OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year

1993 OLDSMOBILE 88

99 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993OLDSMOBILE88 carries 99 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 13 fires, 10 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 1993 88 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 13 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines (10) and air bags:frontal (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 1993 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.

99
Complaints
13
Crashes
13
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

99 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS3
AIR BAGS2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20110622POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (96V015000) POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: COOLING UNIT AND LINES WAS RELATED TO THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE MANUFACTURED STATED THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

Mileage: 164,000

20100208CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1993 88 OLDS TROTTLE CABLE BROKE WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. PROCEEDED AT FULL SPEED (IN CIRCLES AS WHEEL WAS TURNED) UNTIL CRASHED INTO TREE.

Mileage: 42,000

20080829EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOW

Mileage: 120,000

20080829POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOW

Mileage: 120,000

20080829FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOW

Mileage: 120,000

20080829SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOW

Mileage: 120,000

20080829STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, WATER FLOODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE WEEK AFTER THE WATER DAMAGE AND WAS REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SALT RUSTED AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE BELTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THE AIR CONDITIONING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOW

Mileage: 120,000

20070430POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN CMP95C1101. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER 1000 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED 75 TIMES AND BECAME WORSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *AK

Mileage: 47,000

20060224STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THIS CAR, LIKE MANY FRONT-DRIVE CARS, USES A FRONT SUBFRAME TO CARRY THE ENGINE, TRANSAXLE, STEERING GEAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY WITH SIX RUBBER ISOLATORS, EACH OF WHICH IS FASTENED IN PLACE WITH A LARGE RETAINING WASHER AND A BOLT. ONE OF THE SIX RETAINING WASHERS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE OUTER HALF OF IT FELL OFF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO INSPECT AND REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER FIVE WASHERS. AS I SUSPECTED FROM MY VISUAL INSPECTION,ALL FIVE WERE SERIOUSLY WEAKENED BY RUST AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE SUBFRAME HAD ALSO RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, TO THE POINT THAT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD EASILY POKE A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE RUSTED SECTIONS. THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY, INCLUDING THE FLOOR PAN, ROCKER PANELS, STRUT TOWERS, FUEL TANK, TANK STRAPS AND REAR SUSPENSION PARTS, WAS VIRTUALLY FREE OF RUST. IF THE RETAINERS OR SUBFRAME HAD FAILED ON THE ROAD AND THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME HAD

Mileage: 147,700

20050720ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE MOUNTS CAME OUT WITH CHASSIS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE AAA MECHANIC STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE JUNKED. *AK

20040223SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINE FAILED. *AK *NM

20031209ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ENGINE IDLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

Mileage: 35,200

20031024CrashSTEERING

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO GO INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

20030123ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED, CAUSING GASKET FAILURE, AND ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. TS.....*AK

20030109CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-53 MPH. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM

20030102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

20020912FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, NOW THE STEERING COLUMN IS SMOKING HOT AND THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND ARE NOT WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM BUT WITH NO RESULTS, THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A WARNING ISSUED TO OWNERS WARNING THEM OF POSSIBLE CURRENT SURGE IN THE STARTER. NLM

20020731CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AFTER COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POLE, CONSUMER HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, HOWEVER WAS STILL THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ACCIDENT. *SLC

20020731CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

AFTER COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POLE, CONSUMER HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, HOWEVER WAS STILL THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ACCIDENT. *SLC

20020722STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING, THE BODY OF VEHICLE CAME OFF THE FRAME, AND WHEEL FELL IN TOWARDS VEHICLE. VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

Compare 1993OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?
The 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 99 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 13 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88?
The most-complained component for the 1993 OLDSMOBILE 88 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1993 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.