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 Toronado
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
633.3%
Electrical System
527.8%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Seat Belts
211.1%
Median failure at 121,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
15.6%
Seats
15.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
15.6%
Body & Structure
15.6%
Steering
15.6%
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.
Jul 1995peak 3Nov 2015
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado
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.
EA94010Opened 28 Feb 1994Closed 16 Jun 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS
Recalls on the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado
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 19951012,718 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
ON CERTAIN TORONADO TROFEO'S THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP MAY BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THIS COULD MAKE THE BELT DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR, AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY BE UNABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE WHO ARE BELTED. CORRECTION: A WEBBING STOP BUTTON WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Recall 19901421,541 units in Canada
Powertrain
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FLOOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT OPERATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE GEAR INDICATED BY THE SELECTOR THEREBY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE OR TO PROCEED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE ONE SELECTED. CORRECTION: TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON SUSPECT VEHICLES.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cedar Falls, IAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE THE CAUSE, INSURANCE SAID THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICIAL, FIRE TOTALLED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #982553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 121,000 milesShelby Twp., MI
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UNLOCKS BY ITSELF. CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10790380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sault STE Marie, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER STATES THE COMPUTER CHIP TO START THE VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DASHBOARD READS STARTING DISABLED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8020889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EXPERIENCED AND ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS AND INDICATOR NOT TO WORK ON DAMP OR COLD WEATHER. NLM
NHTSA complaint #783803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Olmsted, OH
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ENGINE CRADLE BROKE UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF CAR BUT MANAGED TO STOP IT BEFORE IMPACTING ANYTHING. CRADLE WAS REMOVED FROM CAR AND FOUND TO BE SOUND AND ALMOST RUST FREE EXCEPT FOR A SECTION ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (AND DIRECTLY BELOW THE AC UNIT). THAT 6 INCH LONG SECTION WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND WHAT LITTLE MATERIAL REMAINED APPARENTLY BROKE DURING THE LEFT HAND TURN. THE ENGINE CRADLE REMAINED FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE BODY AT THE 6 MOUNTING POINTS.
NHTSA complaint #729417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER NOW EXPERIENCING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH ABS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #844703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER NOW EXPERIENCING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH ABS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #844703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tuscon, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT PANEL IS INOPERATIVE. OCCUPANT CANNOT SEE OR USE THE GAUGES ON THE PANEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
NHTSA complaint #844517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburgh, PA
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACKWARDS, WHEN CHECKED OUT THE STEEL BRACKET WAS BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #834176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #530453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #530461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Leonard, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
UPON APPLICATION OF ABS BRAKES IN PANIC STOP, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND EXPERIENCES REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS FOR ABOUT A SECOND, THEN BRAKES BEGIN TO OPERATE NORMALLY.
NHTSA complaint #517802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kansas City, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ANALOG INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WITH OWNER NO LONGER KNOWING DISPLAYED INFORMATION. DEALER SAYS ANALOG CLUSTER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NO REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS; 95V224000. LISTED FOR SAME PROBLEM UNDER CADILLAC ELDORADO.
NHTSA complaint #806296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMING A LOOSE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #805345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clearwater, FL
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING NO VISUAL SIGHT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #800655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clearwater, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING NO VISUAL SIGHT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #800655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Falls, IAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE THE CAUSE, INSURANCE SAID THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICIAL, FIRE TOTALLED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #982553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Lansing, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. TT
NHTSA complaint #972223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Independence, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
LAP/SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER SIDE IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE, LATCH AND WILL NOT UNLATCH, A CHILD WAS IN THE SEAT BELT OVER TIGHTEN AND COULD GET CHILD OUT. TT
NHTSA complaint #969590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.