FaultScore report
Owners have filed 34 complaints about the 1988 Oldsmobile Calais with NHTSA between 1995 and 2000. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
34
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
BRAKE PERFORMANCE
===
BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS
QUAD 4 ENG WIRING FAILURE
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Risk: FUEL LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN ANUNDERHOOD FIRE.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Risk: LEAKING FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Engine
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.3 LITRE ENGINE. IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE FROM THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM COULD CAUSE ICE BUILDUP BEHIND THE THROTTLE BLADE THEREBY PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTION: AN ENGINE VENTILATION KIT WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES TO PREVENT MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE CRANKCASE.
Emissions
Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1103 - Exhaust Emissions. Cracks may develop in the casing of the integrated direct ignition coil. Correction: Ignition coils will be inspected and replaced if necessary.
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH QUAD 4 ENGINES, THE FRONT FUEL FEED ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA. THIS WOULD CREATE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM/FIRE/ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN BACKING OUT THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE OFF AND THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN INTO THE REAR SEAT WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #550649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CRACKED ENGINE HEAD. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #550649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL QUAD-4 ENGINE HEADS. NO HELP FROM OLDSMOBILE DUE TO AGE/MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #704764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FROM OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHAKING AND KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #833160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #518597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, OWNER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #808773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE DOOR AND WILL NOT BUCKLE.
NHTSA complaint #546627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ELECTRICAL LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SHORTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #808640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #508209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL HOUSING REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #508209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #508209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #508209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #508209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
TRANSMISSION CONVERTER CLUTCH SOLENOID REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #508209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED THREE TIMES. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOWS LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM/FIRE/ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO IGNITION COIL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECM CHIPS REPLACED 7 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH REPLACED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #503970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR RUSTED.
NHTSA complaint #487096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN BACKING OUT THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE OFF AND THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN INTO THE REAR SEAT WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
VEHICLE OWNER IS CONCERNED THAT HER VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT SAFE BECAUSE THEY ARE MOUNTED TO THE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #981390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING LEAK, RECALL WORK REFUSED PRIOR TO FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #484763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.