IllustrationTWO BRAKE FAILURES ON HIGHWAY, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
1991 Oldsmobile 88
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →16Owner complaints
Model-year median: 8
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1991 Oldsmobile 88
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 16 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6 reports
- Parking Brake: 3 reports
- Electrical System: 2 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 1 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 88 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 2 of 16 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Parking Brake. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 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 reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
6 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO APPLY FOR THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONSUMER CRACKED ONE OF THE BRAKE SHOES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTION IN ABS WHEN WARNING LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY, ONLY HYDRAULIC BRAKES STOPPED VEHICLE, ABS IS INOPERATIVE. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS,HAVING NO BRAKES.THEN ABOUT A FEW HOURS LATER THEY RETURN. TT
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Recall campaigns
191V167000 · Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical
Sep 23, 1991
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
1EA93011 · Fuel Line Failure
Opened May 3, 1993 · Closed May 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.