AI DamageOldsmobile Ciera: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Oldsmobile Ciera across 11 model years: 282 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 56 complaints (20% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 45 complaints (16% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 32 complaints (11% of all), 14 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 29 complaints (10% of all).
- Powertrain: 25 complaints (9% of all), 1 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.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1996
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1996named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 3-speed 1996
- automatic, 4-speed 1996
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 282 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 56 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 14 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 24 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 13 | 10 | 0 |
| Suspension | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The car was hit from behind while stopped and the seat and shoulder belts did not hold us in place. Dt
Driver's air bag failed to deploy. Manufacturer was sending an investigator to examine vehicle, and determine a cause for poor performance of air bag. Driver experienced light injuries. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
Parked at a drive in pharmacy, put vehicle in reverse, and it lurched backward, hitting vehicle behind the consumer. Turned vehicle off and then restarted. Contacted dealer . Dealer found a vacuum leak on the upper intake near the throttle. They repaired vacuum leak.
Anti-lock brakes did not work resulting in a rear-end collision. Airbag did not deploy.
Vehicle involved in a head-on accident at approximately 50 mph or less in which driver's air bag failed to deploy. Dealer/manufacturer notified, and had nothing positive to say. Seeking help from nhsta in this matter.
Upon impact, airbag did not deploy. Driver was injured. The insurance company totaled vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
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.