AI Damage1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 60% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 20% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 20% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 20% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 20% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 20% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (60% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 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.
Driving vehicle, came to complete stop, another vehicle rearended oldsmobile near left side by gas tank, vehicle caught on fire, police and fire dept arrived put flames out.
While driving vehicle came to complete stop, another vehicle rearended oldsmobile which was hit on left side by rear lamp, near gas tank, vehicle caught on fire, police and fire depts arrived, put out flames.
Converter rattles whenever consumer is driving vehicle. Has contacted dealer. Seat belts will not lock. Consumer heard noise in front end and had the ball joint replaced. Alternator was replaced. Rear brakes were replaced. Tire was replaced, no specific tire information given. Tape player will not eject.
Door is falling apart, and all the parts inside keep coming out. Has not contacted dealer.
Vehicle stalled in traffic/cut off and lost power. Vehicle is running rough when driving. Have to keep feet on the brakes. When the vehicle cuts off, the steering wheel locks up.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Touring Sedan has 3 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, equipment. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (40%), A/C or heater (20%), knocking, grinding or other noise (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
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 2026-11-06.