Total Complaints
16 filings
OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year
1991 OLDSMOBILE 88
16 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991OLDSMOBILE88 carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 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 1991 88 is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 4 filings, followed by parking brake (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder (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 1991 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.
16
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
2
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 4 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140422VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE EXHIBITED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY CARBON BUILD-UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED AND THE AIR FILTER WAS REPLACED. THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
20031217PARKING BRAKE
RECALL 91V167000 CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE LEAVER ASSEMBLY: AT THE TIME OF VEHICLE INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY LEAVER WAS ON RECALL. THE LEAVER WAS RELEASING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WHEN ON AN INCLINE. *AK
Mileage: 115,000
20010123FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FUEL TANK METER LINES WERE RUSTED CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK. *MJS
19991215PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE LOCK TO THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING THE BRAKE WILL RELEASE ON ITS OWN, AND SOMETIMES IT RELEASES SOON AS IT'S APPLIED. BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19990423CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
TWO BRAKE FAILURES ON HIGHWAY, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
19990217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO APPLY FOR THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONSUMER CRACKED ONE OF THE BRAKE SHOES. *AK
19980731ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE IGNITION WIRES BETWEEN FUEL INJECTORS AND ENGINE CONTROL UNIT ON COMPUTER, ONE WIRE WAS BROKEN.
19980425ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED.
19980105FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE A SEAL BLEW OUT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
19970714SEAT BELTS
REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT . THE PASSENGER HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE BELT. *AK
19970709PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE : WHEN APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE IT SLIPS AND DOE NOT ENGAGE. CALLED MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL #91V167 , EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKES, AND THEY SAID THAT RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH HE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
19970325SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
19970219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTION IN ABS WHEN WARNING LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY, ONLY HYDRAULIC BRAKES STOPPED VEHICLE, ABS IS INOPERATIVE. *AK
19960722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *DH
19950919SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS,HAVING NO BRAKES.THEN ABOUT A FEW HOURS LATER THEY RETURN. TT
19950711SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Compare 1991OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?▼
The 1991 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 16 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 OLDSMOBILE 88?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 OLDSMOBILE 88 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include PARKING BRAKE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER.
Is the 1991 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.