IllustrationTHE ENGINE STALLS/HESITATION/STUMBLE/STOP. TT
1987 Oldsmobile Ciera
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 Ciera 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 17 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.
- Steering. Review the 4 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 →
- Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
17 reportsTHE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LAP BELTS DON'T LOCK UP . TT
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT W/SAME CONDITION AFTER REPLACEMENT.TT THE RETRACTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING AND DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE, IF YOU STOP SHORT OR IN AN ACCIDENT, SEAT BELT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED TWICE, CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER AND COMPLAINED BUT NOTHING HA…
Read full complaint
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT W/SAME CONDITION AFTER REPLACEMENT.TT THE RETRACTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING AND DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE, IF YOU STOP SHORT OR IN AN ACCIDENT, SEAT BELT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED TWICE, CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER AND COMPLAINED BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.*JB
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY CAR ACCELERATE HIT FENCE . TT
THE STEERING WHEEL IS WOBBLY AND AFTER YOU ADJUST IT, IT WILL NOT LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A BRICK WALL. TT
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND, TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED AGAIN RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. TT
Official recalls
187V034000 · Visibility:windshield
Mar 16, 1987
POOR BOND ADHESION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS AND MOUNTING COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF WINDSHIELD GLASS SEPARATION OCCURS DURING ANACCIDENT, AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND INJURED.
Remedy: REINSTALL WINDSHIELDS TO ASSURE PROPER BOND ADHESION.
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
5PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure
Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA89026 · Loss Of Power Steering
Opened Jun 12, 1989 · Closed Oct 9, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY: THE COMPLAINTS DESCRIBE A FAILURE OF THE PRESSURE HOSECONNECTED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP.USED ONLY ON THE 4 CYL MODELS.THIS PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND EACH GM DIVISION HAS ISSUED ASERVICE BULLETIN.WARRANTY CLAIMS AND PARTS SALES ARE VERY HIGH.===
PE89105 · Power Steering Hose Fails
Opened Mar 20, 1989 · Closed Jun 12, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
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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
EA87022 · Stalling
Opened Aug 27, 1987 · Closed Nov 27, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===