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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

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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

Power Train complaints

6 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…

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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 · Jul 29, 1998
Power Train

WHILE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF, AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY SOLENOID IN TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826022

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1997
Power Train

TVS TRANSMISSION VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #514142

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

FLYWHEEL BROKE TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #510059

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1995
Power TrainSeats

DRIVERS SEAT BACK IS FALLING BACKWARDS. TT

NHTSA ODI #961989

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1995
Power TrainCrash

EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT STILL DRIFTS BACKWARD IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ODI #961963

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