Total Complaints
46 filings
OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year
1988 OLDSMOBILE 88
46 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988OLDSMOBILE88 carries 46 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires, 9 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 1988 88 is vehicle speed control with 5 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (5) and steering:hydraulic power assist system (4). 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 1988 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.
46
Complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 5 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 4 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 4 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 3 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020909ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND IF TEST REGISTERS A HALF OF TANK OF GASOLINE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
20010430SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT OUT OF RETRACTOR MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20000612ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE CRADLE FALLING TO THE GROUND DUE TO RUSTED OUT BOLTS. YH
20000501STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD LOCK UP IF VEHICLE SATTOO LONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD OR HOT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS WORE OUT THE ROTORS. PADS WERE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS OF RACK & PINION STEERING, AND EACH TIME MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. *AK *ML
20000501SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD LOCK UP IF VEHICLE SATTOO LONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD OR HOT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS WORE OUT THE ROTORS. PADS WERE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS OF RACK & PINION STEERING, AND EACH TIME MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. *AK *ML
19991129SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEAD REST DESIGN DOES NOT PROPERLY PROTECT FROM INJURY, DOES NOT SUPPORT HEAD. MJS
19991029SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEAD REST DESIGN DOES NOT PROPERLY PROTECT FROM INJURY, DOES NOT SUPPORT HEAD. MJS
19991029SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEAD REST DESIGN DOES NOT PROPERLY PROTECT FROM INJURY, DOES NOT SUPPORT HEAD. MJS
19990922UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR TURNED A CHALKY WHITE COLOR AND APPEARED THAT THE CLEAR COAT FAILED COMPLETELY OVER MOST OF THE CAR. WE HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE CAR REPAINTED.
19990902SEAT BELTS
FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLED UP AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO UNDO. OWNER HAS TO PLAY WITH THE BUCKLE FOR AWHILE TO GET THEM LOOSE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, BUT STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK
19990622VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS
19990111SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.
19980826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE AND CRANK SENSOR FAILED CAUSING STALLING.
19980826ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
IGNITION MODULE AND CRANK SENSOR FAILED CAUSING STALLING.
19980612VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HAD PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC. PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR & NOTHING HAPPENED. SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC TOOK VEHICLE FOR TEST DRIVE & NOTHING WAS FOUND. *AK
19971003STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED.
19970729STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED THAT ONLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE STEERING COLUMN BOX JUST LOCKS UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19970717STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND ROLL OVER.
19970527STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING IS TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN.
19970129STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN: HAD SILENT RECALL IN 1993 ON STEERING COLUMN. HAD NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN. WHEN DRIVING ONE CAN FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIMMERING AND IT MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. REAPAIR SHOP SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS IF IT WAS REPLACED . *AK
Compare 1988OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?▼
The 1988 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 46 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 OLDSMOBILE 88?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 OLDSMOBILE 88 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM.
Is the 1988 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.