IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1996 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
20–25K
025–50K
450–75K
475–100K
7100–150K
10150K+
27 reports with mileage · 65 unknown
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports9 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
92 reportsAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE POSITION INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. THERE IS A TSB ON IT, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SOMETIMES DURING WARM-UP(NOT MOVING)..THERE WILL BE A LOUD "THUD" AT REAR OF VEHICLE. AT OTHER TIMES I MAY DRIVE 2-3 BLOCKS BEFORE I HEAR THE THUD. AFTER THE INITIAL THUD SOUD(WHICH IS VERY LOUD), IT WILL NOT MAKE THE SOUND AGAIN DURING DRIVING. I SUSPECT IT MAY BE MECHANICAL OR A BACKFIRE. TO DATE THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FOU…
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SOMETIMES DURING WARM-UP(NOT MOVING)..THERE WILL BE A LOUD "THUD" AT REAR OF VEHICLE. AT OTHER TIMES I MAY DRIVE 2-3 BLOCKS BEFORE I HEAR THE THUD. AFTER THE INITIAL THUD SOUD(WHICH IS VERY LOUD), IT WILL NOT MAKE THE SOUND AGAIN DURING DRIVING. I SUSPECT IT MAY BE MECHANICAL OR A BACKFIRE. TO DATE THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM
THIS AUTO IS GOING TO A TOTAL LOSS, I HIT A CAR AT 30 IN THE REAR END AND ANOTHER AUTO HIT ME IN THE REAR END THEN I HIT # 1 CAR IN THE REAR A SECOND TIME. I VERY CONCERNED AND MAD THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE, DRIVER OR PASSENGER. BOTH BUMPERS WERE HIT, LIGHTS BROKEN, TRUCK PUSHED IN AT LEAST 10 INCHES AND …
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THIS AUTO IS GOING TO A TOTAL LOSS, I HIT A CAR AT 30 IN THE REAR END AND ANOTHER AUTO HIT ME IN THE REAR END THEN I HIT # 1 CAR IN THE REAR A SECOND TIME. I VERY CONCERNED AND MAD THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE, DRIVER OR PASSENGER. BOTH BUMPERS WERE HIT, LIGHTS BROKEN, TRUCK PUSHED IN AT LEAST 10 INCHES AND RADIATOR WAS PUSHED IN TO THE MOTOR WITH BUMPER, BUT NO DEPLOYMENT. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR? I BOUGHT BECAUSE IT WAS TALKED ABOUT AS SUCH A SAFE CAR, YOU CAN'T PROVE IT MY ME!
FUEL LINE FROM GAS TANK AT ATTACHMENT FITTING TO FUEL FILTER DEVELOPED A LEAK RESULTING IN FUEL SPILLAGE WITHIN A CLOSED SPACE(GARAGE). NO FIRE RESULTED, HOWEVER, THE SITUATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF HOME AND/OR LIFE.
AFTER WET WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREEZE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND WHEN TURN ON THE WIPERS BREAK. CONSUMER TOLD THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DO THIS.
WHILE DRIVING THE ACCLERATOR GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CAR JACK BROKE WHEN USING, DESIGN TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE.
TIRES REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN TREAD AND RIB CUPPING. (GOODYEAR P205/7015).
HEAD RESTRAINT DESIGN PROBLEMS.
Official recalls
296V116000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Jul 1, 1996
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
95V204000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module
Oct 23, 1995
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.
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
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.