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1988 Oldsmobile CieraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 25 owner complaints about the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera, most often about the power train. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

65
CarFlaw IndexSolid year46% below the Ciera median · #6 of 8 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints252 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem6Power train

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 8, 1999. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera has problems

25 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
Power train61
Engine and engine cooling50
Seat belts30
Electrical system30
Vehicle speed control21
Fuel system, gasoline20
Service brakes, hydraulic20
Tires20
Seats10
2 other systems20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1988 Oldsmobile Ciera recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 88V-164 · Oct 18, 1988 · 27,369 vehicles

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT INAN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Oldsmobile.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other Ciera year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ciera median. How we score

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'94'95'96
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera, and the recalls they led to.

  1. BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESSEA89010 · closed May 8, 1990
    No recall
  2. STOP LAMPSPE89035 · closed May 24, 1989
    No recall
  3. SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILUREPE94048 · closed Dec 30, 1994
    No recall
In owners' words

What Ciera owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF, AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY SOLENOID IN TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING. *AK
Complaint 826022 · Jul 29, 1998
SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME…
Complaint 704068 · Mar 5, 1999

Own a 1988 Ciera?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.