Total Complaints
33 filings
OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year
1986 OLDSMOBILE 88
33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986OLDSMOBILE88 carries 33 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1986 88 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:hydraulic (2). 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 1986 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.
33
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020419ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER FIRST START, MOSTLY WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NLM
20000322CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING WENT INTO EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION WITHOUT INDICATION DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL BEING STUCK. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND WAS INJURED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990921ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS/ AND HESITATES. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19990414VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN PUT IN REVERSE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
19990106STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM GETS STUCK OR CANNOT MOVE PROPERLY WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK
19981014WHEELS
FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF HITTING OTHER VEHICLE.
19980812SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS. *AK
19970724EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES.
19970724SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
BRAKE MOTOR FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.
19970724VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
VENT SWITCH STUCK DUE TO FAILED CONTROL HEAD.
19970724SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
THE PUMP MOTOR FAILED.
19970724POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING.
19970724SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
REAR BRAKE SHOES FAILED AND THE DRUMS WERE RESURFACED.
19970717SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
SHORT IN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSES BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON.
19970717SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE SHOES FAILED.
19970717FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ACCUMULATOR FAILED.
19970717FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ACCUMULATOR FAILED.
19970424ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS.
19961029POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION REPLACED.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601619)
19961016VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1986OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?▼
The 1986 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 88?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 88 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC.
Is the 1986 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.