Model year record

1986 OLDSMOBILE 88

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 33 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 86V122000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
38,309
Reported to NHTSA
1986-08-28
Owners notified
1986-09-22

Defect description

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 JOINT STUD COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE. SEPARATION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE AND TIGHTEN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT STUD NUTS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system2
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic2
Vehicle speed control2
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1
Electrical system: ignition: module1
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch1
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal1
Power train: manual transmission1
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Seat belts: front: webbing1
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1
Steering: rack and pinion: rack1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element1
Visibility: power window devices and controls1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1
Wheels1

The 1985 model has 5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1987 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.