Most common 1997 Oldsmobile 88 problems
Share of the 101 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Oldsmobile 88 complaints by model year
Best 88 years: 1999, 1996. Years to avoid: 1998. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Oldsmobile 88:
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
What 1997 Oldsmobile 88 owners say
Engine & cooling all 28 →
Tl contact owns a 1997 Oldsmobile lss. The contact heard a loud explosion under the hood of the vehicle immediately after it was started. As he opened the hood, he noticed a fire in the engine compartment. He used a fire extinguisher to put the fire out. The air intake and device on the engine cover were destroyed as a result of the fire. The manufacturer advised the contact that a product allegation representative would notify him. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Upper intake manifold failure( plastic part) on highway . Engine overheated from coolant leaking inside engine for the 3rd time . First leak coolant outside engine. 2nd time bad oil leak. 3rd time this.
Electrical system
Vehicle had been parked for awhile. Had got in and inserted key in ignition and started it. Suddenly, vehicle blew up and then caught on fire. Engine compartment had blown. Had no indication of cause of problem. Fire possibly caused by an electrical failure.
My complaint is that when the weather is cold, my horn doesn't work until the whole steering wheel warms up, which can take up to an hour. The service department at my olds dealer is apparently aware of this because they advised the only thing I can do is to replace the $700+ air bag because all the wiring for the horn is run through the air bag. As far as I'm concerned, this is a manufacturer's defect and is extremely dangerous. This should be a recall. There was no "incident" but apparently I have to put in a date so I will just make one up so I can proceed with my complaint.
Transmission & drivetrain
Many problems with the 88- anti-lock brake replacement transmission control box replacement and now the car has a shaking problem that dealer cannot figure out with 54000 miles it is on it's 5th set of tires and numerious computer balancing's and cannot find the problem the are has had rotors turned, wheel bearings replaced. Axels and rod's checked into but dealer says they don't know what is causing it and has given up!!! Please help thanks( dot number: )
The car lost complete power on the highway. Started again with enough power to pull off the road. The GM dealer in traverse city mi. Stated the car needed a complete transmission and drive shaft. If this happened on a busy road, it would be very dangerous. This car was never abused and should not have this problem at 49000. Miles.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Oldsmobile 88 a good car?
Based on 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 88 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the 88 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Oldsmobile 88?
The engine & cooling — 28 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the electrical system (14) and transmission & drivetrain (12).
How many recalls does the 1997 Oldsmobile 88 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Oldsmobile 88. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Oldsmobile 88?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998. See the full Oldsmobile 88 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Oldsmobile 88 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.