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1994 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 →
63Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
199173
199274
199363
1994117
199592
1996101
1997
Compare all 88 years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15Engine And Engine Cooling
11Electrical System
10Structure
9Power Train
6
All reported categories
Air Bags
4Suspension
4Visibility
4Steering
3Equipment
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Seat Belts
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 4 of 63 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 15 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Visibility complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Air

WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER-DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY UNLESS WIPER SWITCH IS TURNED TO 'HIGH' AND THEN DOWN TO THE INTERVAL I NEED. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN I TURNED THE WASHERS ON AND THE WIPERS DID NOT COME ON. OLDSMOBILE HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT. AIR CONDITIONING-KNOB FELL OFF IN MY HAND THIS AFTERNOON. I CANN…

Read full complaint

WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER-DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY UNLESS WIPER SWITCH IS TURNED TO 'HIGH' AND THEN DOWN TO THE INTERVAL I NEED. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN I TURNED THE WASHERS ON AND THE WIPERS DID NOT COME ON. OLDSMOBILE HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT. AIR CONDITIONING-KNOB FELL OFF IN MY HAND THIS AFTERNOON. I CANNOT SELECT THE DEFROST MODE AND IT IS COLD AND RAINING. ABS MODULATOR VALVE WAS REPLACED BY OLDSMOBILE (I THOUGHT NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW). AIR CONDITIONING-EVAPORATOR WAS REPLACED AT 38798 MILES. OLDSMOBILE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE BECAUSE I HAD THE WORK DONE AT A NEARBY CHEVROLET DEALER SINCE SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE VENTS AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALTERNATOR DIED AT 39196 MILES AND OLDSMOBILE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME.

NHTSA ODI #712697

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1998
Visibility

POWER WINDOW CONTROL FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #533657

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605699

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1996
Visibility

WRONG WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES INSTALLED, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO BE SCRATCH/DISTORTING VISIBILITY. *SD

NHTSA ODI #505736

Official recalls

1

94V138000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Aug 2, 1994

A SPRING IN THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE HEAD PARK LAMP SWITCH CAN FAIL PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE HEAD LAMPS WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT HEAD/PARK LAMP SWITCH BUILD DATE CODES AND REPLACE SWITCHES WITH SUSPECT DATE CODES.

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.