Total Complaints
109 filings
OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year
1992 OLDSMOBILE 88
109 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992OLDSMOBILE88 carries 109 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 11 fires, 32 injuries, and 2 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 1992 88 is air bags:frontal with 12 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (11) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (7). 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 1992 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.
109
Complaints
15
Crashes
11
Fires
32
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
15 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 |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 11 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20070604ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES ON ONE OCCASION. SEVERAL DEALERS DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, OR ALTERNATOR. THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE CONTACT HAS THE INVOICES FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND WILL PROVIDE THE DEALER INFORMATION WHEN THE COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Mileage: 98,000
20021106FatalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VICTIM WAS DEPRIVED OF OXYGEN BEFORE RESCUERS ARRIVED, SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE AND DIED FROM HIS INJURY 11/25/98. OUR INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND 15 OTHERS THAT REPORTED VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO GM. DT
20020826CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HAVE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PUSHED INTO BUILDING, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020110FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL SHORTED OUT. IT STARTED TO GET HOT, THEN IT SMOKED AND THEN THERE WAS A SMALL SPARK AND A SMALL FLAME. IT COMPLETELY MELTED. THIS CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY.*AK
20011003SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE FAR ENOUGH TO FASTEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT RETRACTOR NEEDED REPLACING.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*SLC
20010507POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, TORQUE CONVERTER, SEAL AND TRANSMISSION FITLER REPLACED. *JB
20010507FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE HESITATES GOING AROUND LONG CLOVER LEAF TURNS ON ACCELERATION, FOUND PROBLEM IN FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, FUEL SENDER,AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED. *JB
20010507ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP BEARING MAKING NOISE, WATER PUMP REPLACED. *JB
20010312FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AND TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, VEHICLE HAD WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED HOOD, FLAMES WERE COMING FORM BENEATH. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE. *AK POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
20010312FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AND TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, VEHICLE HAD WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED HOOD, FLAMES WERE COMING FORM BENEATH. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE. *AK POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
20010312FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AND TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, VEHICLE HAD WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED HOOD, FLAMES WERE COMING FORM BENEATH. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE. *AK POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
20010306STRUCTURE
CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN DURING HARD BRAKING AND THE BUMPER WENT BELOW THE OTHER VEHICLE AND NEVER TOOK IMPACT BUT RESULTED IN $6000. IN DAMAGE (HOOD, RADIATOR, HEADLIGHTS, FENDERS, SIDE MARKERS AND CRUMPLE ZONE), THE CONSUMER BELIEVES NO VEHICLE SHOULD BE TOTALED FOR A 15 MPH FRONT END CRASH. NLM
20010202POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
RECALL 96V01500/ TRANSMISSON OIL COOLER. BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL BUT WAS STILL EXPERIENCNG SAME PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, MORE SMOKE CAME OUT. BUT, THIS TIME FROM ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO DO NOTHING. *AK TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE SEPARATED CAUSING FLUID TO SPRAY ALL OVER HOT ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *YH
20001218SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
STRUTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED RECENTLY. ALSO, NEWER TIRES UP FRONT. *AK
20001218STEERING:LINKAGES
STRUTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED RECENTLY. ALSO, NEWER TIRES UP FRONT. *AK
20001218TIRES
STRUTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED RECENTLY. ALSO, NEWER TIRES UP FRONT. *AK
20001016TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE DISCINEGRATED DUE TO BELT SEPERATION, TORE FENDER OFF RIGHT SIDE DAMAGED PASSENGER DOOR AND BENT RIM
20001004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONDITIONS WHERE ANTILOCK BRAKES HAVE COME ON. BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC 2 TIMES, HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS BOTH TIMES. ANTILOCK BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *AK
20000426POWER TRAIN
THE CONSUMER SPEEDOMETER IA ACTING ERRATICALLY BY JUMPING FROM ONE SPEED TO THE NEXT (E.G 45-50, 55-60). ALSO UPON STARTUP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM "5" AND THE SES LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. NLM
20000131POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION COOLINGLINES COULD SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES. RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1992OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?▼
The 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 109 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 11 fires, 32 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88 is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1992 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.