Total Complaints
32 filings
OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year
1989 OLDSMOBILE 88
32 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989OLDSMOBILE88 carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 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 1989 88 is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (3) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (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 1989 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.
32
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 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 | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030311TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES TWICE.*JB
Mileage: 95,626
20011128TIRES
MICHELIN, RADIAL, DOTB9CTCRPE-299; WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, THEN LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS A LANE AND HIT GUARD A RAIL. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE LANE, IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER SIDE AND THE TIRE BLEW NEAR WHITE SIDE WALL. *YH
20001219FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
GAS LINES AND FITTINGS BADLY CORRODED AND LEAKING. NLM
20000908FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL (89C-01) REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP. NLM
20000106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE DIES CLEANLY. THAT IS THERE IS NO SPUTTERING/COUGHING OR ERRATIC FIRING. OFCOURSE YOU LOOSE ALL BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE . AFTER YOU COAST TO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU CAN TURN THE KEY TO START AND THE ENGINE STARTS WITH NO HESITATION AT ALL. THE CAR MAY GO 100, 350 OR 400 MILES BEFORE IT DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN. THIS IS EXTEMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU COULD EASILY REAR END SOME ONE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I CALLED THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER AND HE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE HE COULD DO UNLESS THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE I MENTIONED THE SITUATION TO MY FRIENDS THEY HAVE SAID THEY KNEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR. *AK
19991028FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL (89C-01) REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP. NLM
19990928POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19981020SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BROKEN SPRING IN THE LATCH MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT FAILED RESULTING IN CONSUMER EJECTION FROM VEHICLE DURING COLLISION. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
19980610STEERING:COLUMN
TILT STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BOLTS LOOSE.
19970821VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
19970226SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE STEEL RAKE LINE RUSTED IN TWO WHERE IT CROSSES UNDER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER A HEAT SHIELD ABOUT THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL . *AK
19960911VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK
19960717ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN TAKING HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 7 TIMES WITHIN A MILE. *AK
19960717VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TAKING HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 7 TIMES WITHIN A MILE. *AK
19960502SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVERS SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, CAUSING SHOULDER BELT TO BE LOOSE. *DSH
19960404ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR CAP EXPLODED. *SD
19960404ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MAIN COMPUTER FAILURE. *SD
19960328CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE THE SPRING WAS BROKEN CONSUMER WAS INJURIED . TT
19960321VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960221VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE WITHOUT BEING HIT WITH ANY FOREIGN OBJECT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROESTER WAS ON PREVEOUSLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
Compare 1989OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?▼
The 1989 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 32 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 OLDSMOBILE 88?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 OLDSMOBILE 88 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS.
Is the 1989 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.