Model year record

1996 Oldsmobile Ciera recalls & problems

The 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera has 1 safety recall and 83 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (28 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints83filed by owners

Crashes · fires10 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths10 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsSep 15, 1995

Front › Anchorage

Recall 95V1730002,216,325 vehicles

Problem: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Ciera SL

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Ciera SL

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.1 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Ciera SL Wagon

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.1 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	28	4	0	2	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	15	0	0	0	60,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)	12	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; 12v/24v/48v battery	10	0	1	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	8	6	0	4	—
StructureBody › Hood; Frame and members	7	0	0	1	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages; Cruise control	5	0	0	1	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system › Injectors; Delivery	4	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	4	0	0	0	—
VisibilityGlass, side/rear; Windshield	3	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › Engine
HEAD GASKET LEAKED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHEN HE WENT INTO GARAGE THERE WAS WATER ON THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED. CONSUMER FELT THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Jan 30, 2004 · 44,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK INTO OIL
Dec 15, 2001 · 65,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK ON GM 3.1 L V6. *NLM
Dec 14, 2002 · 60,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2002. WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Dec 1, 2002
Seat belts › Front › AnchorageCrash2 injuries
THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED AND THE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS DID NOT HOLD US IN PLACE. DT
Nov 17, 2002
Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT FOR 2 MINUTES AND START BACK UP, AND STALL BACK OUT AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING.CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.*AK
May 9, 2002
Vehicle speed control
WHILE YIELDING ONTO HIGHWAY, STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AFTER RELEASING PEDAL, ACCELERATED AT 80MPH. THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, HAD TO GEAR INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. *AK *TT
Apr 24, 2002
Power train › Manual transmission
CONSUMER STATES THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE LIGHT ANF FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. NLM
Apr 19, 2002

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.