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.
Engine
624.0%
Gasoline
416.0%
Cooling System
312.0%
Exhaust System
312.0%
Foundation Components
312.0%
FAN
28.0%
Pump
28.0%
Recliner
28.0%
When owners complained
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.
Feb 1995peak 14Nov 2000
Recalls on the 1989 Oldsmobile Calais
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.
United States — NHTSA
92V150000
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.
90V042000
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 — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199103723,611 units in Canada
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.
Recall 19900438,687 units in Canada
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.
Recall 19891392,624 units in Canada
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1101 - EMISSION DEVICE. UNILINGUAL UNLEADED FUEL LABEL.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Miami, FLCrash2 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
REAR ENDED WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT BY SUB COMPACT SPEEDING AT APROX. 30 MPH. BOTH FRONT SEATS FOLDED BACK TO REAR SEATS (NON RECLINING TYPE) REAR DOORS JAMMED .MED.
NHTSA complaint #720672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FLCrash2 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR ENDED WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT BY SUB COMPACT SPEEDING AT APROX. 30 MPH. BOTH FRONT SEATS FOLDED BACK TO REAR SEATS (NON RECLINING TYPE) REAR DOORS JAMMED .MED.
NHTSA complaint #720672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Syracuse, NYFire
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING 25-30MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NO WARNING. NOTICED FLAMES AROUND FLOORBOARD & COMING FROM THE TRUNK. PULLED OVER & LEFT VEHICLE. THE FUEL TANK EXPLODED. RECALL FOR FUEL LINE #92V150000.
NHTSA complaint #845338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mandeville, LAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #510406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dousman, WICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS FROM COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ONE ACCIDENT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #486603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SAN Diego, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A STREET APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, ROUGH IDLE/ VEHICLE RAN HOT, AND TURNED OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #874596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FLCrash2 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
REAR ENDED WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT BY SUB COMPACT SPEEDING AT APROX. 30 MPH. BOTH FRONT SEATS FOLDED BACK TO REAR SEATS (NON RECLINING TYPE) REAR DOORS JAMMED .MED.
NHTSA complaint #720672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FLCrash2 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR ENDED WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT BY SUB COMPACT SPEEDING AT APROX. 30 MPH. BOTH FRONT SEATS FOLDED BACK TO REAR SEATS (NON RECLINING TYPE) REAR DOORS JAMMED .MED.
NHTSA complaint #720672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OIL City, PA
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AT 30 MPH REAR LEFT STRUT BROKE LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING AND BUSTED THROUGH THE TRUNK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #853334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Syracuse, NYFire
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING 25-30MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NO WARNING. NOTICED FLAMES AROUND FLOORBOARD & COMING FROM THE TRUNK. PULLED OVER & LEFT VEHICLE. THE FUEL TANK EXPLODED. RECALL FOR FUEL LINE #92V150000.
NHTSA complaint #845338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #703485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #703485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #703485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #703485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #703485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valley Stream, NY
SEATS
FRONT SEATS DO NOT LOCK IN POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #510137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Mary, FL
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PASSENGER'S SEATBACK LATCH FAILED, ALLOWING SEATBACK TO COME FORWARD TOWARD WINDSHIELD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #513015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mandeville, LAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #510406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DU Quoin, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE OIL. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601595)
NHTSA complaint #508114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES REPLACED FIVE TIMES. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT EXPLODED.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS CONTINUALLY.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER COIL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED SIX TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FAN MOTOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
COOLANT TUBE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #500042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lafayette, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/CRACK PRIOR TO RECALL . *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.