IllustrationTHE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES TWICE.*JB
1989 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: 1 of 27 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reportsMICHELIN, RADIAL, DOTB9CTCRPE-299; WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. THEN , LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WENT ACROSS A LANE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE LANE, IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER SIDE AND THE TIRE BLEW NEAR WHITE SIDE WALL. *YH
GAS LINES AND FITTINGS BADLY CORRODED AND LEAKING. NLM
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE DIES CLEANLY. THAT IS THERE IS NO SPUTTERING/COUGHING OR ERRATIC FIRING. OFCOURSE YOU LOOSE ALL BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE . AFTER YOU COAST TO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO START AND THE ENGINE STARTS WITH NO HESITATION AT ALL. THE C…
Read full complaint
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE DIES CLEANLY. THAT IS THERE IS NO SPUTTERING/COUGHING OR ERRATIC FIRING. OFCOURSE YOU LOOSE ALL BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE . AFTER YOU COAST TO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO START AND THE ENGINE STARTS WITH NO HESITATION AT ALL. THE CAR MAY GO 100, 350 OR 400 MILES BEFORE IT DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN. THIS IS EXTEMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU COULD EASILY REAR END SOME ONE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I CALLED THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER AND HE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE HE COULD DO UNLESS THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE I MENTIONED THE SITUATION TO MY FRIENDS THEY HAVE SAID THEY KNEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR. *AK
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL (89C-01) REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP. NLM
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TILT STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BOLTS LOOSE.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
THE STEEL RAKE LINE RUSTED IN TWO WHERE IT CROSSES UNDER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER A HEAT SHIELD ABOUT THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL . *AK
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK
Official recalls
289V188000 · Structure:frame And Members
Nov 7, 1989
VEHICLES MAY HAVE DISCREPANT WELDS IN THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANEL WHICH CAN CAUSE DEFORMATION OF THE PANEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCREASED DEFORMATION OF THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANELCAN CAUSE THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE NOT TO ACHIEVE THE LOAD REQUIREDBY FMVSS NO. 210.
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT KIT.
88V143000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Aug 29, 1988
FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE BECOMES INVERTEDMISSING VALVE COULD ALLOW FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.