SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1989 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 →
31Owner complaints

Model-year median: 15.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
14
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

Seat Belts
8Electrical System
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Structure
2Tires
2Parking Brake
1Power Train
1Seats
1Wheels
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 31 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF, EVEN WHEN TURNED COMPLETELY OFF, DURING HUMID OR DAMP DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #531575

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE STUCK IN A POSITION AND LOST CONTROL. THE CAR HIT A CAR/LAMP POST AND A HOUSE. *AK CAR ALSO HIT 2ND CAR. CAR WENT THROUGH LIVING ROOM WINDOW. *YH

NHTSA ODI #814111

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE SURGES AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TT

NHTSA ODI #975910

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #485517

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #481665

Official recalls

1

95V173000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 15, 1995

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

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

1

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