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1996 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 →
83Owner complaints

Model-year median: 15.5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
46
199434
199583
1996
Compare all Ciera years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
21Engine And Engine Cooling
15Power Train
11Air Bags
8Electrical System
8
All reported categories
Structure
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Suspension
4Visibility
3Exterior Lighting
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
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: 3 of 83 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CONTINUALLY FAILING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

NHTSA ODI #544158

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. WILL DRIVING GASKET RAN HOT; THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS SPEWING WATER AND THE GASKET HAD TO BE CHANGED.

NHTSA ODI #780671

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 50 TO 60 MPH THE DASHLIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, VEHICLE AWAITING SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814604

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WHILE DRIVING UP ON A HILL THERE WILL BE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED OXGEN SENSOR. ALSO IN COLD WEATHER THE DOORS ARE HARD TO OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #811484

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLED.

NHTSA ODI #515438

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.