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Oldsmobile 88Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 931 NHTSA owner complaints across 29 model years, no Oldsmobile 88 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1988, 1989, 1994 and 1999. The 88 has 38 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1998Best years'88 '89 '94 '99Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints931Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls381967–1999 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Oldsmobile 88 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 88 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'68'71'72'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1999Solid56/10077 complaints · 2 recalls1998Caution37/100164 complaints · 1 recall1997Solid46/100101 complaints · 0 recalls1996Solid50/10092 complaints · 2 recalls1995Solid43/100117 complaints · 1 recall1994Solid63/10063 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid50/10074 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid49/10073 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/10024 complaints · 1 recall1989Best75/10027 complaints · 2 recalls1988Solid66/10037 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10018 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/10019 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1007 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/1009 complaints · 3 recalls1982Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1979Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1977Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1976Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Oldsmobile 88 problems

All model years combined: 931 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling23350
Service brakes, hydraulic14019
Electrical system9717
Power train8110
Air bags7039
Fuel system, gasoline627
Steering595
Seat belts526
Vehicle speed control4514
18 other systems23932
38 recalls

Oldsmobile 88 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery04V-090 · 1998–1999 · Feb 24, 2004 · 910,873 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission99V-089 · 1999 · Apr 26, 1999 · 99,333 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system96V-116 · 1996 · Jul 1, 1996 · 275,811 vehicles–Automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines96V-015 · 1992–1993 · Jan 23, 1996 · 585,182 vehicles–Anti-theft: control module95V-204 · 1996 · Oct 23, 1995 · 32,869 vehicles–Headlights: switch94V-138 · 1994–1995 · Aug 2, 1994 · 1,487 vehicles–Conventional: mechanical91V-167 · 1991 · Sep 23, 1991 · 20,765 vehicles–Headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch91V-034 · 1990 · Mar 1, 1991 · 116 vehicles–Structure: frame and members89V-188 · 1989 · Nov 7, 1989 · 6 vehicles–Vehicle speed control89V-102 · 1984–1985 · Jun 16, 1989 · 1,755,897 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: storage88V-143 · 1989 · Aug 29, 1988 · 1,655 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal88V-080 · 1987 · May 16, 1988 · 35,057 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 38 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

19 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 88

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREEA07008 · 1999 · closed May 1, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-118
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1996–2000 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  3. TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCERQ99007 · 1999 · closed Feb 8, 2002
    Led to recall 99V-089
  4. INADVERTENT SHIFT OF TRANSEA94024 · 1992 · closed Jun 30, 1995
    No recall
  5. TURBOCHARGER MALFUNCTIONPE94009 · 1992 · closed May 24, 1994
    Led to recall 94V-094
  6. INADVERTENT SHIFT OF TRANSMISSIONPE94006 · 1992 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  7. FUEL LINE FAILUREEA93011 · 1991 · closed May 31, 1994
    No recall
  8. FUEL LEAKSPE93013 · 1993 · closed Jul 13, 1993
    No recall
  9. FUEL LINE FAILUREPE93007 · 1992 · closed May 3, 1993
    No recall
  10. FUEL LINE CONNECTOR FAILSPE92010 · 1992 · closed May 22, 1992
    No recall