114 of the
1,226 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile 88
are about the electrical system —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
1999 OLDSMOBILE 4.8L ENGINE WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS BOTH AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR AT SLOWER SPEEDS OF 35 OR 35 MPH. ALL OF THE POWER ASSISTED FEATURES SUCH AS POWER BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO STOP WORKING WHEN THE ENGINE STOPS. THE ENGINE SHUTTING DEFECT DOES NOT OCCUR DAILY AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE ONLY CHECK ENGINE CODE PRESENT WAS A "EGR VALVE" CODE. THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $344.00. THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY DEFECT HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO REPLICATE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL THAT THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN. FROM "GOOGLING" THIS DEFECT IT APPEARS TO AFFECT A LARGE NUMBER OF SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH 3.8L GM ENGINES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10820776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY "KILL" AND IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY - ALSO POSSIBLY SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAILING - MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH REFERENCE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10619369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE LSS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DUE TO CORROSION ON A SENSOR UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, DEATHS, OR A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,000.
NHTSA complaint #10216705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 1995 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE LSS 4D SEDAN 6CY/3800 SERIES 2. AT SEVEN SEAS AUTO 118 MAPLE ST. MANCHESTER NH,03103. PAID 1,500 CAME WITH A 20-DAY PLATE AND A STATE INSPECTION. NOW THE CAR HAS A NEW ALTERNATOR AND EVERYTHING PASSED INSPECTION, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. FIRST THING, CAR WAS BOUGHT ON THE 8TH. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON THE 15TH, YET THE INSPECTION IS GOOD FOR 07 NOT 06 LIKE IT SHOULD BE. SECOND E-BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AND REGULAR BRAKES DON'T WORK RIGHT, THE ABS- BRAKE LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON. THIRD WITHIN 11 DAYS OF OWNING THE CAR HAD TO BUY 3 BATTERIES. THE FIRST WAS ONE HOUR AFTER BUYING THE CAR, SECOND WAS 5 DAYS LATER. THE THIRD WAS 4 DAYS AFTER THAT. NOW IN HAVERILL MASS. WENT TO PUT THE THIRD BATTERY IN, THE ALTERNATOR STARTED SMOKING UP. THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. CALLED THE DEALER SAID THIS IS RIDICULOUS I WANT MY MONEY BACK. HE SAID NO FIX IT ON YOUR OWN. PLUS WHEN IT RAINS ALL FOUR FLOORS GET WET. AND THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER DRIPS ON YOUR LEGS WHILE YOUR DRIVING. OBD SENSOR LIGHT ALWAYS ON, AND THE ABS-BRAKE LIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint #10153832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 1995 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE LSS 4D SEDAN 6CY/3800 SERIES 2. AT SEVEN SEAS AUTO 118 MAPLE ST. MANCHESTER NH,03103. PAID 1,500 CAME WITH A 20-DAY PLATE AND A STATE INSPECTION. NOW THE CAR HAS A NEW ALTERNATOR AND EVERYTHING PASSED INSPECTION, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. FIRST THING, CAR WAS BOUGHT ON THE 8TH. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON THE 15TH, YET THE INSPECTION IS GOOD FOR 07 NOT 06 LIKE IT SHOULD BE. SECOND E-BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AND REGULAR BRAKES DON'T WORK RIGHT, THE ABS- BRAKE LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON. THIRD WITHIN 11 DAYS OF OWNING THE CAR HAD TO BUY 3 BATTERIES. THE FIRST WAS ONE HOUR AFTER BUYING THE CAR, SECOND WAS 5 DAYS LATER. THE THIRD WAS 4 DAYS AFTER THAT. NOW IN HAVERILL MASS. WENT TO PUT THE THIRD BATTERY IN, THE ALTERNATOR STARTED SMOKING UP. THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. CALLED THE DEALER SAID THIS IS RIDICULOUS I WANT MY MONEY BACK. HE SAID NO FIX IT ON YOUR OWN. PLUS WHEN IT RAINS ALL FOUR FLOORS GET WET. AND THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER DRIPS ON YOUR LEGS WHILE YOUR DRIVING. OBD SENSOR LIGHT ALWAYS ON, AND THE ABS-BRAKE LIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint #10153832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHTY HAS PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS LEAKAGE OF BATTERY FLUID FROM THE POSITIVE POLE OF THE BATTERY. *MR THE POSITIVE POLE HAD COME OUT OF THE BATTERY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THREE BATTERY'S HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE FIRST WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. (AC DELCO BATTERY) *SC
NHTSA complaint #10117436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON FEBRUARY 25, 2004 MY GRANDPARENTS PURCHASED A 1997 OLDSMOBILE LSS FROM NORTH LAKE FORD IN LAKEPORT CALIFORNIA. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT STALL, AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IN FACT THE VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AND THEY WERE NEARLY RAN OVER BY A SEMI TRUCK WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, AND IT STILL STALLS TO THIS DAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHE.
NHTSA complaint #10100167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10094703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, TAIL LIGHT POPPED OUT, AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED 9 TIMES.*MR THE A/C DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND DRYER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE STALLING CONCERNS BUT THEY DID REPLACED THE D.I.S MODULE AND THE ECM TO CORRECT CODE PO705. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A SIGNAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10089150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF THIS BUT THE RED AREA OF THE GAUGE THEN THE CHECK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED IT GOT IT COOLED DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED TO THE VERY NEXT RD TO GAS STATION FOR BETTER VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. GOT TO IT VERY QUICKLY AND THE TEMP WAS BACK UP. STOPPED LET IT COOL AND ADDED WATER TO THE NOW EMPTY RESOVAIR THAT WAS FULL WHEN WE STARTED THE TRIP. AND NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AND NO BOILING OVER, LET IT COOL. ADDED WATER. THEN TRIED TO CRANK IT UP, IT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER, THOUGHT ENG HAD LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD THEIR WAS A FEATURE TO THIS CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN THE ENG WHEN A LEAK LIKE THIS OCCURS. WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKEN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE ENG WAS GONE......AND IT WAS NOT. BUT IT SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE STARTER WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE CAR BEFORE WE LEFT ON THIS TRIP, HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND EVERYTHING. BUT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WHEN THE LEAK, AND RUNNING HOT OCCURED. NOT SURE HOW IT MESSED UP THE STARTER. BUT ALSO KNOW SINCE IT SHUTS THE ENG DOWN, LOCKS IT UP, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GET A NEW ENG CAUSE THEIR PERSON DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS FEATURE AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10067797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION WHEN SHE TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND A SMALL FIRE UNDER HOOD MELTED SOME PARTS. *PH SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL MAINTENANCE REGULARLY AT THE DEALER ONLY. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE CAUSE. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10068569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1) AUG. 2000 GENERATOR FAILURE 2) AUG. 2002 BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED 3) OCT. 2003 COOLANT LEAKING : REPLACED LEAKING WATER PUMP. INTAKE MANIFOLD ALSO LEAKING BUT NOT REPLACED AT THIS TIME DUE TO COST. 3.8L V6
NHTSA complaint #10069449 — 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.
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL WARMS UP, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY OLDS DEALER IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE $700+ AIR BAG BECAUSE ALL THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IS RUN THROUGH THE AIR BAG. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE WAS NO "INCIDENT" BUT APPARENTLY I HAVE TO PUT IN A DATE SO I WILL JUST MAKE ONE UP SO I CAN PROCEED WITH MY COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10056659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST POWER. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED ENGINE WAS LOCKED. TECHNICIAN REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, MANIFOLD, AND STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #10055399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.