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1986 Oldsmobile Calais

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19843
19857
19865
198718
198818
1989
Compare all Calais years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
3Engine And Engine Cooling
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Steering
2Equipment
1
All reported categories
Seat Belts
1Structure
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
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: 1 of 7 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
221,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I BOUGHT IT USED 2 YEARS AGO FOR $1000.00 AND HAVE SPEND CLOSE TO $2000.00 JUST KEEPING THE THING RUNNING. I NOW AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ELECTRIC COMPUTER MODULAR AND THAT IS COSTING ME ANOTHER $440.00 AND NOT THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING AND BANGING COMING FROM THE FRONT EN…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I BOUGHT IT USED 2 YEARS AGO FOR $1000.00 AND HAVE SPEND CLOSE TO $2000.00 JUST KEEPING THE THING RUNNING. I NOW AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ELECTRIC COMPUTER MODULAR AND THAT IS COSTING ME ANOTHER $440.00 AND NOT THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING AND BANGING COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I DRIVE IT. I HEARD THAT THIS CAR WAS A GOOD MODEL AND FOUND OUT ON MY OWN IT IS A NIGHTMARE ON WHEELS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER, STUDENT WITH NOT MUCH MONEY AND I DEPEND ON A RELIABLE CAR . THIS MODEL HAS SPENT MORE TIME PARKED THAN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN. I WOULD LOVE TO SET THIS CAR ON FIRE IT HAS MADE MY LIFE SO STRESSFUL. I WILL NEVER IN MY LIFE EVER OWN ANOTHER OLDSMOBILE.

NHTSA ODI #10071286

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLES WHEN IT OVERHEATS. VEHICLE FAILS TO START WHEN HOT UNTIL ENGINE COOLS DOWN. ALSO, REPLACED IGNITION/COIL AND STARTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #525173

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED HEAD AT 62,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #969568

Official recalls

2

87V124000 · Structure

Aug 10, 1987

SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.

86V121000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Aug 28, 1986

THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY BE INCORRECTLY ALIGNED, OR MAY EXHIBIT A BINDING CONDITION OF THE LATCH PIVOT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH NOT BEING COMPLETELY ENGAGED TO THE HOOD, THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WILL BE REPLACED AND INSPECT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH POP-UP LEVER.

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

2

EA91045 · Seat Belt Separation

Opened Nov 7, 1991 · Closed Oct 26, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE91099 · Safety Belt Cut At D-RING

Opened Jul 15, 1991 · Closed Nov 7, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available