138,534 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WOULD LEAK ALONG THE FUEL RAIL. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2004 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AT 106,000 MILES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE DUE TO THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,534.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Nov 20, 2007OH

CAR KEEPS STALLING. ESPECIALLY IN WINTER. STRONG GAS ODOR IN VEHICLE. NOTICED FUEL SPRAYING OVER ENGINE WHILE TRY TO PUT COOLANT IN CAR. RECENTLY GOT A NOTICE FOR RECALL ON FUEL RAIL. DEALERSHIP SAID FUEL LINE IS THE REASON FOR LEAK. WAS UNABLE TO DO RECALL REPAIR UNLESS LINE IS REPLACED FIRST. LINE ISN'T COVERED IN RECALL THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jan 12, 2007140,000 milesMA

TL* - SOMETIME IN JUNE OF 2005 THE CONTACT TOOK HIS 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA TO THE DEALER (BELISE OLDSMOBILE) TO HAVE A RECALL SERVICE PERFORM ON THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL, BUT DIDN'T REPLACE THE FUEL RETURN LINE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THEY SHOULD OF REPLACED HIS FUEL RETURN LINE FREE OF CHARGE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V110000. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE REPAIR. *NM

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Jun 27, 2006110,000 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, CHIMED AND RINGED. AS A RESULT OF THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, NONE OF THE DASH BOARD SENSORS WORKED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL 95V204000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR AIR RIDE SENSOR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL WELL TO BECOME 6 INCHES HIGHER THAN NORMAL. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR WHERE BOTH REAR AIR RIDE SENSORS WERE REPLACED. ONE YEAR LATER THE LEFT REAR AIR RIDE SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER; THIS DID NOT FIX THE STALLING PROBLEMS.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 21, 2006TX

WHEN STOPPED TO REFUEL, THE OUTSIDE TANK WOULD NOT OPEN, EVEN WITH THE TRUNK "FUEL DOOR RELEASE". THERE WAS SOMETHING BURNING, MY HUSBAND PULLED BACK THE TRUNK LINER AND FOUND A PART "R4060" ALSO STAMPED "52713" AND ELECTRICAL PART BEST GUESS 5044678 AS IT IS PARTLY MELTED. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL LINE. WE HAVE TAKEN ARE CAR IN FOR THE RECALLS RELATING TO THE FUEL LINE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FUEL RELATED EXPLOSION AT THE TIME OF FUELING OR AFTER IT WAS SAT IN OUR GARAGE. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION, WE DISCONNECTED THE HALF MELTED PART WHICH EXPOSES THE INSIDE MATERIALS. WE WENT TO THE RECALL WEBSITE TO CHECK IF THIS WAS A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NOT CLEAR. *JB

Steering › Column
Filed Feb 21, 2006120,000 milesLA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTO THE CONTACT'S LAP. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PUSHED OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, THE BRAKES VIBRATE AND PULSATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THIS PROBLEM.

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Sep 28, 2005NM

NHTSA #95V204000, I CALLED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID IT'S NOT THEIR RECALL. *NM

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Sep 7, 2005NY

DT: THE ALARM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY/THE CHIME INDICATOR AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING IS INOPERATIVE. THESE PROBLEMS HAS AFFECTED THE LIGHTER AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE DOORS. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE YET. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CONTROL MODULE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THIS STARTED ON JANUARY 7,2005. THE LIGHTING WOULD WORK FOR TEN MINUTES AT A TIME AT FIRST, BUT NOW THEY WERE COMPLETELY OUT. THE COOLING FANS HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED.*AK *MR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Aug 29, 2005IL

MY 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE RETURN FUEL LINE. I WAS TRAVELING HOME AND SMELLED GAS AND IN 15 MILES LOST A QUARTER TANK OF GAS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO OLDSMOBILE AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT ANOTHER PERSON DOESN'T HAVE THIS OCCUR WHERE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY.*JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jul 18, 2005136,563 milesOH

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF A RECALL 04V110000 ON THE 1995 VEHICLE CONCERNING FUEL RAIL AND RETURN LINE. HIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE RETURN LINE. THIS VEHICLE HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON THE FUEL RAIL. CONSUMER WANTED WANTS TO HAVE RETURN LINE INCLUDED IN RECALL AND HAD IT REPLACED LAST YEAR. HE SMELLED GAS WHEN VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD DEALER, CRESTMONT CADILLAC OF BEACHWOOD, OHIO, LOOK AT VEHICLE, THIS WAS THE SAME DEALER WHO REPLACED FUEL RAIL. DEALER SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RETURN LINE.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices
Filed Jun 27, 2005WI

DT: 1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. TAIL LIGHTS/ HEADLIGHTS, AND INSIDE LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON, THE ONLY LIGHTS WORKING ARE THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR, AND THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR STAYS ON EVEN IF THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENED, THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS NOT WORKING IS INCLUDED IN A RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Steering › Column
Filed May 2, 200585,500 milesCO

THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE CUT OFF WHICH HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK WITH LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. WHEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF INTO DRIVER'S HANDS. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Nov 3, 2004120,000 milesIL

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT BUCKLE INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IN AN EMERGENCY HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. *AK

20 of 100 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20037200Routine
200225200Routine
2001119140Routine
20004000Routine
199933230Routine
199849020Routine
19971251170Routine
1996 — this page100290Routine
19953212310High concern
19942000Routine
19931000Routine

Compare every Aurora year →

Reading this record

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: Mar 4, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.