Total Complaints
7 filings
OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year
1985 OLDSMOBILE 88
7 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985OLDSMOBILE88 carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 88 is tires:tread/belt with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and wheels (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 1985 88. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100516CrashTIRES
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
Mileage: 120,000
20021101CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT
RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENMT INSTALLED AT 30,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 205/75R15, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. MR *TT *JB
Mileage: 65,000
20010212TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
20001020TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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)
20000822UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HEARD ON THE RADIO THERE IS A RECALL TO FIX THIS BUT GENERAL MOTORS AND THE OLDSMOBILE DEALERS HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THIS. ALTHOUGH GM HAS HAD SEVERAL CALLS ON THE MATTER. I PRESENTLY HAVE A BROKEN BOLT AND NO ONE TO FIX IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT DISCUSSED IN SUMMARY.*AK
19990217WHEELS
THE WHEEL HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED, CAUSING A VIBRATION AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AT45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK
19950612SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILURE, BELT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. TT
Compare 1985OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?▼
The 1985 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 OLDSMOBILE 88?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 OLDSMOBILE 88 is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and WHEELS.
Is the 1985 OLDSMOBILE 88 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.