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1990 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 →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
18
198737
198827
198924
199016
199173
199274
1993
Compare all 88 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Electrical System
3Seat Belts
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Steering
2Structure
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Seats
1Visibility
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 24 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 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 reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAMSHAFT BROKE.

NHTSA ODI #517391

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1997
Power Train

RING GEAR DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #514879

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1997
Structure

PAINT ON HOOD IS CHIPPING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #513365

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT TIMES THE VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO START, IT FLOADS BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MUCH GAS.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #806718

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1996
Visibility

METAL STRIP SURROUNDING FRONT WINDSHIELD CAME APART AT THE CENTER CLOSURE.

NHTSA ODI #511865

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1996
Steering

STEERING COLUMN FAIILURE, WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN BOLTS CAME LOOSE

NHTSA ODI #804391

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1996
Steering

FAULTY STEERING COLUMN BOLTS , WHILE DRIVING TILTED STEERING COLUMN BOLTS CAME LOOSE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #804390

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1996
Unknown Or Other

THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE ELECTRONIC DASH IS AN UNREADABLE AMBER, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.

NHTSA ODI #506316

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CAR IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #976698

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TT

NHTSA ODI #975676

Official recalls

1

91V034000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:high/low Beam Dimmer Switch

Mar 1, 1991

CARS WERE BUILT MISSING A WIRE BETWEEN THE DIGITAL CLUSTER AND THE DIMMER CONTROL, THEREBY FAILING TO PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO LEVELS OF LIGHTING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 101.

Remedy: REWIRE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THE DIGITAL CLUSTER.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.