11 of the
113 complaints about the 1996 Oldsmobile 88 are about the
electrical system — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
105,000 miles.
FUEL GAUGE FAILURE--SENDING UNIT GOT SO HOT IT FUSED THE WIRES TOGETHER AND THEN SENT A JOLT OF ELECTRICITY TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BURNING OUT PART OF THE CLUSTER; IN ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES WERE SO BRITTLE THAT THEY FELL APART THEREFORE, IT WOULD SEEM THAT EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION. I HAVE THE SENDING UNIT OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WITH THE FUSED WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10137357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,047 milesFort Worth, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10119239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 95V204000 CONCERNING IGNITION ANTI THEFT CONTROLLER. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10067285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mclean, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SHORT IN WIRING FOR HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER/REAR DEFROST WOULD BE WORKING & THEN STOP. WOULD START WORKING AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY - MINUTES, HOURS, DAYS LATER. TOOK IT TO A SHOP & FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SHORT & THE WIRE WAS BURNT. SHOULD HAVE SMELLED SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #10054319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Placentia, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME FROM THE ENGINE AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10022947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Springs, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING,PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #890293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Opelika, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THEN BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD. VEHICLE WOULD START. THEY REPLACED MALL MODULAR AND THEN BATTERY EXPLODED.
NHTSA complaint #867757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE NEAR WINDSHIELD POST OF THE LEFT SIDE. THEN, CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND PASSENGER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. WHEN PULLING ON THE HANDLES TO OPEN DOORS, THEY WILL NOT RELEASE BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT, BUT THE SPEAKERS WERE ON FIRE.*AK THE FIRE STARTED AT MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH POSSIBLY CAUSED BY A FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER BLOWING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #865814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingston, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, PORBLEM CAN NOT BE FOUND BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #800080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE INFORMATION ON RECALL 95V204000.
NHTSA complaint #986983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.