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1995 Oldsmobile 88

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 23 of 117 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 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 reports5 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

117 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE PROBLEM I HAVE COME ACROSS IS THAT THE PLENUM THAT SITS ON TOP OF MY INTAKE IS MADE OUT OF SOME KIND OF CARBON FIBER OF SOME SORT . WELL THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT MY ENGINE STOPPED INSTANTLY ON THE INTERSTATE. LATER ON THAT DAY I FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS. THE PLENUM HAS 2 WATER JACKETS ON EACH SIDE OF A VENT FOR THE EXHAUST SY…

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THE PROBLEM I HAVE COME ACROSS IS THAT THE PLENUM THAT SITS ON TOP OF MY INTAKE IS MADE OUT OF SOME KIND OF CARBON FIBER OF SOME SORT . WELL THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT MY ENGINE STOPPED INSTANTLY ON THE INTERSTATE. LATER ON THAT DAY I FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS. THE PLENUM HAS 2 WATER JACKETS ON EACH SIDE OF A VENT FOR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BY THE THROTTLE SIDE, IT CORRODED AROUND THAT VENT THAT LETS COOLING FLUID INTO THE INTAKE STOPPING THE MOTOR INSTANTLY. I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR AND THE PLENUM REPLACED AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO STOP MAKING THESE PARTS IN THE MATERIAL THAT THEY DO. BECAUSE I HAVE LOST A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056334

89,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

AIR BAGS BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. POLICE WERE CALLED. RESIDENT WAS OUTSIDE AND SAW AND HEARD BAGS GO OFF.. CLAIM WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS TOLD NO COVERAGE APPLIED TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER SHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AFTER CONTACTING…

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AIR BAGS BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. POLICE WERE CALLED. RESIDENT WAS OUTSIDE AND SAW AND HEARD BAGS GO OFF.. CLAIM WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS TOLD NO COVERAGE APPLIED TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER SHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AFTER CONTACTING OLDSMOBILE DIRECT. NOW WAITING FOR BODY SHOP AT DEALER TO GET INFORMATION BACK FROM GM. E-MAIL ADDRESS IS UNABLE TO RECEIVE E-MAIL. MUST SEND INFORMATION THROUGH THE MAIL. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFORMATION OR HELP POSSIBLE. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10070805

141,305 miles · Jan 14, 2004
Steering

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE GM RECALL ABOUT THE FAILURE OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING, WIPERS. I HAVE A 1995 OLDS 88 ROYALE. BACK IN NOVEMBER MY WIFE WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND HER POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. I E-MAILED OLDSMOBILE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AFTER I READ ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY SENT ME BACK A E…

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THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE GM RECALL ABOUT THE FAILURE OF BRAKES, POWER STEERING, WIPERS. I HAVE A 1995 OLDS 88 ROYALE. BACK IN NOVEMBER MY WIFE WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND HER POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. I E-MAILED OLDSMOBILE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AFTER I READ ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY SENT ME BACK A E-MAIL AND SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE VIN AND MODEL YEAR DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A LOCAL DEALER IF I FELT THAT THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR VEHICLE. THE CAR IS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION? IF SO I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10053211

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO A GARAGE. MECHANIC HAD NOT DETERMINED THE PROBLEM . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053922

160,000 miles · Nov 12, 2003
Air BagsInjury

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS AND WAS BURNED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041970

49,826 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Electrical System

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TRACK CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. VEHICLE FAILED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO LET HER KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT APPEARED ON THE MAIN CLUSTER. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DEPRESS THE TRACTION BUTTON AND IT WOULD NOT TURN TRACTION ON AGAIN. BPMV IS SHORTED.…

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CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TRACK CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. VEHICLE FAILED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO LET HER KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT APPEARED ON THE MAIN CLUSTER. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DEPRESS THE TRACTION BUTTON AND IT WOULD NOT TURN TRACTION ON AGAIN. BPMV IS SHORTED.*TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10042213

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2003
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP BOLTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040720

52,000 miles · Sep 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND LEAKED ANTI FREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10040674

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2002
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH BOTH AIRBAG DEPLOY WITH OUT ANY REASON. WINDSHIELD WAS BROKE, PASSENGER WINDOW WAS ALSO BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMARTION:: MR

NHTSA ODI #8022610

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2002
Air BagsInjury

I WAS DRIIVING ON I-70 IN PA AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED. I CONTROLLED THE CAR AND PULLED OVER, CONTACTED THE STATE POLICE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. ABOUT 40 MILES FURTHER DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED SHATTERING 2/3 OF THE WINDSHIELD. AGAIN I PULLED OVER AND WE GOT …

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I WAS DRIIVING ON I-70 IN PA AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED. I CONTROLLED THE CAR AND PULLED OVER, CONTACTED THE STATE POLICE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. ABOUT 40 MILES FURTHER DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED SHATTERING 2/3 OF THE WINDSHIELD. AGAIN I PULLED OVER AND WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO DROVE TO OUR MOTEL IN DC. I HAVE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY HAD MY CAR INSPECTED ON 7-9-02. I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN 1 TO 2 BUSINESS DAYS, HOWEVER, NO ONE FROM OLDMOBILE HAS CONTACTED ME. I HAVE CALLED THEM SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER, NO ONE WILL TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FINDINGS IN THE INSPECTION. MY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER (WHO WERE TRAVELLING WITH ME) AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY WITH THE LACK OF CONCERN OR RESPONSE FROM OLDSMOBILE.PSOAT LEYI OIH LIN LIRTHE WIDNEDSOLMNVIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764601

Official recalls

1

94V138000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Aug 2, 1994

A SPRING IN THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE HEAD PARK LAMP SWITCH CAN FAIL PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE HEAD LAMPS WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT HEAD/PARK LAMP SWITCH BUILD DATE CODES AND REPLACE SWITCHES WITH SUSPECT DATE CODES.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.