IllustrationPINK WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AT POINT OF ANCHOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. MJS
1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →83Owner complaints
Model-year median: 15.5
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 83 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 21 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 15 reports
- Power Train: 11 reports
- Air Bags: 8 reports
- Electrical System: 8 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ciera years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 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
What owners actually said
83 reportsWHILE DRIVING HAD HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CONTACTED DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC TO BRING VEHICLE IN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. TRANSMISSION'S REVERSE WENT OUT. TRANSMISSION WOULD GO ONLY INTO DRIVE. *AK
AT 13,000 MILES , THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED , THERE WAS NO INDICTATION OF BRAKES WEARNING OUT, NO SQUEAKY NOISE DEALER CLAIMS BRAKES ARE VERY THIN. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER
THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAKING IT HARD TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. NLM
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK RESULTING IN A REAR-END COLLISION. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORN PREMATURELY.
ENGINE CONTINUALLY FAILING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY. HAD REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK
STRUT ARMS THAT HOLD THE TAILGATE IN POSITION ARE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS TO SHATTER TWICE WITHIN A YEAR AND HALF APART. DEFECT COULD CAUSE INJURIES. *AK
Recall campaigns
195V173000 · 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.