1996 Oldsmobile Ciera

Routine

Owners filed 83 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the brakes. It has been recalled 1 time.

Most common 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera problems

18 of the 83 complaints (22%) are about the brakes.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes10
202
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine6
000
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags6
503
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine5
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration3
001
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear2
000
Suspension › Front2
000
Suspension2
000
Structure › Frame and Members · body and frame2
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.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 30, 200444,000 milesNY

HEAD GASKET LEAKED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHEN HE WENT INTO GARAGE THERE WAS WATER ON THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED. CONSUMER FELT THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200465,000 milesOH

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK INTO OIL

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 22, 200360,000 milesOH

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK ON GM 3.1 L V6. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2003NC

THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2002. WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Seat Belts › Front › AnchorageCrash2 injured
Filed Nov 22, 2002SC

THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED AND THE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS DID NOT HOLD US IN PLACE. DT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 17, 2002LA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT FOR 2 MINUTES AND START BACK UP, AND STALL BACK OUT AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING.CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 25, 2002CT

WHILE YIELDING ONTO HIGHWAY, STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AFTER RELEASING PEDAL, ACCELERATED AT 80MPH. THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, HAD TO GEAR INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. *AK *TT

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 19, 2002NJ

CONSUMER STATES THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE LIGHT ANF FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2001NY

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND NOTICED COOLANT WAS GETTING LOW. CHECKED UNDER HOOD, AND FLUID WAS ON ENGINE. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING FROM RIGHT SIDE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 11, 2001FL

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO A DITCH AND IMPACTED A TREE HEAD-ON. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS SENDING AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR POOR PERFORMANCE OF AIR BAG. DRIVER EXPERIENCED LIGHT INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed May 8, 2001NC

THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 31, 2001NY

VEHICLE SKIDS IF APPLYING BRAKES ON LEAST AMOUNT OF ICE OR SLUSH. LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COMES ON, AND ABS LOCKS UP. *AK CONSUMER SAYS ABS IS NOT USEFUL IN WINTER DRIVING. *YH

Seats
Filed Oct 10, 2000TN

DRIVERS SEAT IS SEPARATING FROM ANCHOR. *AK ANCHOR WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO FLOOR BOARD. *YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 20, 2000DE

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND COME TO A DEAD STOP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED SOME WIRING. REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 18, 2000GA

OCT 99 WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE $ VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD.CONTACTED DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC TO BRING VEHICLE IN . HAD VEHICLE TOWED. TRANSMISSION'S REVERSE WENT OUT. TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS $2,200 . THIS CAR IS UNSAFE PLEASE RECALL IT. PLEASE SEND REBATE TO HELP REPAIR OR GET NEW VEHICLE. THANKS. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Apr 14, 2000NJ

SEVERAL COMPONENTS HAVE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED CALLING INTO QUESTION SAFETY OF OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OLD, BUT HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS ALL SEEM TO DEAL WITH RUBBER (OR SIMILAR MATERIAL) COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING. THE LEFT SIDE AXLE SEAL AND COVER ON THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS ALREADY CRACKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. (THE SERPENTINE BELT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, IF SO DESIRED). *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 21, 2000NE

#6 CYLINDER FAILED RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. DEALER WANTS TO REBUILD OR REPLACE WITH A NEW ENGINE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEND AT 44K MILES. NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 3, 2000NJ

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DUE TO A HARDENED STOVE PIPE GM# 24202422. THE PART BECAME DEFECTIVE (EATEN UP). TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN OUT SO FAST. *AK *ML

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Mar 2, 2000VT

BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM CYLINDERS, WHICH RESULTED IN NO BRAKING ABILITY, AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH., REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS LEAK LEADING TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, VERY UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING. AK *ML

Parking Brake › Driveline › Hydraulic
Filed Feb 4, 2000CA

PARKING BRAKE RELEASE CABLE BROKE, RESULTING IN THE PARKING BRAKE STICKING. YH

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed Oct 29, 1999OH

PINK WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AT POINT OF ANCHOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. MJS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 12, 1999GA

WHILE DRIVING HAD HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CONTACTED DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC TO BRING VEHICLE IN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. TRANSMISSION'S REVERSE WENT OUT. TRANSMISSION WOULD GO ONLY INTO DRIVE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Sep 28, 1999NC

AT 13,000 MILES , THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED , THERE WAS NO INDICTATION OF BRAKES WEARNING OUT, NO SQUEAKY NOISE DEALER CLAIMS BRAKES ARE VERY THIN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 10, 1999OH

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 5, 1999PA

THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAKING IT HARD TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 27, 1999MD

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK RESULTING IN A REAR-END COLLISION. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Apr 15, 1999MD

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORN PREMATURELY.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 1, 1999NY

ENGINE CONTINUALLY FAILING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 18, 1999MO

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY. HAD REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Jan 28, 1999WA

STRUT ARMS THAT HOLD THE TAILGATE IN POSITION ARE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS TO SHATTER TWICE WITHIN A YEAR AND HALF APART. DEFECT COULD CAUSE INJURIES. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 26, 1999FL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVER 25 MPH AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES WHERE DEALER HAD FOUND METAL CHAFING, AND THEY HAD TO ROTATE BRAKES. *AK *ML

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut
Filed Jan 6, 1999WA

REAR GLASS TO HATCH BROKE TWICE DUE TO REAR HATCH STRUT APPLYING TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO GLASS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Dec 5, 1998NY

FRONT BRAKE LININGS ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 11212 MILES.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 1, 1998MO

THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 20MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Nov 18, 1998MA

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF OCCASIONALLY.

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Nov 17, 1998FL

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS BELIEVED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVELINE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES TREMENDOUSLY AFTER APPROACHING 60 MPH AND OVER. THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCES AND DASHBOARD RATTLES, CAUSING IT TO BE A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Oct 26, 1998AZ

WHEN THE SUN STARTS TO GO DOWN IT IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THERE WATER BUBBLES ARE ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD INSIDE OF THE GLASS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 3, 1998TX

MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. WILL DRIVING GASKET RAN HOT; THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS SPEWING WATER AND THE GASKET HAD TO BE CHANGED.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Sep 28, 1998MI

RIGHT SIDE DOOR SEAL FAILS EACH TIME IT RAINS.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Aug 26, 1998NV

FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Aug 24, 1998MA

WHILE DRIVING THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD CUT OFF WITH UT INDICATIONS. *AK

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Aug 21, 1998NY

THE HORN ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE.. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

Suspension
Filed Aug 10, 1998HI

VEHICLE CONTINUE TO HAVE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 3, 1998NM

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Jul 17, 1998UT

UNEVEN WEAR/WARPING FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 29, 1998IL

ABS BRAKES APPLIED, A RUMBLING NOISE IS HEARD IN REAR BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES OKAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CLEANED & REPLACED REAR DRUMS & SHOES. PADS WERE WORN IN FRONT & ALSO REPLACED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 25, 1998RI

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

Vehicle Speed Control1 injured
Filed May 5, 1998CA

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION AND INJURIES.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 20, 1998AZ

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, CAUSING VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Apr 15, 1998NY

WHILE DRIVING SAW WHITE SMOKE EMINATING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DRIVER PULLED OFF ROAD AND PARKED. ALL PASSENGERS EXITED SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

Complaints 1-50 of 83, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
1996 — this page83110Routine
199534100Routine
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.