IllustrationTHE OVERHEAD UPHOLSTER HAD DROPPED DOWN AND PARTICLES OF GLUE, DUST AND CLOTH WERE FALLING ON THE CONSUMERS SKIN CAUSING ITCHING AND SORES. *YH
1984 Oldsmobile 88
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 88 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 9 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reportsCRUISE CONTROL SERVO SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE WHEN UNEXPECTED, CAUSING INCREASE IN SPEED. DRIVER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. *AK *ML
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS LOCKED, AND IT WON'T RELEASE THE SEAT. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO RESTRAIN CHILD. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
ABS, ANTI- SKID SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE, ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER HAS SINCE REPLACED THE UNIT.*JB
STEERING WHEEL CRACKED/SEPARATED IN THREE PLACES. *AK
ENGINE FIRE.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE STICKS. *SD
Official recalls
389V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jun 16, 1989
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
84V027000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Mar 12, 1984
VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE LOCATED IN A POSITION LOWER THAN NORMAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE.
83V118000 · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
Nov 15, 1983
THE THROTTLE MAY JAM AND MAY NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE OMISSION, DURING ASSEMBLY, OF A NUT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD WHICH LIMITS TRAVEL IN THE THROTTLE MECHANISM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE MISSING NUT ADDED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD WITHOUT CHARGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE88027 · Headlamp Switch Failure
Opened Feb 9, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
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