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1988 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 →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

0Recall campaigns

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4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
198519
198618
198737
198827
198924
199016
1991
Compare all 88 years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
11Engine And Engine Cooling
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Seat Belts
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Tires
3Seats
2Structure
2Air Bags
1Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
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: 0 of 37 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.

  • Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #887166

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1999
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #846408

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 1995
Seat Belts

RETRACTORS IN FRONT TWO SEATS FALL TO RETRACT AFTER BEING BUCKLED. TT

NHTSA ODI #966365

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1995
Seat Belts

DRIVER SEAT LAP/SHOULDER WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. TT

NHTSA ODI #964144

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

4

EA90017 · Brake Failure

Opened Mar 26, 1990 · Closed Apr 22, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE89171 · Brake Failure

Opened Sep 26, 1989 · Closed Mar 26, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes

Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

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