SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1988 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 →
25Owner complaints

Model-year median: 15.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
198514
198617
198725
198831
198920
1990
Compare all Ciera years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Electrical System
3Seat Belts
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Seats
1Steering
1Suspension
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: 0 of 25 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AN…

Read full complaint

SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP

NHTSA ODI #704068

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainTires

FLYWHEEL BROKE TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #510059

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *DH

NHTSA ODI #505850

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HARMONIC BALACER OUTER RING PULLEY HAS SEPERATED FROM PULLEY, CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND ALL ACCESSORIES THAT ARE POWERED BY BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #981424

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, CAUSING THE CAR TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART. CONSUMER STATED DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #802993

Official recalls

1

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

3

PE94048 · 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

PE89035 · Stop Lamps

Opened Jan 19, 1989 · Closed May 24, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUMMARY:A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN DATED JULY 1988 INDICATES THAT BOTHSOCKETS MUST BE REPLACED USING PART NUMBER 5972532.THIS SERVICE STOCKUSES A NEW HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL.PRODUCTION STOCK WAS ALSO CORRECTEDBEGINNING WITH VINS J7163799 AND JJ187909.===

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