1979 Oldsmobile 88

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

3Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1979 Oldsmobile 88

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 2 owner complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Child Seat: 1 reports
Tires: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all 88 years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Child Seat

1 Tires

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Child Seat. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

1 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1998

Tires

TIRES (ULTRA SUPREME 770) DO NOT STOP VEHICLE, SKIDS.

NHTSA ODI #527296

Recall campaigns

79V247000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Nov 13, 1979

THE HEADS MAY BREAK OFF THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION EVEN UNDER NO LOAD CONDITIONS. THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF BOLTS USED, HIGH INSTALLATION TORQUE AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE BODY ANCHORAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.

79V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 22, 1979

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES". THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GASOLINE FUEL HOSES IN PLACE OF THE VACUUM HOSE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CARBON CANISTER IN THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM LINE. SHOULD THIS HOSE RUPTURE, IT WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS WOULD INCREASE THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECT HOSE WITH THE CORRECT VACUUM HOSE.

78V247000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Nov 13, 1978

A GASKET WAS MISTAKENLY PLACED BETWEEN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE POWER BOOST WHICH PREVENTED THE TWO PARTS FROM FITTING TOGETHER PROPERLY. DAMAGE MAY HAVE RESULTED TO THE MOUNTING EARS OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRO-BOOST. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRO-BOOST UNIT, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.