IllustrationREAR SHOULDER BELT RETRO-FIT KIT THAT WAS GIVEN BY OLDSMOBILE HAS A VERY LARGE BUCKLE THAT HITS RIGHT IN THE STERNUM. IF IN AN ACCIDENT BUCKLE COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE CHEST. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THEY MADE THEM, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
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 →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 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
Seat Belts complaints
3 reportsTHE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST FELL APART AND NO LONGER LATCHES.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE SLOWLY DETERIORATED UNTIL IT BECAME INOPERABLE. *DSH
Official recalls
188V164000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 18, 1988
FUEL FEED HOSE COULD LEAK AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT INAN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW 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
3PE94048 · 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