Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Oldsmobile 88
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
618.8%
Seat Belts
412.5%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
412.5%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
39.4%
Tires
26.3%
Median failure at 95,626 miles
Brakes
26.3%
Airbags
26.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
26.3%
Engine & Cooling
26.3%
Equipment & Accessories
13.1%
Seats
13.1%
Body & Structure
13.1%
Steering
13.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
13.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 3Mar 2003
Recalls on the 1989 Oldsmobile 88
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
89V188000
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLES MAY HAVE DISCREPANT WELDS IN THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANEL WHICH CAN CAUSE DEFORMATION OF THE PANEL.
Risk: INCREASED DEFORMATION OF THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANELCAN CAUSE THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE NOT TO ACHIEVE THE LOAD REQUIREDBY FMVSS NO. 210.
88V143000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Risk: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE BECOMES INVERTEDMISSING VALVE COULD ALLOW FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #969153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Beach G, FLCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CAR WAS ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED. TT
NHTSA complaint #960533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Annapolis, MD1 injured
SEATS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AT U BASE OF THE SEAT AND SEAT FELL BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN INJURIES. TT
NHTSA complaint #958982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 95,626 milesElverta, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10011383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicopee, MA
TIRES
MICHELIN, RADIAL, DOTB9CTCRPE-299; WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, THEN LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS A LANE AND HIT GUARD A RAIL. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE LANE, IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER SIDE AND THE TIRE BLEW NEAR WHITE SIDE WALL.
NHTSA complaint #899579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tewksbury, MA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
GAS LINES AND FITTINGS BADLY CORRODED AND LEAKING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #557876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Neck, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL (89C-01) REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spencerport, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE DIES CLEANLY. THAT IS THERE IS NO SPUTTERING/COUGHING OR ERRATIC FIRING. OFCOURSE YOU LOOSE ALL BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE . AFTER YOU COAST TO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO START AND THE ENGINE STARTS WITH NO HESITATION AT ALL. THE CAR MAY GO 100, 350 OR 400 MILES BEFORE IT DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN. THIS IS EXTEMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU COULD EASILY REAR END SOME ONE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I CALLED THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER AND HE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE HE COULD DO UNLESS THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE I MENTIONED THE SITUATION TO MY FRIENDS THEY HAVE SAID THEY KNEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR.
NHTSA complaint #716984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Neck, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL (89C-01) REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacrmento, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #848938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, AL1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BROKEN SPRING IN THE LATCH MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT FAILED RESULTING IN CONSUMER EJECTION FROM VEHICLE DURING COLLISION. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
NHTSA complaint #508258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
STEERING:COLUMN
TILT STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BOLTS LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #534959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Pierce, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #520931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melbourne, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE STEEL RAKE LINE RUSTED IN TWO WHERE IT CROSSES UNDER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER A HEAT SHIELD ABOUT THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL .
NHTSA complaint #808028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #508382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TAKING HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 7 TIMES WITHIN A MILE.
NHTSA complaint #986112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN TAKING HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 7 TIMES WITHIN A MILE.
NHTSA complaint #986112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aspen Hill, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVERS SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, CAUSING SHOULDER BELT TO BE LOOSE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Deca, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR CAP EXPLODED.
NHTSA complaint #490549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Deca, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MAIN COMPUTER FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #490549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, ALCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE THE SPRING WAS BROKEN CONSUMER WAS INJURIED . TT
NHTSA complaint #972972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Arling, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #981051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sweetwater, NJ
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE WITHOUT BEING HIT WITH ANY FOREIGN OBJECT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROESTER WAS ON PREVEOUSLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #979460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sweetwater, NJ
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE WITHOUT BEING HIT WITH ANY FOREIGN OBJECT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROESTER WAS ON PREVEOUSLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #979460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tumwater, WA
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON.
NHTSA complaint #483487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, ALCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME LOOSE IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. TT
NHTSA complaint #977198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEM, ROTOR HAS TO BE TURNED EVERY 5000 MILES. TT
NHTSA complaint #974739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
STRUCTURE:BODY
PROBLEM WITH DASH HINGE PILLAR.
NHTSA complaint #483602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.