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1988 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 →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

0Recall campaigns

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4Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
198519
198618
198737
198827
198924
199016
1991
Compare all 88 years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
11Engine And Engine Cooling
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Seat Belts
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Tires
3Seats
2Structure
2Air Bags
1Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
1

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 37 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.

  • Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD LOCK UP IF VEHICLE SATTOO LONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD OR HOT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS WORE OUT THE ROTORS. PADS WERE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS OF RACK & PINION STEERING, AND EACH TIME MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #861186

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604645

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PIN THAT HOLDS BRAKE SHOE TO PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY C CLIP COMES OFF PIN AND PIN FALLS OUT. DESTROYING BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS. TT

NHTSA ODI #961787

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

4

EA90017 · Brake Failure

Opened Mar 26, 1990 · Closed Apr 22, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE89171 · Brake Failure

Opened Sep 26, 1989 · Closed Mar 26, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes

Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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C89001 · 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