1995 Oldsmobile Ciera

Routine

Owners filed 34 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
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip5
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline4
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2
101
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage2
106
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Tires1
000
Suspension1
000
Steering › Linkages1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000

1 safety recall

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 20, 2003OH

OIL LEAKED ONTO ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS. *JB

Tires
Filed Jun 17, 2002FL

WHILE IN MOTION, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AT THAT INTENSE VIBRATION,CONSUMER PULLED INTO A GOOD YEAR TIRE CENTER. ONE TIRE HAD SHREDDED, WHICH WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR TIRE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE OTHER THREE WERE DEFECTIVE ALSO. *JG (MICHELIN TIRES)

Electrical System
Filed Feb 20, 2001MD

ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS DRAINING BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WHEN VEHICLE IS IN OFF POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACING DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Oct 2, 2000CA

4 FUEL PUMPS, 2 TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED,HAS A 3.8 ENGINE IN IT, IT IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A 3.1 ENGINE IN IT,RELAY SWITCH REPLACED AT WHICH TIME FOUND THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD BEEN RUNNING HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE THE WHOLE TIME WE OWNED THE CAR, 1 ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MOTOR IN RESULT OF ELECTRICAL, 1 VACUUM MANIFOLD, TO TOP IT OF WE FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS BUILT ON A FRIDAY! WHAT LUCK ? THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIRST TWO FUEL PUMPS THAT FAILED/WE THINK BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOT PUT IN RIGHT. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE CAR HAS A PICKUP ENGINE IN IT INSTEAD OF WHAT IT SHOULD. MY HUSBAND & I ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR & THE MANUFACTURE THAT BUILT THIS CAR SO POORLY!! *AK

Steering › Linkages
Filed Aug 8, 2000NY

WHILE DRIVING BOTH TIE RODS BROKE, CAUSING T LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 2000IL

REVERSE SHELL CRACKED AND EXPLODED SENDING SHRAPNEL THROUHOUT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION, DAMAGING MANY MORE PARTS OF TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST HAD NEVER SEEN A REVERSE SHELL CHEWED UP AND DEMOLISHED AS THIS ONE. INCIDENTALLY, REPLACEMENT NEW PART IS MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL- CARBON STEEL.

Suspension
Filed Jul 14, 2000CA

WHILE GOING ABOUT 55 OR 70 MPH ENGINE WILL START VIBRATING. COULD FEEL IT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE TIME OF SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 6, 2000MI

REVERSE DRUM EXPLODED AND SENT SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION UPON ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR FLEW THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR CAUSING MY HEAD TO SNAP BACK RESUKTING IN A VERY STIFF NECK.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 26, 1999CA

TRANSMISSION WHEN HOT WILL NOT SHIFT TO OVERDIVE; ENGINE RATTLES WHEN STARTED COLD

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage2 injured
Filed May 25, 1999WI

DURING VEHICLE ROLLOVER COLLISION DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY CAUSING DRIVER TO SLIDE RESULTING IN INJURIES. MJS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed May 4, 1998NM

WHILE DRIVING THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE FRONT PART OF THE MUFFLER BROKE, CAUSING THE MUFFLER TO BECOME LOOSE. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › AnchorageCrash4 injured
Filed Apr 22, 1998FL

SEAT BELT RECALL WORK FAILED, DURING COLLISION SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK RESULTING IN INJURIES TO HEAD AND NECK OF OCCUPANTS, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEFLATE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 15, 1998IL

APPLYING BRAKE ON ICY ROAD DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE AT ALL.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 15, 1998IL

APPLYING BRAKE ON ICY ROAD DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE AT ALL.

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 20, 1997FL

CONSUMER WAS REARENDED IN CRASH WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHT. WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED WHILE CONSUMER WAS BELTED IN THE SEAT. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK/SHOULDER AND ARM INJURIES. SEATBACK HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY SUNRISE OLDSMOBILE DEARLERSHIP. (NO FORWARDING ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER.) *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Oct 20, 1997AZ

WHEN DRIVING FUMES FROM OTHER VEHICLES ARE ENTERING THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSING THE PASSENGER IN THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS. HAS TO TAKE MEDICATIONS TO MINIMIZE ERRATIC BREATHING CAUSED BY FUMES. CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN AUG. 96, AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 5, 1997IA

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A HESITATION. THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 4-5 SECONDS ERRATICALLY. DEALER HAS BEEN TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 17, 1997IN

WHILE DRIVING AT OR ABOUT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF . VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed May 28, 1997TN

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP IN WET WEATHER, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Apr 29, 1997NC

OTHER: REQUESTING REMOVAL OF AIR BAG.

20 of 34 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
199683110Routine
1995 — this page34100Routine
199446410Routine
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.