IllustrationBATTERY FAILED. *MJS
1988 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Calais 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: 0 of 18 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
9 reportsVERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL QUAD-4 ENGINE HEADS. NO HELP FROM OLDSMOBILE DUE TO AGE/MILEAGE. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, OWNER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
HEAD GASKETS REPLACED TWICE.*SD
STARTER REPLACED. *SKD
THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BEFORE ON A SECRET BULLETIN. NOW 20,000 MILES LATER THE HEAD GASKET HAS GONE AGAIN AND HAS DESTROYED THE ENGINE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
PCV VALVE REPLACED.
ENGINE OIL PUMP FAILED. *SKD
Official recalls
292V150000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 19, 1992
FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN ANUNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.
90V042000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 5, 1990
FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LEAKING FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.
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
3EA90041 · Brake Performance
Opened Aug 29, 1990 · Closed Mar 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness
Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE88020 · Quad 4 Eng Wiring Failure
Opened Feb 1, 1988 · Closed Mar 16, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available