65 of the
1,226 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile 88
are about the steering —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FORTUNATELY DID NOT OCCUR. THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME MOUNTING WASHERS ON BOTH SIDES RUSTED THROUGH. MY MOTHER (75 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE TURNING. THE ENGINE CRADLE DROPPED DOWN PREVENTING HER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CLOSE SHE WOULD HAVE DRIVEN DIRECTLY INTO IT. SHE WAS EXTREMELY SCARED AND SHAKEN. THIS IS SUCH A SMALL ITEM THAT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY GM OR WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SINGLE VEHICLE PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10434381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL. HE MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHEARED BOLT BETWEEN THE RACK AND PINION AND THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $750. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10278032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION FOR ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE MAIN BEARING SEIZING. RECALL# 04V090000. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SEAL UNDER THE PLASTIC PLENUM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF LEAVING THE SERVICE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THE WARPED PLASTIC PLENUM WOULD NOT SEAL AGAINST THE MANIFOLD. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED OTHER REPAIRS SUCH AS A REPLACEMENT MOTOR FOR THE PASSENGER'S WINDOW, POWER STEERING HOSE WHICH WAS LEAKING, A REAR WHEEL CYLINDER AND A NEW TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10091522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 1987 OLDSMOBILE 88 LSS THAT I TOOK IN FOR INSPECTION. IT PASSED INSPECTION, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT COULD CAUSE THE BEARINGS TO LOCK UP, BURN THE BELT AND I WOULD LOSE STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10086248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING WHEEL- THERE ARE HARD TO TURN SPOTS (BINDING?), EVERY HALF TURN AND THE WHEELS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO STRAIGHT AFTER TURNING.*AK THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR, AND GETTING PROGRESSIVLY WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, AND HARDLY NOTICABLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT.
NHTSA complaint #10055185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE GM RECALL ABOUT THE FAILURE OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING, WIPERS. I HAVE A 1995 OLDS 88 ROYALE. BACK IN NOVEMBER MY WIFE WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND HER POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. I E-MAILED OLDSMOBILE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AFTER I READ ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY SENT ME BACK A E-MAIL AND SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE VIN AND MODEL YEAR DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A LOCAL DEALER IF I FELT THAT THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR VEHICLE. THE CAR IS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION? IF SO I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10053211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO GO INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10044703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
LOST STEERING CONTROL - THREE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE PUMP JUST BROKE OFF & WENT ON TO PUSH RIGHT BOOT INTO RIGHT TIRE. WATER PUMP BROKE & ALSO OVERFLOW ANTIFREEZE TANK BROKE. HAD TO REPLACE TWO TAIL LAMPS BECAUSE OF BROKEN BRACKETS OR PRONGS THAT HOLD IT.
NHTSA complaint #9004264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE LEAVING A SERVICE STATION AND TURNING RIGHT HEARD NOISE AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEM TURNING. WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT BOLTS ON STEERING PUMP BROKE. AK THE LOSS OF STEERING RESULTED REARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO LOST POWER BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #877515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER STEERING MOTOR COMPLETELY FELL OFF THE ENGINE. I LOST ALL POWER . HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ANOTHER OLDSOMIBLE WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THE SHOP FOREMAN SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY VEHICLE BEFOR MINE AND THE OTHER CAR. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THEY WERE BOTH OLDS. I FEEL THAT FAULTY BOLTS ARE BEING USED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CARS. THE BOLTS HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. I DON'T THINK THAT BOLTS SHOULD CORODE AFTER 81,000 MILES. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OLDSOMOBILE VEHICLES SOMEONE WILL LOOSE THIER LIVES BECAUSE OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #731816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE MOUNTING BOLTS HOLDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVE BOTH COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THIS OCCURRED DURING ENGINE STARTUP UNDER NO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ENGINE / CAR HAS NOT HAD ANY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED IN ANY AREA NEAR THIS COMPONENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TORQUED ON INITIAL INSTALLATION. MY CONCERN IS TO KNOW IF THIS IS A PREVIOUS KNOW PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL CAR.
NHTSA complaint #731027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKES FOR 5 OR MORE SECOND BEFORE CONTROL WAS RESTORED, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #869829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40-45 MPH RIGHT INNER TIE ROD BROKE, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT, CRASHED INTO A CULVER, AND WENT ACROSS A DRIVEWAY BEFORE STOPPING. THERE WERE FIVE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, AND ALL FIVE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. VEHICLE WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #866590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.