IllustrationBROKEN SPRING IN THE LATCH MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT FAILED RESULTING IN CONSUMER EJECTION FROM VEHICLE DURING COLLISION. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
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 reportsWHEN TAKING HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 7 TIMES WITHIN A MILE. *AK
DRIVERS SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, CAUSING SHOULDER BELT TO BE LOOSE. *DSH
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE THE SPRING WAS BROKEN CONSUMER WAS INJURIED . TT
WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE WITHOUT BEING HIT WITH ANY FOREIGN OBJECT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROESTER WAS ON PREVEOUSLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME LOOSE IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. TT
RADIATOR CAP EXPLODED. *SD
EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEM, ROTOR HAS TO BE TURNED EVERY 5000 MILES. TT
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. *SD
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.