1983 Oldsmobile Ciera problems
The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed for model years 1982-1996 by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors — over a single generation. Body styles included a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and the 4-door wagon.
The Cutlass Ciera shared the front-wheel drive A platform with the Buick Century, Pontiac 6000 and Chevrolet Celebrity. As part of their legacy, together the A-bodies became widely popular as well as synonymous with GM's most transparent examples of badge engineering, highlighted almost indistinguishably on the August 22, 1983 cover of Fortune magazine as examples of genericized uniformity, embarrassing the company and ultimately prompting GM to recommit to design leadership.
Background
The Cutlass Ciera and its A-Body platform twins, featured MacPherson strut front suspension, body-color urethane bumpers, flush-mounted glass, front-wheel drive, and on many models, fuel injection.
The Cutlass Ciera shared the Cutlass nameplate with the smaller Cutlass Calais and the upscale Cutlass Supreme. Oldsmobile had previously used the Celebrity brand in the 1960s, but GM chose to give that name to Chevrolet. With the Ciera, Oldsmobile established Cutlass as sub-brand for its line of mainstream sedans and coupes.
Initially, the Cutlass Ciera and its platform mates were marketed as premium mid-sized cars, above the X-Body, from which they were derived, and the N-Body Calais, which would follow for 1985.
The Ciera and Cruiser replaced the rear-wheel drive G-Body Cutlass models, but strong sales kept the higher trim Cutlass Supreme in production until the 1988 model year when it was replaced by the W-Body models. As such, these front-wheel drive sedans carried the A-Body designation, previously reserved for their rear-wheel drive showroom companions. In order to keep both lines in production, General Motors rechristened the rear-wheel drive mid-sized platform as the G-Body beginning with the 1982 model year.
When the W-Body coupes were introduced for 1988, Oldsmobile reduced the number of options and configurations available. During the model years that followed, luxury and performance options such as FE3 suspension, auto calculator, bucket seats, leather seating areas, sunroofs, and full instrumentation were gradually eliminated.
Originally for 1990, the Cutlass Ciera, as with the rest of the A-body range, was intended to be phased out in favor of the more modern W-body midsized sedans. However, the Ciera, as well as its sister the Buick Century, continued to remain popular nearing the end of their initial runs. Thus, it was decided that the older Cutlass Ciera and Century would instead continue production alongside their proposed replacements, the Cutlass Supreme and Regal respectively, as lower priced alternatives.
After 1990, special editions of the Cutlass Ciera were dropped from the American market and by the end of 1991, the coupe was discontinued. Although reduced to two trim levels and two body styles, sedan and wagon, the Cieras remained the brand's best-selling line for 1996.
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Common 1983 Oldsmobile Ciera problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Oldsmobile Ciera 1983, several common problems have been identified:
- Vacuum Line Damage: Many owners experienced cracked and damaged vacuum lines in the Oldsmobile Ciera 1983. These damaged lines can lead to vacuum leaks, affecting engine performance and potentially causing drivability issues.
- Electrical and ECU Problems: Some owners faced wiring and ECU issues, leading to a check engine light coming on without being able to retrieve error codes. This indicates potential serious wiring or ECU malfunctions that can impact the overall performance and drivability of the vehicle.
- Quality and Reliability Concerns: Owners highlighted quality problems with the Oldsmobile Ciera 1983, such as faulty washer pumps, lack of air conditioning, poor upholstery, and radiator issues. These quality concerns affected the overall driving experience and reliability of the vehicle.
- Engine Reliability: The Oldsmobile Ciera 1983 was criticized for engine reliability issues, with components eventually failing and causing performance problems. This impacted the overall longevity and dependability of the vehicle, leading to maintenance challenges for owners.
- Comparative Performance: Owners compared the Oldsmobile Ciera 1983 to newer models, highlighting the car's outdated features, lack of modern amenities, and inferior performance compared to contemporary vehicles. This comparison emphasized the car's shortcomings in terms of comfort, technology, and overall driving experience.
These common problems reported by owners of the Oldsmobile Ciera 1983 reflect a range of issues related to carburetor, vacuum lines, electrical systems, quality concerns, engine reliability, and comparative performance. Addressing these issues would have improved the overall ownership experience and longevity of the vehicle for many owners.
What was the last Oldsmobile Ciera?
Production of the Ciera ended on August 30, 1996. It was replaced in the U.S. by the N-body 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass, also built at the Oklahoma City assembly plant. As a result, the 1996 Cruiser wagon was the final Oldsmobile station wagon model produced.
How much horsepower does the Cutlass Ciera have?
160 horsepower
How fast is the 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera? The 1995 Cutlass Ciera boasts 160 horsepower.
Is an Oldsmobile Cutlass reliable?
It ranks 6th in reliability out of 12 eligible Oldsmobile models. Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems. The average Oldsmobile score is 3.73 while the Cutlass Supreme comes in at 2.41.
How much is a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera worth?
A: The lowest recorded sale price was $4,500 for a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser on Nov 4 2023. Q: What is the average sale price of a Oldsmobile Ciera? A: The average price of a Oldsmobile Ciera is $8,400.
What was the last Oldsmobile Ciera?
Production of the Ciera ended on August 30, 1996. It was replaced in the U.S. by the N-body 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass, also built at the Oklahoma City assembly plant. As a result, the 1996 Cruiser wagon was the final Oldsmobile station wagon model produced.
Was Oldsmobile considered a luxury car?
Was Oldsmobile a luxury brand? Yes. But it's complicated, and “yes” is far from an absolute answer. The General Motors hierarchy of brands changed a lot over the past 120 years or so; it can be hard to keep them all straight.
Is an Oldsmobile Cutlass reliable?
It ranks 6th in reliability out of 12 eligible Oldsmobile models. Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems. The average Oldsmobile score is 3.73 while the Cutlass Supreme comes in at 2.41.
How much horsepower does the Cutlass Ciera have?
160 horsepower
How fast is the 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera? The 1995 Cutlass Ciera boasts 160 horsepower.
1983 Oldsmobile Ciera car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Oldsmobile Ciera problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Steering problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1983 Oldsmobile Ciera vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1983 Oldsmobile Ciera complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1983 Oldsmobile Ciera.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1989-10-09
- VIN: 1GBAJ27R7DD
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: RACK/PINION FAILED 4 TIMES. *DH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-09-05
- VIN: 1GBAJ27R7DD
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: MOTOR FAILED.
1983 Oldsmobile Ciera recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1983 Oldsmobile Ciera.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
- Summary: THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ALL SUSPECT VALVES.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1983 Oldsmobile Ciera problems:
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Other years of Oldsmobile Ciera
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