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FaultScore report

1988 Oldsmobile Ciera problems

Owners have filed 32 complaints about the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera with NHTSA between 1995 and 1999. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Oldsmobile Ciera
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

32

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1988 compares with every other Oldsmobile Ciera

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Transmission & Drivetrain 6 18.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Engine & Cooling 5 15.6%
Seat Belts 4 12.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 3 9.4%
Electrical System 3 9.4%
Other & Unspecified 2 6.3%
Tires 2 6.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 6.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Brakes 2 6.3%
Seats 1 3.1%
Suspension 1 3.1%
Steering 1 3.1%

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.

Mar 1995 peak 5 Dec 1999

NHTSA investigations into the 1988 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.

PE94048 Opened 21 Jun 1994 Closed 30 Dec 1994 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE

PE89035 Opened 19 Jan 1989 Closed 24 May 1989 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STOP LAMPS

SUMMARY:A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN DATED JULY 1988 INDICATES THAT BOTHSOCKETS MUST BE REPLACED USING PART NUMBER 5972532.THIS SERVICE STOCKUSES A NEW HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL.PRODUCTION STOCK WAS ALSO CORRECTEDBEGINNING WITH VINS J7163799 AND JJ187909.===

EA89010 Opened 17 Jan 1989 Closed 8 May 1990 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS

Recalls on the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera

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

88V164000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL FEED HOSE COULD LEAK AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT INAN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1988166 3,728 units in Canada

Fuel System

THE FUEL FEED HOSE COULD LEAK AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY WITH A NEW HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

ST. Louis, MO Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTONG IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #968848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Piszataway, NJ Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT STILL DRIFTS BACKWARD IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #961963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Bent Mountain, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER PERIOD. THEREFORE, VEHICLE IS "STUCK" IN ROAD, USUALLY ON A BLIND TURN, EXTREEME DANGER WITH TRUCKS COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN.

NHTSA complaint #701689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davenport, IA

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRO-FIT KIT THAT WAS GIVEN BY OLDSMOBILE HAS A VERY LARGE BUCKLE THAT HITS RIGHT IN THE STERNUM. IF IN AN ACCIDENT BUCKLE COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE CHEST. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THEY MADE THEM, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #850338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP

NHTSA complaint #704068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP

NHTSA complaint #704068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP

NHTSA complaint #704068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Painesville, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

WHILE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF, AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY SOLENOID IN TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING.

NHTSA complaint #826022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hyattsville, MD

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #535825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenville, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKE SYSTEM: COMING DOWN BRASS TOWN MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA, BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. STOPPED AT BOTTOM OF MOUNTAIN AND LET BRAKES COOL OFF AND THEN THEY WORKED OKAY. MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #809433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronxville, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TVS TRANSMISSION VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #514142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belgrade, MT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #510059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belgrade, MT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FLYWHEEL BROKE TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #510059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belgrade, MT

TIRES

UNEVEN WEAR OF LEFT FRONT TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #510059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orange, CT

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING RESERVOIR LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST PIPE/SMOKE.

NHTSA complaint #509490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mission HI, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #505850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cheltenham, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS LOOSE AND HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND REWIRED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #985428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE SLOWLY DETERIORATED UNTIL IT BECAME INOPERABLE. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #488264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

TIRES

FIRESTONE TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR.

NHTSA complaint #487082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia BEA, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE HARMONIC BALACER OUTER RING PULLEY HAS SEPERATED FROM PULLEY, CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND ALL ACCESSORIES THAT ARE POWERED BY BELT.

NHTSA complaint #981424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dunkirk, MD

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST FELL APART AND NO LONGER LATCHES.PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #980370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dunkirk, MD

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST FELL APART AND NO LONGER LATCHES.PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #980370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NIS Kayuna, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #980329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NIS Kayuna, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #980329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cooper City, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

UNUSUAL VIBRATION IN FRONT W/UNKNOWN CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #975946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR MAKING A SHARP TURN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #975619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Fort Myers, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, CAUSING THE CAR TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART. CONSUMER STATED DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #802993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.