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1993 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 →
74Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
24
199016
199173
199274
199363
1994117
199592
1996
Compare all 88 years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
21Power Train
18Engine And Engine Cooling
11Air Bags
7Electrical System
7
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
5Seat Belts
4Structure
4Steering
3Equipment
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Other
1Suspension
1Tires
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: 7 of 74 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 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports10 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, NOW THE STEERING COLUMN IS SMOKING HOT AND THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM BUT WITH NO RESULTS, THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A WARNING ISSUED T…

Read full complaint

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, NOW THE STEERING COLUMN IS SMOKING HOT AND THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM BUT WITH NO RESULTS, THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A WARNING ISSUED TO OWNERS WARNING THEM OF POSSIBLE CURRENT SURGE IN THE STARTER. NLM

NHTSA ODI #786449

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES AND ABS FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ODI #547617

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #516939

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1997
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #516201

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1997
Electrical System

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING HE SMELLS SMOKE, ALSO NOTES THAT IT SMELLS LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808174

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1995
Electrical System

VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING COMING DOWN A STEEP HILL WHILE IN 2 GEAR. TT

NHTSA ODI #970386

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1995
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH MODULE FAILURE, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ODI #964499

Official recalls

1

96V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Jan 23, 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

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

1

PE93013 · Fuel Leaks

Opened Mar 5, 1993 · Closed Jul 13, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available