1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
HEAD GASKET LEAKED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHEN HE WENT INTO GARAGE THERE WAS WATER ON THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED. CONSUMER FELT THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD REPAIR THE P...
Mileage: 44,000
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK INTO OIL
Mileage: 65,000
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK ON GM 3.1 L V6. *NLM
Mileage: 60,000
THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2002. WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED AND THE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS DID NOT HOLD US IN PLACE. DT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT FOR 2 MINUTES AND START BACK UP, AND STALL BACK OUT AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING.CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE YIELDING ONTO HIGHWAY, STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AFTER RELEASING PEDAL, ACCELERATED AT 80MPH. THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, HAD TO GEAR INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. *AK *TT
CONSUMER STATES THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE LIGHT ANF FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. NLM
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND NOTICED COOLANT WAS GETTING LOW. CHECKED UNDER HOOD, AND FLUID WAS ON ENGINE. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING FROM RIGHT SIDE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO A DITCH AND IMPACTED A TREE HEAD-ON. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS SENDING AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR POOR PERFORMANCE OF AIR BAG. DRIVER EXPERIENCED LIGHT INJURIES. PLEAS...
THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM
VEHICLE SKIDS IF APPLYING BRAKES ON LEAST AMOUNT OF ICE OR SLUSH. LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COMES ON, AND ABS LOCKS UP. *AK CONSUMER SAYS ABS IS NOT USEFUL IN WINTER DRIVING. *YH
VEHICLE SKIDS IF APPLYING BRAKES ON LEAST AMOUNT OF ICE OR SLUSH. LOW TRACTION LIGHTS COMES ON, AND ABS LOCKS UP. *AK CONSUMER SAYS ABS IS NOT USEFUL IN WINTER DRIVING. *YH
DRIVERS SEAT IS SEPARATING FROM ANCHOR. *AK ANCHOR WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO FLOOR BOARD. *YH
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND COME TO A DEAD STOP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED SOME WIRING. REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND COME TO A DEAD STOP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED SOME WIRING. REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML
OCT 99 WHILE DRIVING 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 REPAIR WAS $2,200 . THIS CAR IS UNSAFE PLEASE RECALL IT. PLEASE SEND REBATE ...
SEVERAL COMPONENTS HAVE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED CALLING INTO QUESTION SAFETY OF OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OLD, BUT HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS ALL SEEM TO DEAL WITH RUBBER (OR SIMILAR MATERIAL) COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING. THE L...
SEVERAL COMPONENTS HAVE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED CALLING INTO QUESTION SAFETY OF OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OLD, BUT HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS ALL SEEM TO DEAL WITH RUBBER (OR SIMILAR MATERIAL) COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING. THE L...
SEVERAL COMPONENTS HAVE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED CALLING INTO QUESTION SAFETY OF OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OLD, BUT HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS ALL SEEM TO DEAL WITH RUBBER (OR SIMILAR MATERIAL) COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING. THE L...
SEVERAL COMPONENTS HAVE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED CALLING INTO QUESTION SAFETY OF OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OLD, BUT HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS ALL SEEM TO DEAL WITH RUBBER (OR SIMILAR MATERIAL) COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING. THE L...
#6 CYLINDER FAILED RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. DEALER WANTS TO REBUILD OR REPLACE WITH A NEW ENGINE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEND AT 44K MILES. NLM
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DUE TO A HARDENED STOVE PIPE GM# 24202422. THE PART BECAME DEFECTIVE (EATEN UP). TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN OUT SO FAST. *AK *ML
BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM CYLINDERS, WHICH RESULTED IN NO BRAKING ABILITY, AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH., REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS LEAK LEADING TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, VERY UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING. AK *ML
BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM CYLINDERS, WHICH RESULTED IN NO BRAKING ABILITY, AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH., REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS LEAK LEADING TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, VERY UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING. AK *ML
PARKING BRAKE RELEASE CABLE BROKE, RESULTING IN THE PARKING BRAKE STICKING. YH
PINK WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AT POINT OF ANCHOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. MJS
PINK WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AT POINT OF ANCHOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. MJS
PINK WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AT POINT OF ANCHOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP. MJS
WHILE 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.
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
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVER 25 MPH AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES WHERE DEALER HAD FOUND METAL CHAFING, AND THEY HAD TO ROTATE BRAKES. *AK *ML
REAR GLASS TO HATCH BROKE TWICE DUE TO REAR HATCH STRUT APPLYING TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO GLASS.
FRONT BRAKE LININGS ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 11212 MILES.
THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 20MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN.
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF OCCASIONALLY.
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS BELIEVED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVELINE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES TREMENDOUSLY AFTER APPROACHING 60 MPH AND OVER. THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCES AND DASHBOARD RATTLES, CAUSING IT TO BE A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *A...
WHEN THE SUN STARTS TO GO DOWN IT IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THERE WATER BUBBLES ARE ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD INSIDE OF THE GLASS.
MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. WILL DRIVING GASKET RAN HOT; THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS SPEWING WATER AND THE GASKET HAD TO BE CHANGED.
RIGHT SIDE DOOR SEAL FAILS EACH TIME IT RAINS.
FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES.
BATTERY FAILED.
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
BRAKES FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD CUT OFF WITH UT INDICATIONS. *AK
THE HORN ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE.. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE CONTINUE TO HAVE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
UNEVEN WEAR/WARPING FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS.
ABS BRAKES APPLIED, A RUMBLING NOISE IS HEARD IN REAR BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES OKAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CLEANED & REPLACED REAR DRUMS & SHOES. PADS WERE WORN IN FRONT & ALSO REPLACED. *AK
ABS BRAKES APPLIED, A RUMBLING NOISE IS HEARD IN REAR BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES OKAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CLEANED & REPLACED REAR DRUMS & SHOES. PADS WERE WORN IN FRONT & ALSO REPLACED. *AK
ABS BRAKES APPLIED, A RUMBLING NOISE IS HEARD IN REAR BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES OKAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CLEANED & REPLACED REAR DRUMS & SHOES. PADS WERE WORN IN FRONT & ALSO REPLACED. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION AND INJURIES.
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, CAUSING VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING SAW WHITE SMOKE EMINATING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DRIVER PULLED OFF ROAD AND PARKED. ALL PASSENGERS EXITED SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
ENGIN EIDLES WHEN IT IS COLD. IT HAPPENS WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND ENGINE IS COLD.
BATTERY FAILED.
AFTER VEHICLE WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT THE REAR WINDOW GLASS WAS FOUND SHATTERED. *AK
VEHICLE IS AT A STOP, HAS FOOT ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO JUMP/SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WILL STOP IF ENGINE IS TURNED OFF OR REACH SPEED OFF 10 MPH. DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. DEALER HAD IT FOR 6 TIMES. GM LAB SAID PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, 3 WEEKS AFTER DEFECT STARTED TO OCC...
VEHICLE VIBRATION CAUSES VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL OVER 65 MPH.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES DO NOT HOLD PROPERLY, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
TRANSMISSION OVER DRIVE FAILED.
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
UNSPECIFIED AIR BAG COMPLAINT, NOT PROPER FOR SIZE OF CONSUMER.
CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 4 MILES THEN BEGAN TO PARK ONCE HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND LANDED IN THE STREET. CONSUMER REALIZED THAT FOOT SLIPPED FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CON...
CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 4 MILES THEN BEGAN TO PARK ONCE HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND LANDED IN THE STREET. CONSUMER REALIZED THAT FOOT SLIPPED FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CON...
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WOULD NOT HOLD AIR PRESSURE DUE TO WELDING FAILURE.
FRONT END MISALIGNED/UNBALANCED. *AK
METAL WINDOW/DOOR FRAME TRIM IS LOOSE AND CREATES LOUD WIND NOISE.
WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING NOISE WHEN BRAKING.
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
FRONT BRAKE PADS WORN.
CALIPERS FAILED.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE. SPEED IS UNCERTAIN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. ALSO POSSIBLE STEERING LOCK UP IS IN QUESTION. *AK
FRONT END SHAKES/VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65 MPH. *AK
UPON APPROACHING VEHICLE APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKING APPARATUS, NO RESPONSE FROM ABS. *AK
DUE TO LACK OF WELDING, THE "A" PILLERS CAUSED VEHICLE TO VIBRATE.
THE FUEL FEED LINE RUPTURED.
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR.
STARTER FAILED AND REPLACED.
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
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
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED TWICE.
VEHICLE STALLED.
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SHORT PEOPLE.
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG IN A 25 MPH CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DUP OF 804572, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK
NORMAL BRAKING, COMING TO A STOP SIGN APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHEN AVOIDING AN UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE, OWNER ROLLED INTO A DRIVEWAY THAT HAD A SLOPE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO HOUSE, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED W/DOORS LOCKING AND FACIAL AND BODILY INJURIES. *AK
WHEN AVOIDING AN UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE, OWNER ROLLED INTO A DRIVEWAY THAT HAD A SLOPE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO HOUSE, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED W/DOORS LOCKING AND FACIAL AND BODILY INJURIES. *AK
FAILURE ON THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE SPEAKERS IN PLACE IN THE TRUNK, IS SHARP MEDAL WITHOUT ANY COVER, CONSUMER WAS PUSHING A BAG IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MEDAL BRACE CUT THE CONSUMER'S FINGER. *AK
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER.*AK
HOOD ASSEMBLY FAILURE, CANNOT LIFT HOOD, IT IS VERY HEAVY. *AK
HOOD ASSEMBLY FAILURE, CANNOT LIFT HOOD, IT IS VERY HEAVY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST BOOSTER WHEN BRAKE ACTION SEEMED INEFFECTIVE, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST BOOSTER WHEN BRAKE ACTION SEEMED INEFFECTIVE, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK
BUTTON TO SET THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS VERY HOT AND BURNT DRIVERS FINGER WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST BRIGHTNESS. *AK
BUTTON TO SET THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS VERY HOT AND BURNT DRIVERS FINGER WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST BRIGHTNESS. *AK