1990 Oldsmobile 88 Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 5 complaints (21% of the total), followed by brakes (4) and electrical system (3). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling5 21%
- Brakes4 17%
- Electrical system3 13%
- Seat belts3 13%
- Fuel system2 8.3%
- Other or unknown2 8.3%
- Steering2 8.3%
- Body and structure2 8.3%
- Exterior lighting1 4.2%
- Seats1 4.2%
Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “Hood struts fail to hold especially in colder weather, engine tends to stall on right-turn highway on-ramps or sharp right turns with 5 gallons or less in the tank, (original) silver paint is peeling badly from engine hood and beginning now on roof as well.”
NHTSA complaint #725799, filed 2000-07Seat belts: “Dt: 1990 Oldsmobile delta 88. The contact stated the driver's side seat belt does not stay closed. The contact called Oldsmobile, and they stated seat belts would not get fixed because it was not under warranty. The vehicle has not yet been taken to the dealership to diagnose the problem. The problem occurred for a month. The seat belt did not work. The contact had to put his sea belt into the passenger's side seat belt.”
NHTSA complaint #10139586, filed 2005-10Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 · coupe | not rated | – / 5 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Recalls and investigations
- 91V034000Mar 1, 1991Exterior lighting › Headlights › High/low beam dimmer switchCovers: Oldsmobile 88 1990
Cars were built missing a wire between the digital cluster and the dimmer control, thereby failing to provide at least two levels of lighting.
Recall details for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88.
Other model years of the Oldsmobile 88
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 77 | 66,140 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 164 | 69,080 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 101 | 63,257 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 92 | 125,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 117 | 136,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 63 | 128,500 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 74 | 70,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 73 | 98,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 16 | 82,500 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 24 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 27 | 95,626 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 37 | — | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 18 | 150,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 19 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 7 | 92,500 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 9 | — | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Oldsmobile 88 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Oldsmobile 88 have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1990 Oldsmobile 88 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1990 Oldsmobile 88 is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 5 complaints (21% of the total), followed by brakes with 4.
Has the 1990 Oldsmobile 88 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.