1997 Oldsmobile 88: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 101 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (26% of complaints).
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
101
owner complaints
14
fire reports
63,257
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaignsWeak spot: engine and engine cooling (26%)14 fire reports
Common problems
Computed from 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)26% · 26 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)11% · 11 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)11% · 11 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)9% · 9 complaints
Visibility (windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors)7% · 7 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline (fuel pump, tank, lines)7% · 7 complaints
“Upper intake manifold failure( plastic part) on highway . Engine overheated from coolant leaking inside engine for the 3rd time . First leak coolant outside engine. 2nd time bad oil leak. 3rd time this.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2016
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 oldsmobile lss. The contact heard a loud explosion under the hood of the vehicle immediately after it was started. As he opened the hood, he noticed a fire in the engine compartment. He used a fire extinguisher to put the fire out. The air intake and device on the engine cover were destroyed as a result of the fire. The manufacturer advised the contact that a product allegation representative would notify him. The failure mileage was 90,000.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2010
“My 1997 chevrolet lumina, 1997 oldsmobile and 1998 oldsmobile all have had brake lines fail due to corrosion in the last two years. The most recent failure almost resulted in an accident as the brakes failed during a panic stop to avoid a collision. All vehicles had steel brake lines replaced to correct the failure. I tend to keep my cars until they are ten plus years old. The majority of my cars have had brakes fail due to corrosion of the tubing. I was wondering why stainless steel tubing is not required on brake lines? *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2009
Show 7 more owner reports
“We have had to replace the (plastic) manifold on our 1997 olds 88 three times in the last five years. This is obviously a manufacturer defect, yet no recall has been issued for this car (while recalls have been issue for similar defects on similar cars). We have spent over $2000 getting this problem fixed and that still doesn't fix the coolant in the engine which cannot be entirely cleared out without removing the engine and incurring other possible problems. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2008
“Air bags deployed prematurely. Very minor fender bender no damage to other car. Small fist size dent to the car in question. Noted from cop on seen, speed was less than 10 mph. Air bags deployed and totaled inside of car. Sent 2 persons to hospital. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2008
“The fuel pressure regulator had to be replaced twice within week due to the defect described in recall 04v090000. The consumers vehicle was not included in the recall. *jb”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Dec 2004
“While moving the vehicle from the driveway and applying the brakes they failed. Consumer looked underneath ,and saw the brake line rusted and leaking fluid. *ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Aug 2004
“I have a 1987 oldsmobile 88 lss that I took in for inspection. It passed inspection, but I was told that it was not safe to drive. There was a failure in the power steering pump that could cause the bearings to lock up, burn the belt and I would lose steering. *ak”Owner report · Steering · Jul 2004
“Dt: the rear brakes have never worked on this vehicle. The back drums are black, they've never had contact unless using the emergency brake.*ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jun 2004
“On february 25, 2004 my grandparents purchased a 1997 oldsmobile lss from north lake ford in lakeport california. Immediately following the purchase the vehicle developed an intermittent stall, and would not restart for several minutes. In fact the vehicle stalls with no warning and they were nearly ran over by a semi truck when the vehicle stalled. The vehicle has been in to have the problem repaired four times, and it still stalls to this day. Please look into this problem to prevent a catastrophe.*ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2004
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact 88 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Oldsmobile 88 reliable?
NHTSA has 101 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Oldsmobile 88. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Oldsmobile 88 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 63,257 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.