Total Complaints
32 filings
OLDSMOBILE CIERA · model year
1988 OLDSMOBILE CIERA
32 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988OLDSMOBILECIERA carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1988 CIERA is electrical system:ignition with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine (3). 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 1988 CIERA. 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
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER PERIOD. THEREFORE, VEHICLE IS "STUCK" IN ROAD, USUALLY ON A BLIND TURN, EXTREEME DANGER WITH TRUCKS COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN.
19991008SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRO-FIT KIT THAT WAS GIVEN BY OLDSMOBILE HAS A VERY LARGE BUCKLE THAT HITS RIGHT IN THE STERNUM. IF IN AN ACCIDENT BUCKLE COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE CHEST. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THEY MADE THEM, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
19990305POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP
19990305ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP
19990305FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SINCE JUNE OF 1998 OUR OLDSMOBLE CUTLESS CIERA BROUGHAM HAS BEEN DYING WHETHER IN MOTION OR AT A STOP. ON OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT RE-START. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS 5 TIMES, AND WACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR CAR AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. $6000.00 LATER AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW FUEL PUMP, COMPLETE TIMING REPLACED. EVERYTIME OUR CAR MIS-FUNCTIONS NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP ON THE COMPUTER, NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR JUST QUIETLY DIES. THERE MUST BE OTHER CAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS US. HELP,HELP,HELP
19980729POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
WHILE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF, AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY SOLENOID IN TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING. *AK
19980610UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY.
19970401SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE SYSTEM: COMING DOWN BRASS TOWN MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA, BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. STOPPED AT BOTTOM OF MOUNTAIN AND LET BRAKES COOL OFF AND THEN THEY WORKED OKAY. MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
19970325POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TVS TRANSMISSION VALVE FAILED.
19961114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FLYWHEEL BROKE TWICE.
19961114POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION REPLACED.
19961114TIRES
UNEVEN WEAR OF LEFT FRONT TIRE.
19961029STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING RESERVOIR LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST PIPE/SMOKE.
19960711ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *DH
19960610UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS LOOSE AND HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND REWIRED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK
19960425TIRES
FIRESTONE TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR. *SD
19960425SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE SLOWLY DETERIORATED UNTIL IT BECAME INOPERABLE. *DSH
19960329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HARMONIC BALACER OUTER RING PULLEY HAS SEPERATED FROM PULLEY, CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND ALL ACCESSORIES THAT ARE POWERED BY BELT. *AK
19960307SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST FELL APART AND NO LONGER LATCHES.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960307SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST FELL APART AND NO LONGER LATCHES.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Compare 1988OLDSMOBILECIERA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CIERA have?▼
The 1988 OLDSMOBILE CIERA has 32 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CIERA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CIERA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CIERA 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.