AI DamageOldsmobile Calais: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Oldsmobile Calais across 6 model years: 63 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 49% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 10% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 31 complaints (49% of all).
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 6 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 6 complaints (10% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1985–1987named in 1 complaints
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1985–1987
- automatic, 3-speed 1985–1987
- manual, 5-speed 1985–1987
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 63 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
When putting vehicle into reverse it took off at high speed without application of accelerator pedal. Vehicle stopped after hitting tree and fence. Dealer has seen the vehicle.*akas a result of the accident the rear of the vehicle was damaged, the driver also sustained injuries, broken ribs, cracked collar bone, spine…
Rear ended when stopped at light by sub compact speeding at aprox. 30 mph. Both front seats folded back to rear seats (non reclining type) rear doors jammed .med.
Vehicle was involved in an accident in which driver's air bag did not deploy. Dealer noted.
When backing out the driver's seatback broke off and the occupant was thrown into the rear seat which caused an accident. Please describe.
Intermittent sudden accelerations from complete stop, causing loss of control/one accident.
The front and back brake master cylinder was change at 7,000 miles, consumer was in an accident and failed .
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.