1986 Oldsmobile 88
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Oldsmobile › 88 › 1986
These records cover every 1986 Oldsmobile 88. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1986 Oldsmobile 88. Newest first.
The left and right rear lower control arm ball joint stud to knuckle attachment may have been inadequately tightened. consequence of defect: this could allow the rear lower control arm ball joint stud to loosen at the knuckle attachment. a loose ball…
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Replace and tighten both left and right rear lower control arm ball joint stud nuts.
Owner complaints
19 complaints1 involved a crash1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalls about 3 minutes after first start, mostly when making turns or when coming to a stop. nlm
- Vehicle speed control
While traveling went into excessive acceleration without indication due to cruise control being stuck. As a result, consumer was in an accident, and was injured. Manufacturer was contacted. Please provide further information. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
When driving at any speed vehicle stalls/ and hesitates. Also, when driving at 30 mph there IS a loss of power. dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *Ak
- Vehicle speed control
Vehicle suddenly accelerated when put in reverse resulting in an accident.
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
While driving the steering wheel mechanism gets stuck or cannot move properly which may cause loss of vehicle control. currently at the dealer. *ak
- Wheels
Front wheel fell off hitting other vehicle.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Master cylinder leaks. *ak
- Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch · Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum › Shoes/linings · Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Hydraulic · Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element
Vent switch stuck due to failed control head.
- Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
Accumulator failed.
- Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system · Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Lamp · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
Short in brake light switch causes brake light to come on.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalls.
- Power train › Manual transmission
Transmission replaced.(1st vehicle on 601619)
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Vehicle does not operate when applying the accelerator. Explain in more details. *ak
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Vehicle revved extremely high when shifting into gear. Dlrs. Diagnosis: idle control motor failed. *ak
- Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Failue of the lower control arm, ball joint suddenly IS loose. *ak
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables · Electrical system › Ignition › Module · Electrical system › Starter assembly · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Steering › Rack and pinion › Rack · Visibility › Power window devices and controls · Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Replaced windshield washer pump.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist
Power brake system failed prior to/after service recall (86-c-15). *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly · Seat belts › Front › Webbing
After engaging driver's seat belt buckle, pops right out; use front middle belt; passenger shoulder restraint doesn't function at all,as though nothing IS there
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
Steering effort increases during cold weather. tt steering was hard and jerky when the vehicle first starts especially during cold weather. *yh
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Brake failure
There is no summary currently available
- Brake failure
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- Rear brake pin
Summary:these vehicles have rear drum brakes.the parking lever pivotpin IS held by an e ring.when the ring fails, parts of the ring andpin fall loose into the drum and may jam the brake, locking the wheel.a stronger e ring IS used in 1988 and newer cars.this investigationhas been expanded to include gms c body cars listed above (e ring commonto all cars shown).===
- Rear brake pin
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- Anti lock brakes
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- Throttle non-return
There is no summary currently available
- Stalling
Summary:the complaints allege that stalling IS due to various faultycomponents of the fuel injection and/or ignition system. The followingmodels are involved:buick electra, lesabre, rivera, century; olds cutlassciera, 88, 98, toronado; pontiac bonneville.status:this investigation IS ongoing.we are continuing to…
Summary:the complaints allege that stalling IS due to various faultycomponents of the fuel injection and/or ignition system. The followingmodels are involved:buick electra, lesabre, rivera, century; olds cutlassciera, 88, 98, toronado; pontiac bonneville.status:this investigation IS ongoing.we are continuing to analyzeinformation provided by gm and are preparing an additional informationrequest to gm to clarify certain technical items.===
- Throttle system failure
Summary of information from manufacturer:gm reported knowledge of 137owner complaints, 317 field reports, and 2 lawsuits, in addition to thereports received directly by the nhtsa.the reports received by gm citethe occurrence of 263 accidents,including 77 injury accidents, 100 injuriesand 1 fatality.several possible…
Summary of information from manufacturer:gm reported knowledge of 137owner complaints, 317 field reports, and 2 lawsuits, in addition to thereports received directly by the nhtsa.the reports received by gm citethe occurrence of 263 accidents,including 77 injury accidents, 100 injuriesand 1 fatality.several possible modes of throttle control system failure or malfunctionare under consideration in this pe, including self-actuation, failure todeactivate upon driver command, and throttle system sticking or binding.having evaluated the 456reports received directly and the 36 consumercomplaints submitted by nhtsa, gm indicated that no meaningful frequencyor mode of malfunction could be identified to suggest the existence of adefect which relates to motor vehicle safety.several design/manufacturing changes were identified as relevant to thesubject of this pe; however, no service bulletins or recall notificationshave been issued on throttle control system problems.analysis:during gm's compilation and evaluation of information requiredto respond to the nhtsa's request, indications were given to odi that thenumber of consumer and other reports clearly suggested the existence of asafety problem and that corrective action by the manufacturer were inorder.gm's formal letter response, however, retreated from this position.notwithstanding the incomplete analysis of information submitted to thenhtsa, the numbers of owner and field reports, together with clear datato show that throttle system failures have resulted in significant numbersof accidents and injuries, indicate that a more rigorous evaluation of thismatter IS in order.===
Every Oldsmobile 88 model year
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