IllustrationWHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDERNEATH ,AND SAW THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. *AK
1997 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: 16 of 101 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports14 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
101 reportsI HAVE A 1987 OLDSMOBILE 88 LSS THAT I TOOK IN FOR INSPECTION. IT PASSED INSPECTION, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT COULD CAUSE THE BEARINGS TO LOCK UP, BURN THE BELT AND I WOULD LOSE STEERING. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A CRACK, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND THE SPARK PLUGS, HEAD GASKET STARTER, AND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
MISFIRING, BACKFIRING, STALLING AND COOLANT LEAKS DUE TO LEAKING PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEMS IN SEPT. 2000. KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS. TOOK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, FAILED 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN. LEAKS COOLANT ONTO FLOOR. CAN SMELL COOL…
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MISFIRING, BACKFIRING, STALLING AND COOLANT LEAKS DUE TO LEAKING PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEMS IN SEPT. 2000. KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS. TOOK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, FAILED 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN. LEAKS COOLANT ONTO FLOOR. CAN SMELL COOLANT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND GARAGE WHERE PARKED.*AK
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL WARMS UP, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY OLDS DEALER IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE $700+ AIR BAG BECAUSE ALL THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IS RUN T…
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MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL WARMS UP, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY OLDS DEALER IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE $700+ AIR BAG BECAUSE ALL THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IS RUN THROUGH THE AIR BAG. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE WAS NO "INCIDENT" BUT APPARENTLY I HAVE TO PUT IN A DATE SO I WILL JUST MAKE ONE UP SO I CAN PROCEED WITH MY COMPLAINT.*AK
ENGINE MANIFOLD EXPLODED WHEN IGNITION TURNED TO START. FUEL RAIL BENT, FUEL REGULATOR DAMAGED, LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE AND EXPLOSIVE SOUND OCCURRED. ENGINE COVER SPLIT IN TWO.*AK
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT BOOM AND THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AND SMOKE BARRELLED OUT OF THE ENGINE AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER.I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAYTO THE NEXT PARKING LOT.WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED A A NEW ENGINE.THEY IN TURN TOWED IT TO YET …
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I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT BOOM AND THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AND SMOKE BARRELLED OUT OF THE ENGINE AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER.I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAYTO THE NEXT PARKING LOT.WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED A A NEW ENGINE.THEY IN TURN TOWED IT TO YET ANOTHER REPUTABLE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD.IT WAS PLASTIC AND WITH THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE ALOOWED IT TO LEAK INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINES COOLING SYSTEM.GM DIDN'T TAKE FAULT EVEN THOUGH THEY STOPPED USING THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD AND HAD A RECALL ON IT.FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AUTOLINE AND THE REFERRED US TO TH ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE IN WHICH GM STILL REFUSES TO TAKE FAULT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE CAR AND THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE CAR AT AROUND 70,000.THE CAR GOT AN INSPECTION BEFORE IT WAS SOLD, I'M SURE TOYOTA WOULD'NT RESALE A JUNK TO IT'S CUSTOMERS.IT WAS IN SHOWROOM CONDITION WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHIMMIES. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE *MR *CB *NLM
WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE BACK FIRED AND BLEW THE "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR *SCC
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.