Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1986 Oldsmobile Calais. 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 ↗STRUCTURE:FRAME:MEMBERS AND BODY:OTHER PARTS
- Summary
- SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.
- Consequence
- CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
- Remedy
- INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.
STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES
- Summary
- THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY BE INCORRECTLY ALIGNED, OR MAY EXHIBIT A BINDING CONDITION OF THE LATCH PIVOT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH NOT BEING COMPLETELY ENGAGED TO THE HOOD, THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WILL BE REPLACED AND INSPECT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH POP-UP LEVER.
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 (7)
7 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 42.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 42.9% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 28.6% |
| Steering | 2 | 28.6% |
| Equipment | 1 | 14.3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 14.3% |
| Structure | 1 | 14.3% |
| Tires | 1 | 14.3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 14.3% |
| Wheels | 1 | 14.3% |
How 1986 compares with other Calais years
Best and worst Calais years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3 | 4 |
| 1986 | 7 | 2 |
| 1987 | 5 | 1 |
| 1988 | 18 | 2 |
| 1989 | 18 | 2 |
| 1990 | 12 | 1 |
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.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1986 Calais 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.
Where to next
1986 Oldsmobile Calais FAQ
How many recalls does the 1986 Oldsmobile Calais have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 87V124000 (structure), 86V121000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1986 Oldsmobile Calais problems?
Owners filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (3), Engine and engine cooling (3), Fuel system (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1986 Oldsmobile Calais get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 31 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1986 Calais compare with other years?
Among the 1985–1990 Oldsmobile Calais model years at least five years old, the 1985 drew the fewest complaints (3) and the 1989 the most (18). The 1986 drew 7. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
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.