Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Oldsmobile Ciera
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
533.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
213.3%
Brakes
213.3%
Electrical System
213.3%
Engine & Cooling
213.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Seat Belts
16.7%
Body & Structure
16.7%
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.
Jan 1995peak 3Oct 2000
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Oldsmobile Ciera
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.
PE94048Opened 21 Jun 1994Closed 30 Dec 1994ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE
PE91120Opened 30 Aug 1991Closed 4 Nov 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKE DISC/HUB SEP
EA87022Opened 27 Aug 1987Closed 27 Nov 1991VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
STALLING
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===
EA87006Opened 16 Dec 1986Closed 19 Sep 1988STEERING
POWER ST. ASSIST
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Longmont, COFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #512224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Peoria, AZ
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHEN TRYING TO AVOID A CRASH BY SWERVING TO THE LEFT FRAME OF VEHICLE BROKE. DRIVER NOTICED FRAME WAS BROKEN WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN OVERHEATING. ENGINE FELL FORWARD AND CUT RADIATOR HOSE. MOTOR MOUNTS ARE THE ONLY ONES HOLDING UP THE ENGINE. A DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BY THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #873084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amherst, OH
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING UNIT IS FAILING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SOMETIMES BE HARD TO TURN AT RANDOM OR CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTE BEFORE STEERING RETURNED. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AT 66000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #826058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Longmont, COFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #512224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elmhurst, NY
STEERING
WHEN TRYING TO PARK THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DURING TIME THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN IN TO PARKING OR OUT OF A STREET AND BEHIND AND BETWEEN CARS, CONSUMER STATES GREAT EFFORT IS NEEDED IN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #802888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hedgesvill, WV
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #503426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hedgesvill, WV
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAM NOISY. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwood, MA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING LOCKS UP BRIEFLY WHEN CAR IS BEGINNING TO MOVE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #502942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN USING HEATER, SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE/GAS LIKE ODOR ENTERS INTO INTERIOR COMPARTMENT; CAUSES FILM TO BUILD UP ON WINDSHIELD; IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST. TT
NHTSA complaint #978051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plainview, NY
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT THE STEERING FEELS STUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #974235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blackwood, NJ
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE STEERING EFFORT INCREASES DURING COLD WEATHER STARTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #973771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Orleans, LA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN YOU TRY TO START IN THE MORNING. TT
NHTSA complaint #967325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davisburg, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. TT
NHTSA complaint #965358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colchester, VT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
VEHICLES REAR BRAKING SYSTEM LOCK-UP WHEN HARD BRAKING OCCURS. TT
NHTSA complaint #960888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Modesto, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. TT
NHTSA complaint #958410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mantua, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. TT
NHTSA complaint #958292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.