180 of the 1,226 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile 88 are about the braking system — 15% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1992.
180
Complaints
15%
Share of all complaints
18
Crashes
0
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FAILED UPON EXITING ON RAMP FROM RTE. 95..DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD..NO BRAKES...DOWNSHIFT/ PARKING BRAKE INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE..JUST LUCKY NO CAR COLLISION OCCURRED ...WAS FRIGHTENING !...I THINK GM VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE SO BADLY FAULTY..I'M JUST LUCKY I WASN'T HURT OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT !
NHTSA complaint #10598706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVERS DOOR SILL LEAKS BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE LINE IS RUSTED OUT. FLUID LEVEL IN BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR LOW AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO RESERVOIR. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES ARE NOT GALVENIZED, ARE EXPOSED TO SALT AND MOISTURE, AND ARE NOT PAINTED SO THEY RUST!
NHTSA complaint #10446732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA, 1997 OLDSMOBILE AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE ALL HAVE HAD BRAKE LINES FAIL DUE TO CORROSION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE BRAKES FAILED DURING A PANIC STOP TO AVOID A COLLISION. ALL VEHICLES HAD STEEL BRAKE LINES REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. I TEND TO KEEP MY CARS UNTIL THEY ARE TEN PLUS YEARS OLD. THE MAJORITY OF MY CARS HAVE HAD BRAKES FAIL DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TUBING. I WAS WONDERING WHY STAINLESS STEEL TUBING IS NOT REQUIRED ON BRAKE LINES?
NHTSA complaint #10308104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF UPDATED 10/15/08.
NHTSA complaint #10240200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
DT: THE REAR BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE BACK DRUMS ARE BLACK, THEY'VE NEVER HAD CONTACT UNLESS USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10124090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE FAILURE, REPLACEMENT OF ALL LINES. BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED. *BF
NHTSA complaint #10105411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT A LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DID NOT GO TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKING POWER WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ER
NHTSA complaint #10099430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDERNEATH ,AND SAW THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10089467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
STARTING EARLY 2002 WITH ONLY 45000 MILES ON THE 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 THE WARNING LIGHT ADVISING ABS WAS NOT OPERATING CAME ON INTERMITTANTLY. TOOK TO CUESTA CADILLAC OLDSMOBILE DEALER IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIF AND WAS ADVISED THAT REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. WE DID THAT BUT INTERMITTANT DASH ERROR LIGHT WARNINGS CONTINUED. IN 2003 THE DEALER SAID TO CONTACT GM AND REQUEST REPAIR BUT GM REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. ABS SYSTEM STILL INOPERATIVE INTERMITTANTLY AND DEALER SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE ABS PUMP FOR $2000 BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL BE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10086903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE REAR BRAKE LINE BROKE RENDERING THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10072116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TRANSMISSION: UPPER PLATE GASKET WENT, CAUSING GEAR SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE IN THE LOWER GEARS. TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT UNIT WHICH IS NOW EXHIBITING MUCH OF THE SAME SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS (ONLY MINORLY AT THE MOMENT) @ 156,000KM. ENGINE: FIRST ENGINE HAD THE EGR/EXHAUST DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO MELT AND COOLANT TO POOR INTO THE ENGINE. REPORT FROM THE SHOP WAS THAT ENTIRE BOTTOM END WAS DESTROYED BY THE COOLANT, AND A FULL NEW ENGINE HAD TO BE ORDERED (COMPLETE WITH ACCESSORIES, ETC.). THE NEW ENGINE'S IDLER FOR THE SERPENTINE HAD THE BEARING CEASE, KNOCKING THE BELT OFF. SINCE THE WATERPUMP WAS BELT DRIVEN, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CAR WAS LEFT TO IDLE IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TOTAL TIME OF ~ 5-15MIN. (THE TEMPERATURE OUT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND -40C / -40F.). BRAKES: PERHAPS CRONICALLY UNDERSIZED FOR THIS VEHICLE, ROTORS HAVE WARPED LIKE CLOCKWORK EVERY 30,000KM. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WARPED APPROACHING 160,000KM AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED --- AGAIN --- SHORTLY. THIS IS NOT A CAR THAT SEE'S MUCH HEAVY USE. GROCERIES ON WEEKENDS, ~ 15-20KM MAX. TOTAL DAILY TRIP DURING WORKDAYS. IT HAS YET TO ACCOMPLISH AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP (I.E., NORTH BAY -> OTTAWA OR NORTH BAY -> TORONTO, 4 HOURS (~400KM) AND 3 HOURS (~300KM) RESPECTIVELY) WITHOUT THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT BEING LIT. ADDITIONAL RECOLLECTION: FRONT FOG LIGHTS CONSTANTLY FILLING WITH CONDENSATION AS WELL, HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4-5 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRENTY. NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND AND NOW THEY'RE JUST NOT USED.
NHTSA complaint #10071326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINE FAILED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10059573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
1) MY 1987 DELTA 88 OLDSMOBILE WILL NOT STEER LEFT WHEN COLD, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. 2) MY BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THEY KEEP PULSATING. THIS WEARS OUT MY TIRES VERY FAST. 3) WHEN FIRST CRANKED, IT WILL DRIVE FOR A MILE AT A MEDIUM RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR BECAUSE THE IDLE IS MESSED UP, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN ADJUSTED. 4) THE WINDSHIELD WASHER HAS NEVER WORKED. ALL THESE THINGS CONTINUALLY HAPPEN THE 5 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT.
NHTSA complaint #10054367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
RECALL 91V167000 CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE LEAVER ASSEMBLY: AT THE TIME OF VEHICLE INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY LEAVER WAS ON RECALL. THE LEAVER WAS RELEASING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WHEN ON AN INCLINE.
NHTSA complaint #10051691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 LS, ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS, SYSTEM CHECK OPERATIONAL AND NO WARNING LIGHT ON EVERY START UP. BUT AT 70,000 PLUS MILES IN ONE WEEK'S TIMEFRAME, ABS BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY HAVE A HARD GRAB AT THE END OF A COMPLETE STOP AT INTERSECTIONS. BUT THE ABS SYSTEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND ALTERNATES AT ONE OR TWO OF THE BRAKES, WHETHER IN THE FRONT OR REAR BRAKES, CAUSING A LOUD SOUND. FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ARE NEW WITHIN THE LAST 5,000 MILES AND REAR DRUM BRAKES ARE AT 55% LININGS.
NHTSA complaint #10043649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHIMMIES. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10043997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI- LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED 3 TIMES RESULTING IN ONE ACCIDENT. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND NOTHING CAN BE FOUND WITH WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10016366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED 3 TIMES. 1ST TIME WAS 01-10-03. 2ND TIME WAS 04-11-03 AND 3RD TIME WAS 04-21-03. IST TIME RESULTED IN ACCIDENT AND LAST 2 TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY BEFORE REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WILL ENTER THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10016369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
THREE SETS OF BRAKE PADS AND ONE SET OF ROTORS WERE REPLACED WITHIN 16,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8005268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.