1988 Oldsmobile Ciera Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 24%of 25 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera, 24% of the 25 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Since june of 1998 our oldsmoble cutless Ciera brougham has been dying whether in motion or at a stop. On occassion it would not re-start. We have had it at the dealers 5 times, and wach time they say they have fixed the problem we currently have our car at an independent dealer because of the same problem. $6000.00 later and we still have the same problem. Various sensors have been replaced, new transmission, new fuel pump, complete timing replaced. Everytime our car mis-functions nothing ever shows up on the computer, no service engine lights come on. The car just quietly dies. …”
NHTSA complaint #704068, filed 1999-03“While bringing vehicle to a stop in traffic engine stalls and shuts off, and cannot be restarted. Possible cause a faulty solenoid in torque converter housing.”
NHTSA complaint #826022, filed 1998-07Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera
5 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Oldsmobile Ciera
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology