25 of the
113 complaints about the 1996 Oldsmobile 88 are about the
engine — 22% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
114,675 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE NOT REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10786968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ofallon, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS STARTING AND STAYING STARTED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BACK FIRE AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP. WE CHECKED THE PLUGS AND ALSO TESTED TO SEE IF WAS GETTING FUEL. YES, THE PLUGS WERE FINE, AND IT WAS GETTING FUEL. I THEN TOOK OFF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE HAD THAT TESTED AND THAT WAS FINE. I WAS TOLD THEN IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. REPLACED THAT, THE CAM SENSOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, VALVE COVER GASKET, THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS THAT WERE CRACKED, PIECES MISSING, AND COVERED IN THICK BROWN GOOD. MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START, AND HAS WATER FALLS OF WATER COMING OUT THE PLUG HOLES.
NHTSA complaint #10189276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 148,000 milesNEW Baltimore, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE NEAR THE SIDE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10176153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Marino, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
VEHICLE IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO THE ENGINE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #10110931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesKingsport, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
A HOLE WITHIN INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY IN STARTING INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10081786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mankato, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10065417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,675 milesCurtice, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT SEEPED INSIDE THE ENGINE. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WILL REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10064805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salina, KS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER CITED THE POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND POOR DESIGN AROUND THE EGR STOVE PIPE. *LA THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS WERE LEAKING, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM WAS REPLACED AND OVER TIME THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10059462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,450 milesLaurel, DE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
VEHICLE STALLED TWICE DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK 1996 OLDSMOBILE LSS 88 STALLED TWICE DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. CONSUMER HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM AND GASKETS REPLACED AS WELL AS A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AND A NEW STARTER AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #10051820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westminster, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NHTSA RECALL 96-V-116-000 A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING, CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10041819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duncanville, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT START UP, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION. (ENGINE BURNED) *MR *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10022293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 149,686 milesNorth Bangor, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. *JB SCC
NHTSA complaint #10011188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsfield, NH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENTIRE ENGINE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10007246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,347 milesJIM Thorpe, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLOW UP AND CAUSE SEVERAL PROBLEMS TO THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1996 FOR CRACKS ON THE ENGINE AND FOR THE COMPUTER FOR THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH A FEW OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF IT. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merrill, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, BRAKES MADE A THUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED EXCESSIVELY, ABS LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY FOUND THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE TO BE FAULTY. REPLACED MODULE AND PAID FOR REPAIR. ENGINE PROBLEM STARTED CAR, SLIGHT BACKFIRE OCCURED, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAR ROUGH IDLED, HAD SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY FOUND THE UPPER INTAKE CRACKED ALONG WITH THE LOWER INTAKE AND GASKETS TO BE CRACKED. REPLACED AT COST TO ME. DT
NHTSA complaint #770519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mansfield, MAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH TOWN, EASTON MA, AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERED A BIT. NEXT, A KID HAILED ME DOWN AND I SAW SMOKE FROM MY REAR. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS IN FLAMES. GOOD THING I KEPT MY DISTANCE BECAUSE PARTS BLEW APART. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE SAW TWO OTHER GM VEHICLES JUST LIKE MINE (3.8 LITER) ALSO BURN UP. I JUNKED THE VEHICLE. WROTE TO GM, BUT RECIEVED NO RESPONSE. JUST SAW ON CARS.COM THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS RAISING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE GM 3.8 LITER ENGINES. IT REALLY HURTS LOSING $13,000. THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF THAT KID DIDN'T WARN ME. NO WONDER THEY DISCONTINUED THE DELTA 88. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN BE COMPENSATED FOR MY LOSS? DT
NHTSA complaint #770571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orland Park, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER STATES THAT PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKS AFTER ABOUT 60000 MILES AND CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO MIX WITH OIL INTO ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #8018019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingsport, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JUST STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE NO STEERING OR BRAKE POWER. CONTACTED DEALER. CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #8017735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valparaiso, IN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FUEL, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO TECH WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE PROBLEM (PINPOINT HOLES IN SENDING UNIT), AND REPAIRED IT, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE LINE WAS LEAKING AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A MINOR LEAK.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8004229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rydal, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING RESULTING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shelby, MS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #720837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shelby, MS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #720837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeland, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS.
NHTSA complaint #519291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAMSHAFT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granada Hills, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANK SENSOR CONNECTOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #602974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.