← New search

1990 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

Other model years Selected 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 12 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. 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.

4 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

12 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE IT TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED WITHOUT APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HITTING TREE AND FENCE. DEALER HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE.*AKAS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, THE DRIVER ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES, BROKEN RIBS, CRACKED COLLAR BONE, SPINE INJURY A…

Read full complaint

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE IT TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED WITHOUT APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HITTING TREE AND FENCE. DEALER HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE.*AKAS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, THE DRIVER ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES, BROKEN RIBS, CRACKED COLLAR BONE, SPINE INJURY AND HEADACHES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #896368

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER PUT GEAR IN REVERES TO BACK OUT OF PARKING LOT, AND CAUSED ACCIDENT SERIOUSLY INJURING THE DRIVER AND DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INVESTIGATION BY THE MANUFACTURER. (THE ADDRESS IS THE OWNERS FATHER)*YH

NHTSA ODI #562717

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1999
Structure

TRUNK RUSTED OUT DUE TO LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ODI #544490

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 1999
StructureSuspension

THE REAR SHOCK TOWERS OF THE CAR HAVE DEVELOPED RUST AT THE SEAM WHERE THEY MEET THE TRUNK FLOOR. THIS RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES TO FORM, AND THEREFORE WEAKENING THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE OF THE REAR END. THE HOLES ALSO LEAK WATER INTO THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. THE…

Read full complaint

THE REAR SHOCK TOWERS OF THE CAR HAVE DEVELOPED RUST AT THE SEAM WHERE THEY MEET THE TRUNK FLOOR. THIS RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES TO FORM, AND THEREFORE WEAKENING THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE OF THE REAR END. THE HOLES ALSO LEAK WATER INTO THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. THE SEAMS HAVE ALSO TORN INTO THE FRONT PART OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS AND NOW LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS HAVE TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO TEAR OUT ALL OF THE OLD STEEL AND PUT NEW STEEL IN. THIS WILL COST AROUND $2500.00. THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OLDMOBILE CALAIS LIKE THIS AND THE REASON FOR THIS RUST IS A MANUFACTUERS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRUNK AND SHOCK TOWERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702574

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1998
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831753

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1998
Visibility

TWO SMALL WINDOWS ON EACH SIDE OF VEHICLE, LOCATED IN REAR, CAUSE LEAKAGE WITHIN THE OVERHEAD UPHOLSTERY AND INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THAT THE WINDOWS WERE NOT SEALED AT THE FACTORY. OWNER WISHES TO BE COMPENSATED FOR COST OF REPAIRS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #827877

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE OIL. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 508114)

NHTSA ODI #601595

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHANGE AT 7,000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND FAILED . *AK

NHTSA ODI #968110

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1995
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO DOORS, CAUSING INABILITY TO HOLD DRIVER/PASSENGER SECURE IF DOOR OPENS DURING ACCIDENT. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #485154

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL PAN MADE OF ALUMINUM, CAUSING AN OBJECT FROM STREET TO KNOCK A HOLE IN OIL PAN, LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AW

NHTSA ODI #489256

Official recalls

1

90V119000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 15, 1990

IMPROPERLY TORQUED CONNECTIONS OF FRONT FUEL FEED AND RETURN HOSES TO FUEL PIPES AT THE BODY RAIL COULD LOOSEN AND LEAK FUEL INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: PROPERLY TORQUE THE FRONT FUEL FEED AND RETURN HOSES AT THE BODY RAIL LINES TO PREVENT FUEL LEAKAGE.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.