1994 Oldsmobile Ciera

Routine

Owners filed 46 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control5
304
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
101
Tires › Tread/Belt3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000
Electrical System › Wiring2
010
Air Bags › Frontal2
201

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage95V173000
Filed Sep 15, 19952,216,325 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm94V189000
Filed Oct 4, 1994206 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE RIGHT HAND SPINDLE NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND OVER TIME, THE SPINDLE CAN FRACTURE.

Risk. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE RIGHT HAND FRONT SPINDLE NUT. IF THE SPINDLE NUT IS UNDERTORQUED THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT HAND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE SPINDLE NUT WILL BE REPLACED.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch94V159000
Filed Aug 31, 1994139,542 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. WATER INTRUSION CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY.

Risk. A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER DOOR LOCK RELAY AND ANY CORRODED TERMINALS. IN ADDITION, THE NEW RELAY WILL BE RELOCATED TO AN AREA WHERE WATER INTRUSION IS LESS LIKELY.

Vehicle Speed Control › Springs94V008000
Filed Jan 12, 199449,047 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. IN THE EVENT OF A PRIMARY ACCELERATOR CONTROL SPRING FAILURE, THE SECONDARY (BACK-UP) ACCELERATOR CONTROL RETURN SPRING WILL NOT RETURN THE THROTTLE TO THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jan 30, 2003LA

I HAVE FIRESTONE SUPREME RADIAL TIRES ON MY 94 CUTLESS SIERRA. ABOUT A MONTH AGO ONE WENT FLAT. I NOTICED TREAD SEPARTION AT THE SITE OF THE FLAT BUT DISCOUNTED IT. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH INTERSTATE MY OTHER FRONT TIRE SAME BRAND HAD THE ENTIRE TREAD SEPARATE. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. MY TWO REAR TIRES ARE THE SAME MODEL AND I AM CONSERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES. I HAD CHECKED THE PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES LESS THAN A WEEK AGO AND THEY WERE TO MANUFATOROR SPECS.

Suspension › Front
Filed Aug 28, 2002AZ

WHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDS 65MPH, THE FRONT END VIBRATES, CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, AND CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER CAN ALSO FEEL THE SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SAYS IF SHE DRIVES OVER 68 MPH, THE SHAKING SEEMS TO IMPROVE SOMEWHAT. THIS SITUATION HAS WORN OUT THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS HAD A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF ALIGNMENTS, BALANCING OF TIRES-FORCED ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER HAS PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO A STOP OR WHEN ONE DRIVES ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRAME SHAKES. *SCC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Oct 10, 2001WI

DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Oct 15, 2000MI

4 PASSENGER CAR REPLACEMENT TIRES PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE ON JULY 23, 1999 AT 64,097 MILES; TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED OFF OF ONE OF THE TIRES ON AUGUST 15, 2000 AT 83,685 MILES. (DOT NUMBER: FR360 TIRESIZE: 18575R14)

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 25, 2000MD

DURING RAINY WEATHER THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT GETS WET AND SLIP, SLIPPAGE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER ACCELERATION AND MAKES CAR PRONE TO REAR COLLISION, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, SLIPPAGE ALSO CAUSES ALL ACCESSORIES POWERED BY THE BELT TO LOSE POWER

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2000FL

IN 1/00 AT 56000 MILES BLOWN HEADGASKET,,, FACTORY COVERED REPAIR WITH $300 DEDUCTIBLE..REPAIR DONE AT MARVIN K. BROWN OLDSMOBILE IN SAN DIEGO......MOVED TO FLORIDA 10/99 HAD CAR SHIPPED ON TRUCK ....6/00 HEADGASKET BLOWN AGAIN AT 73,000 .. THIS CAR NEVER OVERHEATED!!!AT FACTORIES REQUEST I HAD CAR CHECKED OUT BY KING OLDSMOBILE , DEERFIELD BEACH, FL...THEY CONFIRMED BLOW HEAD GASKET...FACTORY DENIED CALIM...SAID CAR WAS TOO OLD AND TOO MUCH MILEAGE...THEN WHY DID THEY REQUIRE ME TO SPEND $77.30 AT KING OLDS..IF THEY ALREADY MADE THERE DECISION....I THINK THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE THAT GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT ADMIT..I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE...THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS...BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING AS YOU KNOW GM'S REPUTATION IN DECEIVING THE PUBLIC WHEN IT MAY COST THEN MONEY...I APPRECIATE YOU HELP. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Apr 25, 2000WY

PARKED AT A DRIVE IN PHARMACY, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND IT LURCHED BACKWARD, HITTING VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONSUMER. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. CONTACTED DEALER . DEALER FOUND A VACUUM LEAK ON THE UPPER INTAKE NEAR THE THROTTLE. THEY REPAIRED VACUUM LEAK. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed May 12, 1999FL

DRIVER'S/PASSENGERS' SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT OR LOCK UP IN EMERGENCY STOPPING. *AK *ML

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 30, 1999IL

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT OR COMING TO A LIGHT THE VEHICLE JERKS, LURCHES FORWARD AND STALLS. DEALER UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 11, 1999MA

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH OR LESS IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND HAD NOTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. SEEKING HELP FROM NHSTA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

Suspension › Front › Control Arm
Filed Feb 18, 1999PA

THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE BALL JOINTS CAME OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO GO UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light
Filed Oct 19, 1998IN

ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light
Filed Aug 5, 1998OH

ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS INDICATING SYSTEM HAS FAILED.

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Mar 10, 1998MN

CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STOP LIGHT FILAMENT, POOR DESIGN OF GROUNDING.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Feb 5, 1998MI

SEVERE SPIN OUT OCCURS AT RELATIVELY HIGH/LOW SPEEDS ON SUDDEN BRAKING; NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Oct 24, 1997IL

TIRE BELTS CAME APART, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 1, 1997WI

VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, STARTED & SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, W/FOOT ON BRAKES (ABS); VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARDS, BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE & IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT DEALER'S NOW IN EAU CLAIRE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 20, 1997FL

CAR JUST STARTED TO ACCELERATE FOR NO REASON. DRIVER DIDN'T HAVE FOOT ON THE PEDAL. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Feb 14, 199700

MUFFLER FAILED.

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Feb 12, 1997CA

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR INOPERATIVE.

20 of 46 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
199683110Routine
199534100Routine
1994 — this page46410Routine
199020200Routine

Compare every Ciera 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: Sep 15, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.