IllustrationTHE INJECTOR HOSE DEVELOPED PEN HOLE LEAKS AND WERE SPRAYING GAS ON TO THE HOT ENGINE. I WAS LUCKY TO SMELL THE ODOR OF GAS BEFORE A MAJOR FIRE OCCURED. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT ALL MODELS SINCE THE 95 NOW USE METAL CONNECTORS RATHER THAN PLASTIC.
1995 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: 23 of 117 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
117 reportsTHE BATTERY CABLES THAT CONNECT TO THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY COME LOOSE. THE CAR ENGINE STOPS RUNNING IMMEDIATELY. THE CABLE BOLT WAS TIGHTENED AND THE CAR WAS STARTED OK. THE CABLES COMING LOOSE HAPPEN A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE BATTERY CABLES. THE CABLES HAVE 'TEETH' STAMPED IN THEM WHEN…
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THE BATTERY CABLES THAT CONNECT TO THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY COME LOOSE. THE CAR ENGINE STOPS RUNNING IMMEDIATELY. THE CABLE BOLT WAS TIGHTENED AND THE CAR WAS STARTED OK. THE CABLES COMING LOOSE HAPPEN A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE BATTERY CABLES. THE CABLES HAVE 'TEETH' STAMPED IN THEM WHEN MANUFACTURED. THESE TEETH ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE CABLES FROM MOVING AND LOOSENING. THE TEETH CORRODE DOWN OVER TIME AND LOOSE THEIR GRIP ON THE BATTERY AND SPACER. THESE CABLES SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 50-60000 MILES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.
POWER STEERING MOTOR COMPLETELY FELL OFF THE ENGINE. I LOST ALL POWER . HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ANOTHER OLDSOMIBLE WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THE SHOP FOREMAN SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN TH…
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POWER STEERING MOTOR COMPLETELY FELL OFF THE ENGINE. I LOST ALL POWER . HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ANOTHER OLDSOMIBLE WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THE SHOP FOREMAN SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY VEHICLE BEFOR MINE AND THE OTHER CAR. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THEY WERE BOTH OLDS. I FEEL THAT FAULTY BOLTS ARE BEING USED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CARS. THE BOLTS HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. I DON'T THINK THAT BOLTS SHOULD CORODE AFTER 81,000 MILES. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OLDSOMOBILE VEHICLES SOMEONE WILL LOOSE THIER LIVES BECAUSE OF IT.
THE MOUNTING BOLTS HOLDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVE BOTH COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THIS OCCURRED DURING ENGINE STARTUP UNDER NO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ENGINE / CAR HAS NOT HAD ANY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED IN ANY AREA NEAR THIS COMPONENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TORQUED ON INITIAL INS…
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THE MOUNTING BOLTS HOLDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVE BOTH COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THIS OCCURRED DURING ENGINE STARTUP UNDER NO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ENGINE / CAR HAS NOT HAD ANY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED IN ANY AREA NEAR THIS COMPONENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TORQUED ON INITIAL INSTALLATION. MY CONCERN IS TO KNOW IF THIS IS A PREVIOUS KNOW PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL CAR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTDOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. THIS HAPPENED 2 TO 3 TIMES A DAY ERRATICALLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE EMC HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE FEEL THAT THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THIS LOW MILAGE.
AFTER 1/4 IN OF ICE HAD MELTED AWAY, WINDSHIELD HAD A HAIR LINE CRACK IN IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT EITHER IT WAS CAUSED BY STRESS, OR ORIGINALLY PUT IN WRONG. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *ML
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. YH
ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PLENUM IN UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH HAS DETERIORATED .*AK
FRONT RIGHT POWER WINDOW STICKS AND WILL NOT GO UP. MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION. *AK
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.