RecallMyCar

1979 Oldsmobile 88 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1979 Oldsmobile 88, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA

3 safety recalls for the 1979 Oldsmobile 88

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 79V247000 Reported 1,326,404 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The heads may break off the front outboard seat belt anchor bolts during normal vehicle operation even under no load conditions. This is due to the combination of bolts used, high installation torque and arrangement of the body anchorage.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace all original equipment front outboard seat belt anchor bolts on the affected vehicles at no cost to owner.

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V121000 Reported 134 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 106, "brake hoses". These vehicles were manufactured with gasoline fuel hoses in place of the vacuum hose between the intake manifold and carbon canister in the power brake vacuum line. Should this hose rupture, it would result in a loss of power assist to…

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the incorrect hose with the correct vacuum hose.

  3. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 78V247000 Reported 67 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    A gasket was mistakenly placed between the brake master cylinder and the power boost which prevented the two parts from fitting together properly. Damage may have resulted to the mounting ears of the master cylinder and the hydro-boost. This condition could lead to brake failure.

    Remedy: The dealer will install a new brake master cylinder and hydro-boost unit, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1979 Oldsmobile 88 have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I would just like to know how to keep my daughter safe, she is over 40 pounds but can not use a booster because the back seat does not have shoulder belts? Should i put her in the front? They say that”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 28, 2001 · Child seat

“Tires (ultra supreme 770) do not stop vehicle, skids.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 2, 1998 · Tires

Compare Oldsmobile 88 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Oldsmobile 88 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Oldsmobile 8810
1968 Oldsmobile 8830
1971 Oldsmobile 8820
1972 Oldsmobile 8831
1974 Oldsmobile 8810
1975 Oldsmobile 8820
1976 Oldsmobile 8812
1977 Oldsmobile 8821
1978 Oldsmobile 8820
1979 Oldsmobile 8832
1980 Oldsmobile 8820
1981 Oldsmobile 8804
1982 Oldsmobile 8813
1984 Oldsmobile 8839
1985 Oldsmobile 8827
1986 Oldsmobile 88119
1987 Oldsmobile 88218
1988 Oldsmobile 88037
1989 Oldsmobile 88227
1990 Oldsmobile 88124
1991 Oldsmobile 88116
1992 Oldsmobile 88173
1993 Oldsmobile 88174
1994 Oldsmobile 88163
1995 Oldsmobile 881117
1996 Oldsmobile 88292
1997 Oldsmobile 880101
1998 Oldsmobile 881164
1999 Oldsmobile 88277

Checking a specific 1979 Oldsmobile 88

How do I know if my 1979 Oldsmobile 88 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1979 Oldsmobile 88; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Oldsmobile dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V247000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Oldsmobile models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.