OLDSMOBILE 88 · model year

1997 OLDSMOBILE 88

129 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997OLDSMOBILE88 carries 129 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 21 fires, 6 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 1997 88 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 16 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (9) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (6). 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 1997 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.

129
Complaints
4
Crashes
21
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

129 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE16
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE6
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3

Recent Complaints

20161014ENGINE

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE( PLASTIC PART) ON HIGHWAY . ENGINE OVERHEATED FROM COOLANT LEAKING INSIDE ENGINE FOR THE 3RD TIME . FIRST LEAK COOLANT OUTSIDE ENGINE. 2ND TIME BAD OIL LEAK. 3RD TIME THIS.

Mileage: 155,000

20130508ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DIED WHILE AT STOP LIGHT. WONT RESTART, TURNS OVER BUT WONT KEEP RUNNING. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20110527ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE WERE NOTICING LEAKS FROM THE CAR ON THE DRIVEWAY. WE KNEW FROM TOUCHING IT WAS NOT OIL. THE CAR STARTED TO HESITATE AT TIMES AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. EVENTUALLY IT DID STALL OUT AND CONTINUED TO DO SO, IT ALWAYS STARTED RIGHT UP THOUGH, SO WE KNEW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHEN IT STALLED. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND REPAIR CODES P0300 AND P0135, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON RESULTING IN RANDOM MISFIRE AND 02 SENSOR HEATER CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. FOLLOWED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLESHOOTING FLOWCHART AND FOUND FAULTY 02 SENSOR AND COOLANT INSIDE CYLINDER#4. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF INTAKE MANIFOLD TO INSPECT SYSTEM, FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. REMOVED AND REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY, FRONT 02 SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND SPARK PLUGS WITH ALL NEW OEM PARTS. REFILLED COOLANT AND BLEED SYSTEM. RECHECKED OPERATION, CLEARED CODES. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THIS

Mileage: 85,000

20100408FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE LSS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS STARTED. AS HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE AIR INTAKE AND DEVICE ON THE ENGINE COVER WERE DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A PRODUCT ALLEGATION REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOTIFY HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20100209SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA, 1997 OLDSMOBILE AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE ALL HAVE HAD BRAKE LINES FAIL DUE TO CORROSION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE BRAKES FAILED DURING A PANIC STOP TO AVOID A COLLISION. ALL VEHICLES HAD STEEL BRAKE LINES REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. I TEND TO KEEP MY CARS UNTIL THEY ARE TEN PLUS YEARS OLD. THE MAJORITY OF MY CARS HAVE HAD BRAKES FAIL DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TUBING. I WAS WONDERING WHY STAINLESS STEEL TUBING IS NOT REQUIRED ON BRAKE LINES? *TR

Mileage: 129,000

20080922ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE (PLASTIC) MANIFOLD ON OUR 1997 OLDS 88 THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CAR (WHILE RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUE FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS ON SIMILAR CARS). WE HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED AND THAT STILL DOESN'T FIX THE COOLANT IN THE ENGINE WHICH CANNOT BE ENTIRELY CLEARED OUT WITHOUT REMOVING THE ENGINE AND INCURRING OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. *TR

20080314CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. VERY MINOR FENDER BENDER NO DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR. SMALL FIST SIZE DENT TO THE CAR IN QUESTION. NOTED FROM COP ON SEEN, SPEED WAS LESS THAN 10 MPH. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND TOTALED INSIDE OF CAR. SENT 2 PERSONS TO HOSPITAL. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

20050603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

DT: THE REAR BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE BACK DRUMS ARE BLACK, THEY'VE NEVER HAD CONTACT UNLESS USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.*AK

Mileage: 60,000

20050307FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN WEEK DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 04V090000. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 31,000

20041118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ON FEBRUARY 25, 2004 MY GRANDPARENTS PURCHASED A 1997 OLDSMOBILE LSS FROM NORTH LAKE FORD IN LAKEPORT CALIFORNIA. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT STALL, AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IN FACT THE VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AND THEY WERE NEARLY RAN OVER BY A SEMI TRUCK WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, AND IT STILL STALLS TO THIS DAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHE.*AK

20040823SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDERNEATH ,AND SAW THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. *AK

20040805STEERING

I HAVE A 1987 OLDSMOBILE 88 LSS THAT I TOOK IN FOR INSPECTION. IT PASSED INSPECTION, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT COULD CAUSE THE BEARINGS TO LOCK UP, BURN THE BELT AND I WOULD LOSE STEERING. *AK

Mileage: 50,348

20040315ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MISFIRING, BACKFIRING, STALLING AND COOLANT LEAKS DUE TO LEAKING PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEMS IN SEPT. 2000. KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS. TOOK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, FAILED 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN. LEAKS COOLANT ONTO FLOOR. CAN SMELL COOLANT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND GARAGE WHERE PARKED.*AK

Mileage: 20,500

20040210VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A CRACK, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND THE SPARK PLUGS, HEAD GASKET STARTER, AND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

Mileage: 55,000

20040210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A CRACK, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND THE SPARK PLUGS, HEAD GASKET STARTER, AND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

Mileage: 55,000

20040206ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL WARMS UP, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY OLDS DEALER IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE $700+ AIR BAG BECAUSE ALL THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IS RUN THROUGH THE AIR BAG. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE WAS NO "INCIDENT" BUT APPARENTLY I HAVE TO PUT IN A DATE SO I WILL JUST MAKE ONE UP SO I CAN PROCEED WITH MY COMPLAINT.*AK

20031229FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

ENGINE MANIFOLD EXPLODED WHEN IGNITION TURNED TO START. FUEL RAIL BENT, FUEL REGULATOR DAMAGED, LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE AND EXPLOSIVE SOUND OCCURRED. ENGINE COVER SPLIT IN TWO.*AK

Mileage: 750,132

20031209ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT BOOM AND THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AND SMOKE BARRELLED OUT OF THE ENGINE AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER.I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAYTO THE NEXT PARKING LOT.WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED A A NEW ENGINE.THEY IN TURN TOWED IT TO YET ANOTHER REPUTABLE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD.IT WAS PLASTIC AND WITH THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE ALOOWED IT TO LEAK INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINES COOLING SYSTEM.GM DIDN'T TAKE FAULT EVEN THOUGH THEY STOPPED USING THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD AND HAD A RECALL ON IT.FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AUTOLINE AND THE REFERRED US TO TH ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE IN WHICH GM STILL REFUSES TO TAKE FAULT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE CAR AND THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE CAR AT AROUND 70,000.THE CAR GOT AN INSPECTION BEFORE IT WAS SOLD, I'M SURE TOYOTA WOULD'NT RESALE A JUNK TO IT'S CUSTOMERS.IT WAS I

Mileage: 63,257

20031015SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHIMMIES. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

20030801FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE *MR *CB *NLM

Mileage: 60,000

Compare 1997OLDSMOBILE88 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88 have?
The 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88 has 129 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 21 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88?
The most-complained component for the 1997 OLDSMOBILE 88 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE.
Is the 1997 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.