Total Complaints
18 filings
OLDSMOBILE TORONADO · model year
1990 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO
18 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990OLDSMOBILETORONADO carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1990 TORONADO is electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). 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 1990 TORONADO. 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.
18
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20151114SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UNLOCKS BY ITSELF. CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME.
Mileage: 121,000
20021015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER STATES THE COMPUTER CHIP TO START THE VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DASHBOARD READS STARTING DISABLED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MR
20010123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EXPERIENCED AND ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS AND INDICATOR NOT TO WORK ON DAMP OR COLD WEATHER. NLM
20000905STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ENGINE CRADLE BROKE UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF CAR BUT MANAGED TO STOP IT BEFORE IMPACTING ANYTHING. CRADLE WAS REMOVED FROM CAR AND FOUND TO BE SOUND AND ALMOST RUST FREE EXCEPT FOR A SECTION ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (AND DIRECTLY BELOW THE AC UNIT). THAT 6 INCH LONG SECTION WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND WHAT LITTLE MATERIAL REMAINED APPARENTLY BROKE DURING THE LEFT HAND TURN. THE ENGINE CRADLE REMAINED FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE BODY AT THE 6 MOUNTING POINTS.
19990809SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER NOW EXPERIENCING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH ABS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990809SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER NOW EXPERIENCING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH ABS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990806UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT PANEL IS INOPERATIVE. OCCUPANT CANNOT SEE OR USE THE GAUGES ON THE PANEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
19990128SEATS
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACKWARDS, WHEN CHECKED OUT THE STEEL BRACKET WAS BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML
19980208SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.
19980208SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.
19970618SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
UPON APPLICATION OF ABS BRAKES IN PANIC STOP, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND EXPERIENCES REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS FOR ABOUT A SECOND, THEN BRAKES BEGIN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. *AK
19961213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ANALOG INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WITH OWNER NO LONGER KNOWING DISPLAYED INFORMATION. DEALER SAYS ANALOG CLUSTER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NO REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS; 95V224000. LISTED FOR SAME PROBLEM UNDER CADILLAC ELDORADO. *AK
19961120STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMING A LOOSE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19960808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING NO VISUAL SIGHT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
19960808VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING NO VISUAL SIGHT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
19960410FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE THE CAUSE, INSURANCE SAID THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICIAL, FIRE TOTALLED THE VEHICLE. *AK
19950919SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. TT
19950731SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
LAP/SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER SIDE IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE, LATCH AND WILL NOT UNLATCH, A CHILD WAS IN THE SEAT BELT OVER TIGHTEN AND COULD GET CHILD OUT. TT
Compare 1990OLDSMOBILETORONADO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO have?▼
The 1990 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO has 18 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 1990 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 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.