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1985 Oldsmobile 88

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19829
19847
198519
198618
198737
1988
Compare all 88 years →

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

What owners reported most

Tires
4Seat Belts
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: 2 of 7 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.

  • Tires. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

4 reports
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120,000 miles · May 16, 2010
TiresCrash

IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS I'VE HAD 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO TIRES NOT GRIPPING THE ROAD IN RAINY CONDITIONS. LAST OCT. I SLID 2 AND A HALF CAR LENGTHS AND HIT THE REAR OF A VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN. LAST WEEK IT HAPPENED BUT IT WASN'T AS SERIOUS. MY CLASSIC 1985 OLDS DELTA 88 WAS RUINED. I'VE KEPT DRIVING IT BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S A GOOD CAR…

Read full complaint

IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS I'VE HAD 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO TIRES NOT GRIPPING THE ROAD IN RAINY CONDITIONS. LAST OCT. I SLID 2 AND A HALF CAR LENGTHS AND HIT THE REAR OF A VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN. LAST WEEK IT HAPPENED BUT IT WASN'T AS SERIOUS. MY CLASSIC 1985 OLDS DELTA 88 WAS RUINED. I'VE KEPT DRIVING IT BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S A GOOD CAR. NOW I FACE INSPECTION AND IT WILL NEVER PASS. I HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I COULDN'T REPAIR IT'PARTS ARE EITHER UNAVAILABLE OR VERY COSTLY. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT MY INSURANCE RATES WILL SKYROCKET.THE TIRES ARE EL DORADO MARQUIS P205/75 R. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330654

65,000 miles · Nov 1, 2002
TiresCrash

RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENMT INSTALLED AT 30,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 205/75R15, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. MR *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #8022048

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2001
Tires

STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION, VEHICLE PULLING TO LEFT DURING STRAIGHT TRAVEL AND CRABBING IN LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, PROBLEMS CAUSED BY TREAD SEPARATION OF FRONT GILLETTE GOLDEN BEAR TOURING TIRES 20575R15. *CJ

NHTSA ODI #558863

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Tires

THE CAR WAS WOBBLING. PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE AND WOUND AROUND THE REAR AXLE. (DOT NUMBER: HYHHF7B109 TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)

NHTSA ODI #733786

Official recalls

2

89V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jun 16, 1989

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

85V028000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 19, 1985

THE TIRE PLACARD LABEL ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRINTED WITH AN ERROR WHICH SPECIFIES A HIGHER MAXIMUM LOADING THAN IS ALLOWED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: EXCESSIVE VEHICLE LOADING COULD CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: NEW TIRE PLACARD LABELS WITH CORRECT INFORMATION WILL BE INSTALLED.

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

2

C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE88027 · Headlamp Switch Failure

Opened Feb 9, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

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