1987 Oldsmobile 88 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1987 Oldsmobile 88 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 514,772 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 88V080000 1988-05-16 35,057 affected
Defect

EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence

THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy

REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 87V135000 1987-09-01 479,715 affected
Defect

AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Consequence

THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy

THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.

Complaints by component

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
3crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
3fires
STEERING
3
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
1
TIRES
1
Total complaints22

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“1) my 1987 delta 88 oldsmobile will not steer left when cold, which is very dangerous when turning at a busy intersection. 2) my brakes have been repaired several times because they keep pulsating. This wears out my tires very fast. 3) when first cranked, it will drive for a mile at a medium rate…”

STEERING · reported 2004-01-01

“1) my 1987 delta 88 oldsmobile will not steer left when cold, which is very dangerous when turning at a busy intersection. 2) my brakes have been repaired several times because they keep pulsating. This wears out my tires very fast. 3) when first cranked, it will drive for a mile at a medium rate…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR · reported 2004-01-01

“1) my 1987 delta 88 oldsmobile will not steer left when cold, which is very dangerous when turning at a busy intersection. 2) my brakes have been repaired several times because they keep pulsating. This wears out my tires very fast. 3) when first cranked, it will drive for a mile at a medium rate…”

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR · reported 2004-01-01

“1) my 1987 delta 88 oldsmobile will not steer left when cold, which is very dangerous when turning at a busy intersection. 2) my brakes have been repaired several times because they keep pulsating. This wears out my tires very fast. 3) when first cranked, it will drive for a mile at a medium rate…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2004-01-01

“Crank sensor constantly come loose. Weather changes and temperature changes in the engine cause this change. Realigninment and retightening costs 25.00 each instance. This has occured with the previous owner as well [as I called her and asked her about this problem] this has occured more than 50…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2003-04-15

“While traveling on highway, driver noticed that speed started to decrease, driver heard a popping noise and pulled over to investigate, within minutes smoke filled the car with more popping noise and then fire started, no other vehicles were involved and no injuries were sustained, possible engine…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 2001-09-01

“While traveling on highway, driver noticed that speed started to decrease, driver heard a popping noise and pulled over to investigate, within minutes smoke filled the car with more popping noise and then fire started, no other vehicles were involved and no injuries were sustained, possible engine…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 2001-09-01

“When consumer released the accelerator pedal it stuck , the vehicle did not return to idle, causing a collision. The dealer has been notified. *ak”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · reported 1996-11-23

Defect investigations

Investigation C89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA87022 Opened 1987-08-27 · closed 1991-11-27

STALLING

SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO…

Investigation EA89028 Opened 1989-07-28 · closed 1990-07-27

REAR BRAKE PIN

SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS…

Investigation EA90017 Opened 1990-03-26 · closed 1991-04-22

BRAKE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE87041 Opened 1987-08-04 · closed 1987-11-30

THROTTLE SYSTEM FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GM REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF 137OWNER COMPLAINTS, 317 FIELD REPORTS, AND 2 LAWSUITS, IN ADDITION TO THEREPORTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY BY THE NHTSA.THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY GM CITETHE OCCURRENCE OF 263 ACCIDENTS,INCLUDING 77 INJURY ACCIDENTS, 100 INJURIESAND 1 FATALITY.SEVERAL POSSIBLE…

Investigation PE89098 Opened 1989-03-10 · closed 1989-05-17

ANTI LOCK BRAKES

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Investigation PE89101 Opened 1989-03-15 · closed 1989-07-28

REAR BRAKE PIN

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Investigation PE89171 Opened 1989-09-26 · closed 1990-03-26

BRAKE FAILURE

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Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Oldsmobile 88 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.