1996 Oldsmobile Ciera: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 107 complaints
107
Total Complaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
AIR BAGS
2

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BUTTON TO SET THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS VERY HOT AND BURNT DRIVERS FINGER WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST BRIGHTNESS. *AK"
"BUTTON TO SET THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS VERY HOT AND BURNT DRIVERS FINGER WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST BRIGHTNESS. *AK"
"WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST BOOSTER WHEN BRAKE ACTION SEEMED INEFFECTIVE, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28