Owners have filed 24 complaints
about the 1990 Oldsmobile Ciera with NHTSA between 1995 and 2002.
The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Oldsmobile Ciera
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Acceleration & Cruise Control
729.2%
5 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
312.5%
Engine & Cooling
312.5%
Seat Belts
28.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Body & Structure
28.3%
Brakes
28.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Equipment & Accessories
14.2%
Seats
14.2%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
14.2%
Lights
14.2%
Steering
14.2%
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 4Aug 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 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
Recalls on the 1990 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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995165184,500 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.
Recall 199210357,116 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, the power seat or recliner wiring harness may become pinched or chafed causing possible short circuits. These short circuits may then cause the circuit breaker to weld closed and the unprotected short circuit could overheat and possibly ignite the seat cushion materials. Correction: Wiring harness will be inspected and harness rerouted using a wiring harness clip.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Lecompte, LACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
CONSUMER STARTED AUTOMOBILE AND THE PAWL WAS IN PARK. WHEN SHE PLACED IT IN DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE SUDDLENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #831845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MDCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE ITS SPEED, RESULTING IN A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #808160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Maria, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING AND CAR ACCELERATED CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . TT
NHTSA complaint #974776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walkersvil, MDCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD FROM PARKED POSITION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #484743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OHCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELT DOES NOT LOCK UP UPON IMPACT; VEHICLE REARENDED, SHOVED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE; OCCUPANTS HIT WINDSHIELD AND STEERING WHEEL
NHTSA complaint #974369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walkerville, MDCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED DURING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #959143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tuckahoe, NY
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
BEGAN NOTICING STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED INTO DESIRED ANGLE. FURTHER NOTICED ENTIRE WHEEL WOULD HAVE SIDE-TO-SIDE MOVEMENT. AT THIS STAGE IT HAS ABOUT 1-INCH PLAY IN ALL DIRECTIONS, FEEL UNSAFE WHEN STEERING. REPAIR SHOP SAID IT IS COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS CAR; REPAIR INVOLVES REMOVING MOST UPPER COMPONENTS AND TIGHTENING 2 BOLTS AT BASE OF COLUMN AT DASHBOARD. BECAUSE OF COMPLEXITY OF DISASSEMBLY, REPAIR REQUIRES 2 TO 3 HOURS @ $75/HOUR NYC RATES. I FEEL THIS TYPE OF DEFECT SHOULD HAVE SOME RECOURSE THROUGH MANUFACTURER SINCE THIS IS A MAJOR DRIVEABILITY ISSUE WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF NOT CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #765912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Overland Park, KS
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
BACK DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. WHILE DRIVING, DOOR MAY COME OPEN WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK.
NHTSA complaint #859730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lecompte, LACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
CONSUMER STARTED AUTOMOBILE AND THE PAWL WAS IN PARK. WHEN SHE PLACED IT IN DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE SUDDLENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #831845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walkersvil, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FUEL THROTTLE LINKAE SYSTEM PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #523842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bozeman, MT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ENGINE RACES WHEN FIRST STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #517480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bozeman, MT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINES STALLS.
NHTSA complaint #517480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MDCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE ITS SPEED, RESULTING IN A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #808160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #602290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Briarwood, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #510246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flushing, NY
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C LEAKS DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #601986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Briarwood, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #510246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cape MAY, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FELL ALMOST 3 INCHES DUE TO RUSTY HINGE/POOR WELDING.
NHTSA complaint #504473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taylor, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND BRAKE AND STEERING ABILITY IS LOST, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. TT
NHTSA complaint #979109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Maria, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING AND CAR ACCELERATED CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . TT
NHTSA complaint #974776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walkersvil, MDCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD FROM PARKED POSITION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #484743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OHCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELT DOES NOT LOCK UP UPON IMPACT; VEHICLE REARENDED, SHOVED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE; OCCUPANTS HIT WINDSHIELD AND STEERING WHEEL
NHTSA complaint #974369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Myers, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CAMSHAFT BROKE. TT
NHTSA complaint #971268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #968542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
FLASHERS FAILED, ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #968542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Piscataway, NJ
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SPOT WELDING ON FRONT BY CONSOLE BROKE LOOSE; BACK REST WIGGLES WHILE OCCUPIED; SPLIT BENCH SEATS; VEHICLE NEVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #965357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Defiance, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAIL WHEN DRIVING AND TRY STOP AT A STOP SIGN. TT
NHTSA complaint #962519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walkerville, MDCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED DURING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #959143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walkerville, MDCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. TT
NHTSA complaint #959143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.