Your vehicle report
1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 83
- Received Feb 1996 to Jan 2004
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Airbags fail to deploy in crashes8 complaints · 9.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up7 complaints · 8.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Check engine light comes on repeatedly5 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #95V173000These 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."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 10 crashes, 1 fire, 10 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 12 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1997 | 22 |
| 1998 | 23 |
| 1999 | 12 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 83 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 9.6% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 7 | 8.4% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 5 | 6.0% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 6.0% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 5 | 6.0% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 4 | 4.8% | – | |
| Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant | 4 | 4.8% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 4 | 4.8% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 4 | 4.8% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 3.6% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 3 | 3.6% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 3 | 3.6% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #95V173000September 15, 19952,216,325 vehicles affected
seat belts: front: anchorage
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."
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.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN