FaultScore

1996 Oldsmobile 88 airbag problems

10 of the 113 complaints about the 1996 Oldsmobile 88 are about the airbag system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 155,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 5 50.0%
AIR Bags 4 40.0%
Inflator Module 1 10.0%

Airbags across every Oldsmobile 88 year

1992 14 31.1%
1995 21 46.7%
1996 10 22.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Staten Island, NY

AIR BAGS

1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIRBAG EXPLOSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE AIR BAG DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AND SENT SHARDS OF GLASS FLYING.

NHTSA complaint #10725014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Chicago, IL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE HORN WAS DEACTIVATED. WHILE LEAVING THE MECHANIC, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #10393920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Owosso, MI 3 injured

AIR BAGS

ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 8, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHT ON NORTHBOUND US-27, NEAR ALMA, MICHIGAN. AT ONE POINT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT IT WAS RAINING QUITE HEAVILY PRIOR TO AND THROUGHOUT THIS INCIDENT. MY CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED AND IS BEING REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND THE AIR BAGS ARE BEING REMOVED. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR A WEEK IN ORDER TO KEEP PRIOR ENGAGEMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10280780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Marion, IA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OR IMPACT OCCURRING. THE DEPLOYMENT DAMAGED THE DASHBOARD AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A MINOR HAND INJURY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10266272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 198,522 miles Mingo Junction, OH

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIMMED SEVERAL TIMES. MINUTES LATER, THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 198,722 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,522.

NHTSA complaint #10225241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 231,363 miles Bristol, VT

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR A CRASH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 231,363.

NHTSA complaint #10222909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,050 miles Lunenburg, MA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING IN A PARKING LOT, THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND THEN THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10220728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Mishawaka, IN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GOING 55 MPH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BUSTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME THEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. UPDATED 03/03/06.

NHTSA complaint #10149917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grove City, OH Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THIS AUTO IS GOING TO A TOTAL LOSS, I HIT A CAR AT 30 IN THE REAR END AND ANOTHER AUTO HIT ME IN THE REAR END THEN I HIT # 1 CAR IN THE REAR A SECOND TIME. I VERY CONCERNED AND MAD THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE, DRIVER OR PASSENGER. BOTH BUMPERS WERE HIT, LIGHTS BROKEN, TRUCK PUSHED IN AT LEAST 10 INCHES AND RADIATOR WAS PUSHED IN TO THE MOTOR WITH BUMPER, BUT NO DEPLOYMENT. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR? I BOUGHT BECAUSE IT WAS TALKED ABOUT AS SUCH A SAFE CAR, YOU CAN'T PROVE IT MY ME!

NHTSA complaint #709402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clarks Summit, PA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING THE ACCLERATOR GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #832249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Oldsmobile 88 problems

← Full 1996 Oldsmobile 88 report