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Oldsmobile CieraYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 281 NHTSA owner complaints across 11 model years, no Oldsmobile Ciera year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1988, 1989, 1994 and 1995. The Ciera has 10 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1996Best years'88 '89 '94 '95Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints281Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls101983–1996 model years

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

Best & worst years

Oldsmobile Ciera 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 Ciera median. Tap a year for its full report.

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'94'95'96
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1996Caution31/10083 complaints · 1 recall1995Solid50/10034 complaints · 1 recall1994Solid44/10046 complaints · 4 recalls1990Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls1989Solid55/10031 complaints · 1 recall1988Solid65/10025 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/10017 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/10014 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1983Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Oldsmobile Ciera problems

All model years combined: 281 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
Service brakes, hydraulic568
Engine and engine cooling451
Vehicle speed control3215
Electrical system292
Power train251
Seat belts246
Steering171
Structure171
Air bags1310
11 other systems614
10 recalls

Oldsmobile Ciera recalls

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

–Front: anchorage95V-173 · 1989–1996 · Sep 15, 1995 · 2,216,325 vehicles–Spindle: arm94V-189 · 1994 · Oct 4, 1994 · 206 vehicles–Doors: latch94V-159 · 1994 · Aug 31, 1994 · 139,542 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: springs94V-008 · 1994 · Jan 12, 1994 · 49,047 vehicles–Front assembly: recliner92V-124 · 1990 · Sep 1, 1992 · 319,181 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings88V-164 · 1988 · Oct 18, 1988 · 27,369 vehicles–Visibility: windshield87V-034 · 1987 · Mar 16, 1987 · 39 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings85V-034 · 1984 · Mar 29, 1985 · 121,095 vehicles–Front assembly: recliner84V-011 · 1984 · Feb 6, 1984 · 76,586 vehicles–Foundation components: differential proportional valve83V-105 · 1983 · Oct 13, 1983 · 352,036 vehicles
14 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Ciera

  1. SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILUREPE94048 · 1986–1990 · closed Dec 30, 1994
    No recall
  2. FRONT BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPPE91120 · 1986 · closed Nov 4, 1991
    No recall
  3. LOSS OF POWER STEERINGEA89026 · 1987 · closed Oct 9, 1990
    No recall
  4. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILSPE89105 · 1987 · closed Jun 12, 1989
    No recall
  5. STOP LAMPSPE89035 · 1988 · closed May 24, 1989
    No recall
  6. BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESSEA89010 · 1987–1988 · closed May 8, 1990
    No recall
  7. HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILUREPE88027 · 1984–1985 · closed May 11, 1988
    No recall
  8. STALLINGEA87022 · 1986–1987 · closed Nov 27, 1991
    No recall
  9. POWER ST. ASSISTEA87006 · 1982–1986 · closed Sep 19, 1988
    No recall
  10. POWER STEERING FAILUREDP86018 · 1980–1984 · closed Dec 19, 1986
    No recall