IllustrationTRANSMISSION PROBLEM.
1992 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 88 years →Counts vary with age, sales 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: 1 of 73 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 13 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.
12 crash reports7 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
73 reportsTRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE LOOSE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION LEAK. *DSH
WHILE DRIVING HOME AUTO CAUGHT ON FIRE AND TOTALED AUTO, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
DURING IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE MAKING NORMAL STO, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT;DRIVER SWERVED ONTO TRAFFIC TO AVOID ACCIDENT;APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKED. *AK
ABS SYSTEM FAILED.
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.
REAR BRAKE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SPRING BROKE, CAUSING ADJUSTING GEAR/SPRING TO FALL INTO BRAKE DRUM. *DSH
STEERING WHEEL HUB THAT COVERS AIR BAG IS PEELING OFF DISABLING THE HORN. TT
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SEATS BROKE. TT
Official recalls
196V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Jan 23, 1996
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
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
5EA94024 · Inadvertent Shift Of Trans
Opened Jun 30, 1994 · Closed Jun 30, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE94009 · Turbocharger Malfunction
Opened Jan 31, 1994 · Closed May 24, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
There is no summary currently available
PE94006 · Inadvertent Shift Of Transmission
Opened Jan 28, 1994 · Closed Jun 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE93007 · Fuel Line Failure
Opened Feb 10, 1993 · Closed May 3, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92010 · Fuel Line Connector Fails
Opened Jan 27, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available