1985 Oldsmobile Firenza problems
The Oldsmobile Firenza was a compact car which was produced by Oldsmobile from 1982 to 1988. It was based on the front-wheel drive GM J platform, which was shared with the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird. It was not based on the European market Vauxhall Firenza, but on the same platform as the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk 2 / Opel Ascona C. The Firenza name was previously used as a performance package on the previous generation Oldsmobile Starfire hatchback.
Overview
The all-new Firenza was introduced in March 1982, as a replacement for the departed rear-wheel drive Starfire. Initially available as a two-door hatchback and four-door sedan, the lineup was expanded to include a 4-door "Cruiser" wagon in 1983, and a two-door notchback coupe in 1986. The name "Cruiser" was applied to all Oldsmobile station wagons at the time; this included the mid-sized Cutlass Cruiser and full-size Custom Cruiser. The Firenza was positioned as Oldsmobile's entry-level compact car, priced below the slightly larger Omega and later Calais/Cutlass Calais. Despite this, the Firenza could be equipped with premium options such as power windows, power locks, and 14-inch alloy wheels. The 1982 Firenza LX sedan was listed for $8,080 ($25,511 in 2023 dollars ). It is named for the Italian translation of the city of Florence.
As a badge engineered, variant of the GM J-car platform, the Firenza received its own front and rear-end styling. The upper portion of the Firenza front end featured quad rectangular headlights separated by signal lights in recessed housings, with a sloped body-color panel between the headlights. The dashboard unit was shared with the Buick Skyhawk.
A horizontal-barred grille was mounted in the lower portion of the front fascia. The rear featured nearly square taillights with a slight wraparound at the outboard ends of the upper rear panel. The suspension was shared with the front-wheel-drive Omega and Cutlass Ciera, which consisted of MacPherson struts, lower control arms, coil springs and a stabilizer bar for the front, and a torsion-beam rear axle, along with coil springs and rear stabilizer bars.
The Firenza was launched with a 2.0-liter OHV inline four-cylinder engine as the sole powerplant, but an overhead-cam 1.8-liter engine was added during the model year. Oldsmobile did not utilize turbo on these engines, while Buick and Pontiac offered a turbo. Wraparound amber turn signal lights were added immediately outboard of the headlights for 1984. In 1985, the 2.8 L LB6 V6 was added as an option with the GT package.
For the Firenza's last model year in 1988, it received a conventional horizontal bar grille between new aerodynamic composite headlamps and new tail lights, styled similar to the Cutlass Ciera. Also for the Firenza's final year, the hatchback was dropped along with the V6, leaving just the four-cylinder notchback coupe, sedan, and wagon models. Also for 1988, all previous trim-level designations were dropped. All Firenza body styles came in a single unnamed base model that could be equipped with six various option packages.
Sales of the Cavalier and Sunbird annually dwarfed the Firenza. Due to this, the Firenza was not replaced in Oldsmobile's lineup, leaving the Cutlass Calais as the division's smallest car. The Cimarron was discontinued that year as well. Leeds Assembly, which built the Firenza, was closed. The Skyhawk lasted another year, while GM kept the first-generation Sunbird and Cavalier in production until 1994.
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Common 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza problems
The 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza, while not a performance powerhouse, was a compact car that aimed to cater to an evolving market focused on fuel efficiency. However, it faced several common problems that affected its overall appeal and reliability.
- Transmission Problems: Transmission issues were a common complaint among Firenza owners, with some reporting constant transmission problems. These issues could range from minor inconveniences, such as hard shifting or slipping gears, to more serious concerns, like complete transmission failure. Such problems not only affected the driving experience but also contributed to higher maintenance costs.
- Electrical Issues: Certain electrical components, such as dash lights, were known to fail in the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza. This issue could lead to inconvenience and safety concerns, as important warning lights might not function properly.
- Rattles and Noises: Some owners reported rattles and other noises coming from their Firenzas. These issues could be caused by various factors, including loose parts, worn-out components, or poor assembly quality. While not necessarily a major concern, rattles and noises could negatively impact the overall driving experience and perceived quality of the vehicle.
- Reliability Over Time: While the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza was generally considered reliable for daily driving, some models experienced issues over time. This could be due to various factors, including the quality of materials used, manufacturing defects, or lack of proper maintenance. As a result, some collectors might find certain Firenza models less desirable due to concerns about long-term reliability.
In summary, the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza faced common problems such as engine issues, transmission problems, electrical failures, rattles and noises, and concerns about long-term reliability. While these issues did not necessarily make the Firenza a poor choice for daily driving, they could impact the overall ownership experience and contribute to higher maintenance costs.
Who made the Firenza car?
The Oldsmobile Firenza was a compact car which was produced by Oldsmobile from 1982 to 1988. It was based on the front-wheel drive GM J platform, which was shared with the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird.
Why did Oldsmobile stop making cars?
The Aurora caused only a minor stir, however, and by 2000 GM announced plans to phase out the Oldsmobile brand due to dwindling sales. On April 29, 2004, after 106 years, the last Olds rolled off the assembly line.
What was the Italian car in The Godfather?
THE GODFATHER
A few scenes later, Apollonia is murdered as she starts the engine in an Alfa Romeo that was wired with a bomb. The Alfa Romeo featured here was actually Alfa's first postwar production model, the 6C 2500 Freccia d'Oro. Fortunately, the 6c which was blown up in the movie was a replica!
Why did the Cadillac Cimarron fail?
Forbes placed the Cimarron on its list of "Legendary Car Flops", citing low sales, poor performance and the fact the car "didn't work, coming from a luxury brand." CarBuzz called the Cimarron a "textbook example of what goes wrong when a carmaker tries to badge engineer an economy car into a luxury car."
Why did Oldsmobile stop making cars?
The Aurora caused only a minor stir, however, and by 2000 GM announced plans to phase out the Oldsmobile brand due to dwindling sales. On April 29, 2004, after 106 years, the last Olds rolled off the assembly line.
Who made the Firenza car?
The Oldsmobile Firenza was a compact car which was produced by Oldsmobile from 1982 to 1988. It was based on the front-wheel drive GM J platform, which was shared with the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird.
How did Oldsmobile fail?
After the tremendous success of the 1970s and 1980s, things changed quickly for Oldsmobile, and by the early 1990s the brand had lost its place in the market (as annual sales had fallen from a record high of 1,066,122 in 1985 to just 402,936 in 1993), squeezed between other GM divisions, and with competition from new ...
Can you still buy Oldsmobile?
Classic Oldsmobile Cars and Trucks
General Motors closed down its Oldsmobile division in 2004, but the iconic luxury vehicles made by the company are still remembered to this day. You can still find many of the cars made by Oldsmobile on the secondary market now, with a diverse array of car models available on eBay.
1985 Oldsmobile Firenza car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Oldsmobile Firenza problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1985 Oldsmobile Firenza complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-06-21
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G3JC69PXFK
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FIRE, SUSPECTED TO HAVE STARTED WITHIN FUEL SYSTEM. FIRE STARTED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK
1985 Oldsmobile Firenza recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza.
- Manufacturer: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
- Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Summary: THE ENGINE AIR CLEANER PLASTIC TRIM COVER COULD FALL OFF THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY AND LAND ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE CAR IS BEING OPERATED AT THE TIME THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM COVER FALLS OFF, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy: REMOVE THE TRIM COVER AND DISCARD.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza problems:
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Common Firenza problems included brake failure and engine fires. ... 1985) edit. 1981 Oldsmobile ... recalls and endemic problems than any other GM vehicle program.
Other years of Oldsmobile Firenza
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