IllustrationCRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS
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 →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 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
What owners actually said
37 reportsCONSUMER STATED THAT ONLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE STEERING COLUMN BOX JUST LOCKS UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND ROLL OVER.
THE STEERING IS TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN.
STEERING COLUMN: HAD SILENT RECALL IN 1993 ON STEERING COLUMN. HAD NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN. WHEN DRIVING ONE CAN FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIMMERING AND IT MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. REAPAIR SHOP SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS IF IT WAS REPLACED . *AK
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITH THE LAST OCCURRANCE RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT TOTALED VEHICLE.
TIRES SLOWLY LEAKING, WHEELS MADE OF ALUMINUM STEEL WITH ALUMINUM CAPS, NOTICED THAT CAPS WERE STRIPPED AND/OR MISSING; DOOR PANELS/ARM REST FELL APART AFTER USING IT MANY TIMES. *AK
FAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN CRACKS/SPLITS IS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK
UPON IMPACT, DURING REAR END COLLISION STANDING STILL AT INTERSECTION, DRIVERS SEATBACK REST COLLAPSED REARWARD AND LAID DOWN. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
4EA90017 · 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
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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