IllustrationVEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND ANOTHER CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
63 reportsAT HIGH SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
DRIVING & NOTICED ABS LIGHT ON. PULLED OVER. TURNED IGNITION ON/OFF, ACCORDING TO MANUAL. LIGHT STILL ON. CALLED & TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID NEEDED TO REPLACE 2 PMV VALVES & CR VOLTAGE. THEN BLED BRAKES. *AK
VEHCICLE OWNER COMPLAINS THAT NOISE FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN HER WEARING A HEARING AID.(UNSPECIFIED).
POWER WINDOW CONTROL FAILED.
HORN BUTTON STICKS, CAUSING NOISE.
BRAKES FADE AND MAKE A RUMBLING SOUND WHEN BEING APPLIED.
DIFFICULTY LOCATING HORN BUTTONS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
GAS GAUGE DRIFTED/FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATINGAND HAS STOPPED IN CONGESTERSD TRAFFIC TWICE. IN ADDITION, DASHBOARD RATTLES. *AK
REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS FAILED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT.
Official recalls
194V138000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.