Oldsmobile 88 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 551 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file for the Oldsmobile 88, across 6 model years (1995–2000). The 1998 model year has the most complaints (164). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Oldsmobile 88 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 88 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 88: 164 complaints, 1 recall
- 1995 88: 117 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 88: 101 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Oldsmobile 88 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 177 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 62 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 55 | 5 | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 45 | 5 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 43 | 5 | 13 |
| Power Train | 39 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 25 | 5 | 3 |
| Visibility | 24 | 5 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 5 | 1 |
| Structure | 21 | 5 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 | 5 | 4 |
| Suspension | 15 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Seats | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Equipment | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Tires | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Oldsmobile 88 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Oldsmobile 88 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 88 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 1999 88 | 77 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 88 | 164 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 88 | 101 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1996 88 | 92 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 88 | 117 | 1 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Oldsmobile: all Oldsmobile models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile 88 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1998 (164), 1995 (117), 1997 (101). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Oldsmobile 88?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 177 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile 88 have?
5 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.