Total Complaints
55 filings
OLDSMOBILE CIERA · model year
1994 OLDSMOBILE CIERA
55 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994OLDSMOBILECIERA carries 55 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 8 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 1994 CIERA is vehicle speed control with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4) and tires:tread/belt (4). 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 1994 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.
55
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
6 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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030130TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE FIRESTONE SUPREME RADIAL TIRES ON MY 94 CUTLESS SIERRA. ABOUT A MONTH AGO ONE WENT FLAT. I NOTICED TREAD SEPARTION AT THE SITE OF THE FLAT BUT DISCOUNTED IT. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH INTERSTATE MY OTHER FRONT TIRE SAME BRAND HAD THE ENTIRE TREAD SEPARATE. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. MY TWO REAR TIRES ARE THE SAME MODEL AND I AM CONSERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES. I HAD CHECKED THE PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES LESS THAN A WEEK AGO AND THEY WERE TO MANUFATOROR SPECS.
20020828SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDS 65MPH, THE FRONT END VIBRATES, CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, AND CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER CAN ALSO FEEL THE SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SAYS IF SHE DRIVES OVER 68 MPH, THE SHAKING SEEMS TO IMPROVE SOMEWHAT. THIS SITUATION HAS WORN OUT THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS HAD A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF ALIGNMENTS, BALANCING OF TIRES-FORCED ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER HAS PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO A STOP OR WHEN ONE DRIVES ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRAME SHAKES. *SCC
20020828TIRES
WHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDS 65MPH, THE FRONT END VIBRATES, CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, AND CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER CAN ALSO FEEL THE SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SAYS IF SHE DRIVES OVER 68 MPH, THE SHAKING SEEMS TO IMPROVE SOMEWHAT. THIS SITUATION HAS WORN OUT THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS HAD A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF ALIGNMENTS, BALANCING OF TIRES-FORCED ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER HAS PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO A STOP OR WHEN ONE DRIVES ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRAME SHAKES. *SCC
20011127ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM
20001025TIRES:TREAD/BELT
4 PASSENGER CAR REPLACEMENT TIRES PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE ON JULY 23, 1999 AT 64,097 MILES; TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED OFF OF ONE OF THE TIRES ON AUGUST 15, 2000 AT 83,685 MILES. (DOT NUMBER: FR360 TIRESIZE: 18575R14)
20001025TIRES:TREAD/BELT
4 PASSENGER CAR REPLACEMENT TIRES PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE ON JULY 23, 1999 AT 64,097 MILES; TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED OFF OF ONE OF THE TIRES ON AUGUST 15, 2000 AT 83,685 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: FR360 TIRE SIZE: 18575R14 )
20000828ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DURING RAINY WEATHER THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT GETS WET AND SLIP, SLIPPAGE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER ACCELERATION AND MAKES CAR PRONE TO REAR COLLISION, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, SLIPPAGE ALSO CAUSES ALL ACCESSORIES POWERED BY THE BELT TO LOSE POWER
20000623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN 1/00 AT 56000 MILES BLOWN HEADGASKET,,, FACTORY COVERED REPAIR WITH $300 DEDUCTIBLE..REPAIR DONE AT MARVIN K. BROWN OLDSMOBILE IN SAN DIEGO......MOVED TO FLORIDA 10/99 HAD CAR SHIPPED ON TRUCK ....6/00 HEADGASKET BLOWN AGAIN AT 73,000 .. THIS CAR NEVER OVERHEATED!!!AT FACTORIES REQUEST I HAD CAR CHECKED OUT BY KING OLDSMOBILE , DEERFIELD BEACH, FL...THEY CONFIRMED BLOW HEAD GASKET...FACTORY DENIED CALIM...SAID CAR WAS TOO OLD AND TOO MUCH MILEAGE...THEN WHY DID THEY REQUIRE ME TO SPEND $77.30 AT KING OLDS..IF THEY ALREADY MADE THERE DECISION....I THINK THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE THAT GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT ADMIT..I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE...THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS...BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING AS YOU KNOW GM'S REPUTATION IN DECEIVING THE PUBLIC WHEN IT MAY COST THEN MONEY...I APPRECIATE YOU HELP. *AK
20000425CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PARKED AT A DRIVE IN PHARMACY, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND IT LURCHED BACKWARD, HITTING VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONSUMER. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. CONTACTED DEALER . DEALER FOUND A VACUUM LEAK ON THE UPPER INTAKE NEAR THE THROTTLE. THEY REPAIRED VACUUM LEAK. *AK
19990512SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S/PASSENGERS' SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT OR LOCK UP IN EMERGENCY STOPPING. *AK *ML
19990408ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT OR COMING TO A LIGHT THE VEHICLE JERKS, LURCHES FORWARD AND STALLS. DEALER UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.
19990311CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH OR LESS IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND HAD NOTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. SEEKING HELP FROM NHSTA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
19990218SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE BALL JOINTS CAME OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO GO UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. *AK
19981030SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES.
19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS INDICATING SYSTEM HAS FAILED.
19980624TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE BELTS CAME APART, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
19980407ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STOP LIGHT FILAMENT, POOR DESIGN OF GROUNDING.
19980323VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAR WENT AIRBORNE, APPLIED BRAKES, CAR WENT INTO A SPIN, ENGINE ROARING, ACCELERATOR KEPT GOING FASTER, RESULTING IN A TOTALLED LOST, CAUSE UNDETECTED.
19980205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SEVERE SPIN OUT OCCURS AT RELATIVELY HIGH/LOW SPEEDS ON SUDDEN BRAKING; NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. *AK
19970701CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, STARTED & SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, W/FOOT ON BRAKES (ABS); VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARDS, BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE & IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT DEALER'S NOW IN EAU CLAIRE. *AK
Compare 1994OLDSMOBILECIERA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 OLDSMOBILE CIERA have?▼
The 1994 OLDSMOBILE CIERA has 55 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 OLDSMOBILE CIERA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 OLDSMOBILE CIERA is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1994 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.