Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1991 Oldsmobile 88: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Oldsmobile 88, most recently filed September 1991. Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Oldsmobile 88. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1991 Oldsmobile 88. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 91V167000 Filed Sep 23, 1991

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE:MECHANICAL:LEVER SETTLING

Parking brake · conventional · mechanical
Official NHTSA text
Summary
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Consequence
DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Remedy
REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
Repair progress not yet reported20,765 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 91V167000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (16)

16 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.

1involved a crash
1involved a fire
2injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1991 Oldsmobile 88, by component (top 8). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 16.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1991 compares with other 88 years

Best and worst 88 years →
1987198819891990199119921993199419951996
This year (1991)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1991 88 for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All 88 years

Where to next

1991 Oldsmobile 88 FAQ

How many recalls does the 1991 Oldsmobile 88 have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 91V167000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1991 Oldsmobile 88 problems?

Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (6), Parking brake (3), Electrical system (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

How does the 1991 88 compare with other years?

Among the 1987–1996 Oldsmobile 88 model years at least five years old, the 1991 drew the fewest complaints (16) and the 1995 the most (117). The 1991 drew 16. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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