1988 OLDSMOBILE 88 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND IF TEST REGISTERS A HALF OF TANK OF GASOLINE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT OUT OF RETRACTOR MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
THE ENGINE CRADLE FALLING TO THE GROUND DUE TO RUSTED OUT BOLTS. YH
RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD LOCK UP IF VEHICLE SATTOO LONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD OR HOT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS WORE OUT THE ROTORS. PADS WERE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS OF RACK & PINION STEERING, AND EACH TIME MECHANIC RE...
RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD LOCK UP IF VEHICLE SATTOO LONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD OR HOT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS WORE OUT THE ROTORS. PADS WERE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS OF RACK & PINION STEERING, AND EACH TIME MECHANIC RE...
HEAD REST DESIGN DOES NOT PROPERLY PROTECT FROM INJURY, DOES NOT SUPPORT HEAD. MJS
HEAD REST DESIGN DOES NOT PROPERLY PROTECT FROM INJURY, DOES NOT SUPPORT HEAD. MJS
HEAD REST DESIGN DOES NOT PROPERLY PROTECT FROM INJURY, DOES NOT SUPPORT HEAD. MJS
THE PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR TURNED A CHALKY WHITE COLOR AND APPEARED THAT THE CLEAR COAT FAILED COMPLETELY OVER MOST OF THE CAR. WE HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE CAR REPAINTED.
FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLED UP AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO UNDO. OWNER HAS TO PLAY WITH THE BUCKLE FOR AWHILE TO GET THEM LOOSE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, BUT STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK
IGNITION MODULE AND CRANK SENSOR FAILED CAUSING STALLING.
IGNITION MODULE AND CRANK SENSOR FAILED CAUSING STALLING.
HAD PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC. PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR & NOTHING HAPPENED. SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC TOOK VEHICLE FOR TEST DRIVE & NOTHING WAS FOUND. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS
CONSUMER STATED THAT ONLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE STEERING COLUMN BOX JUST LOCKS UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND ROLL OVER.
THE STEERING IS TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN.
STEERING COLUMN: HAD SILENT RECALL IN 1993 ON STEERING COLUMN. HAD NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN. WHEN DRIVING ONE CAN FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIMMERING AND IT MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. REAPAIR SHOP SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS IF IT WAS REPLACED . *AK
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITH THE LAST OCCURRANCE RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT TOTALED VEHICLE.
TIRES SLOWLY LEAKING, WHEELS MADE OF ALUMINUM STEEL WITH ALUMINUM CAPS, NOTICED THAT CAPS WERE STRIPPED AND/OR MISSING; DOOR PANELS/ARM REST FELL APART AFTER USING IT MANY TIMES. *AK
TIRES SLOWLY LEAKING, WHEELS MADE OF ALUMINUM STEEL WITH ALUMINUM CAPS, NOTICED THAT CAPS WERE STRIPPED AND/OR MISSING; DOOR PANELS/ARM REST FELL APART AFTER USING IT MANY TIMES. *AK
TIRES SLOWLY LEAKING, WHEELS MADE OF ALUMINUM STEEL WITH ALUMINUM CAPS, NOTICED THAT CAPS WERE STRIPPED AND/OR MISSING; DOOR PANELS/ARM REST FELL APART AFTER USING IT MANY TIMES. *AK
TIRES SLOWLY LEAKING, WHEELS MADE OF ALUMINUM STEEL WITH ALUMINUM CAPS, NOTICED THAT CAPS WERE STRIPPED AND/OR MISSING; DOOR PANELS/ARM REST FELL APART AFTER USING IT MANY TIMES. *AK
FAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN CRACKS/SPLITS IS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK
UPON IMPACT, DURING REAR END COLLISION STANDING STILL AT INTERSECTION, DRIVERS SEATBACK REST COLLAPSED REARWARD AND LAID DOWN. *AK
VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, RAINY WEATHER LIFTED HOOD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE.
TRANSIMISSION: CONSUMER WAS PLACING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
POWER STEERING SEALS LEAK. *DSH
POWER STEERING RACK & PINION FAILED.
COLD POWER STEERING. *AK
COLD POWER STEERING. *AK
THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN CAN NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL IN BAD WEATHER. TT
POOR PERFORMANCE ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WHEN CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. TT
STEERING WHEEL SMOKE UNDER THE DASH, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL. TT
UPON STARTING, PLACE GEAR INTO DRIVE POSITION, SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED THEN SHOT OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PINNED A PEDESTRIAN. TT
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *AK
STEEL BELT INSIDE THE TIRE BROKE, REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, RESULTING IN POOR PERFORMANCE. TT
RETRACTORS IN FRONT TWO SEATS FALL TO RETRACT AFTER BEING BUCKLED. TT
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE SPLIT. TT
DRIVER SEAT LAP/SHOULDER WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. TT
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY. TT
PIN THAT HOLDS BRAKE SHOE TO PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY C CLIP COMES OFF PIN AND PIN FALLS OUT. DESTROYING BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS. TT
ERRATIC OPERATION OF POWER STEERING. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. TT