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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

Steering complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Oct 24, 2003
SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO GO INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044703

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1999
Steering

INNER TIE ROD CAME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 20MPH, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TURNED INWARD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND REPAIRED IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837335

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1998
Steering

POWER STEERING COOLING LINE RUSTED DUE TO CORROSION FROM SALT USED IN THE STREETS & THE SLUSH FROM THE ROAD, CAUSING STEERING TO BE HARD TO NEGOTIATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828511

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