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FaultScore report

1989 Oldsmobile Ciera problems

Owners have filed 37 complaints about the 1989 Oldsmobile Ciera with NHTSA between 1995 and 2002. The largest single group is the seat belts.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Oldsmobile Ciera
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Not graded

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

How this is worked out

The numbers

37

Complaints

3

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

3

Injuries reported

How 1989 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 1989 Oldsmobile Ciera

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

Seat Belts 9 24.3%
Brakes 6 16.2%
Electrical System 6 16.2%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 13.5%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Body & Structure 3 8.1%
Tires 2 5.4%
Fuel & Propulsion 2 5.4%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.4%
Seats 1 2.7%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Wheels 1 2.7%

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.

Feb 1995 peak 5 May 2002

NHTSA investigations into the 1989 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

Recalls on the 1989 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

95V173000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Canada — Transport Canada

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

Recall 1995165 184,500 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 210 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE. VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. DURING LOADING, STRESS COULD CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH NEW SHOULDER BOLTS AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL ALSO BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

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.

Baldwin, NY Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE STUCK IN A POSITION AND LOST CONTROL. THE CAR HIT A CAR/LAMP POST AND A HOUSE. *AK CAR ALSO HIT 2ND CAR. CAR WENT THROUGH LIVING ROOM WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #814111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmette, IL Crash 2 injured

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DURING REAR IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK FELL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #981243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flint, MI Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #485517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Heber Spring, AR Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED OVER NIGHT W/CAUSE UNKNOWN BY HEBER SPRINGS FIRE DEPT. AREA AFFECTED MOSTLY FRONT LEFT TIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #971298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

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

Manahawkin, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH DURING HIGH WINDS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LANDAU ROOF HAD BLOWN OFF, MANUFACTUER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #564092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manahawkin, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH DURING HIGH WINDS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LANDAU ROOF HAD BLOWN OFF, MANUFACTUER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #564092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredonia, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

BRAKES LOCK WHEN WET, EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKES AND MASTER CYCLINDER INSTALLED , DOING IT SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND BOUGHT BY MY MOTHER WITH 3 MILES ON IT. ONE BRAKE OR ANOTHER WILL LOCK AFTER A RAIN STORM. AFTER CONTINUAL PUMPING THEY WILL DRY AND STOP LOCKING TILL THEY GET WET AGAIN. HAVE HAD ALL NEW PARTS PUT ON OVER YEARS OF WORK ON IT AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS .

NHTSA complaint #745770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredonia, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKES LOCK WHEN WET, EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKES AND MASTER CYCLINDER INSTALLED , DOING IT SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND BOUGHT BY MY MOTHER WITH 3 MILES ON IT. ONE BRAKE OR ANOTHER WILL LOCK AFTER A RAIN STORM. AFTER CONTINUAL PUMPING THEY WILL DRY AND STOP LOCKING TILL THEY GET WET AGAIN. HAVE HAD ALL NEW PARTS PUT ON OVER YEARS OF WORK ON IT AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS .

NHTSA complaint #745770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Johnstown, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL LINE RUSTED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #853778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nanvet, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE CROSSING A MAIN INTERSECTION CAR DIED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY GET OUT OF CAR.

NHTSA complaint #849628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Medford, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

COMPUTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #604309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wausau, WI

TIRES:SIDEWALL

ALL 4 TIRES HAD DEEP CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS BY 30,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #539381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whaleysvil, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF, EVEN WHEN TURNED COMPLETELY OFF, DURING HUMID OR DAMP DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #531575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkhorn, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

BODY IS CRAKCING AT THE B-PILLAR, NEAR THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT, CAUSING THE DOORS TO CLOSE HARD AND MAY COME OPEN IN A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #527586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ovilla, TX

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE BRAKE LEVER MAY RELEASE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #818305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baldwin, NY Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE STUCK IN A POSITION AND LOST CONTROL. THE CAR HIT A CAR/LAMP POST AND A HOUSE. *AK CAR ALSO HIT 2ND CAR. CAR WENT THROUGH LIVING ROOM WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #814111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pearl River, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN IS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #518415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Anthony, ID

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN SEAT BELT RECALL PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #513991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

COMPUTER FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #510304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dillwyn, VA

SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER AND LAP BELTS ARE INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #805086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Imperial, NE

WHEELS:RIM

ALL FOUR RIMS BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #487330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Casselberry, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PLASTIC CLIP ON REAR SEAT BELTS HAS DISINTEGRATED. *AK PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #985533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milton, WV

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEATBELT RECALL REPAIRS DELAYED DUE TO SCHEDULING. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #501325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmette, IL Crash 2 injured

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DURING REAR IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK FELL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #981243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Melville, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UPON DECELERATING LOCK UP VALVE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO STAY ENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #979658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Melville, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UPON DECELERATING LOCK UP VALVE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO STAY ENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #979658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mobile, AL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE SURGES AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TT

NHTSA complaint #975910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woods Hole, MA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER/LAP BELT WHEN MOVED FORWARD FAILED TO RETRACT. OWNER STATES MUST OPEN DOOR POSSIBLY WHILE DRIVING FOR TENSION TO TIGHTEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #975702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Athens, GA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IS BROKEN . TT

NHTSA complaint #975395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.