IllustrationLOWER TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER HOSE SEPARATED FROM COUPLING.
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
74 reportsWHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55MPH UP A GRADE, NOTICED SMOKING IN THE REAR, LIFTED UP OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, THERE WAS SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD INTO THE PASSENGER'S SECTION. WHEN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, THE OIL WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE LOWER TRANS AXLE. BECAUSE THE LOWER TRANS AXLE OIL COOLER LINE SEPARATED FROM THE COUPLINGS. THERES …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55MPH UP A GRADE, NOTICED SMOKING IN THE REAR, LIFTED UP OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, THERE WAS SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD INTO THE PASSENGER'S SECTION. WHEN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, THE OIL WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE LOWER TRANS AXLE. BECAUSE THE LOWER TRANS AXLE OIL COOLER LINE SEPARATED FROM THE COUPLINGS. THERES NO'T ENOUGH RETENTION ON THE COUPLINGS TO HOLD IN PLACE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
LOWER TRANSAXLE HOSE PULLED OUT OF CRIMPED COUPLING, SPRAYING OIL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING SMOKE.
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND REPLACED.
VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITH WARNING LIGHT ON DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN WET WEATHER, THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING HE SMELLS SMOKE, ALSO NOTES THAT IT SMELLS LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE, WHEN OWNER PULLED VEHICLE OVER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES , THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT FIRE OUT TWICE BECAUSE IT HAD RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST TIME THEY PUT IT OUT. *AK
Official recalls
196V015000 · 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
1PE93013 · 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