1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo problems

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The Oldsmobile Toronado is a personal luxury car manufactured and marketed by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors from 1966 to 1992 over four generations. The Toronado was noted for its transaxle version of GM's Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, making it the first U.S.-produced front-wheel drive automobile since the demise of the Cord 810/812 in 1937.

The Toronado used the GM E platform introduced by the rear-wheel drive Buick Riviera in 1963 and adopted for the front-wheel drive 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. The three models shared the E platform for most of the Toronado's 26-year history.

The name "Toronado" had no prior meaning and was originally selected for a 1963 Chevrolet show car.

1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo

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Common 1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo problems

The 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo is a luxury coupe known for its pleasing performance and boatload of features. However, like any other vehicle, it has its share of common problems.

One of the most frequently reported issues is a bearing knock due to excessive clearance on the number-one main bearing in the engine. This problem was particularly prevalent in the 1992 model year and could lead to significant engine damage if left unaddressed.

Another common issue with the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo is electrical problems, particularly with the Visual Information Center (VIC) and the instrument panel cluster (IPC). These problems can manifest as a failure of the speedometer, gauges, and climate controls, as well as a persistent door chime. The root cause of these issues is often a faulty power distribution block located under the center console.

In some cases, the electrical problems with the VIC and IPC can be resolved by replacing the affected components, which can be costly. However, some owners have reported success in repairing their IPCs by sending them to specialized repair shops or purchasing used parts from salvage yards.

Additionally, some owners have reported issues with the air conditioning system and speakers in their 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo. These problems may be related to the electrical issues with the VIC and IPC, but they can also be caused by other factors, such as worn-out components or leaks in the air conditioning system.

Finally, it's worth noting that the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo was equipped with GM's 3.8-liter V6 engine, which was known for its reliability but could suffer from issues such as worn-out spark plugs, ignition coils, and other components over time. Regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent these issues and ensure the longevity of the engine.

In summary, the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo is a desirable luxury coupe with pleasing performance and a boatload of features. However, like any other vehicle, it has its share of common problems, including bearing knock, electrical issues, and air conditioning and speaker problems. Regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent these issues and ensure the longevity of the vehicle.

1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo engine

1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Oldsmobile Trofeo problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Unknown or other problems
  • Vehicle speed control problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo complaints

The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo.

1999-11-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: THE DRIVER DISPLAY MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE GAUGES AND DASH LIGHTS TO BE INOPERATIVE IN WET, COLD, OR DAMP WEATHER, THE MAIN COMPUTER BUS DID NOT FUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM FOR OTHER MONITORED SYSTEMS. *SLC
1999-10-04

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-09-15
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES. STARTER INOPERATIVE WHEN CAR IS HOT, NO HEAT, AC, BRAKES,ETC.
1999-07-07

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK
1998-09-30

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1998-09-08
  • VIN: 1G3EV13CXLU
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: HYDRAULIC BRAKE MOTOR AND PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.
1995-12-14

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-12-14
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT PULLED THE STEERING RIGHT PULLS STEERING OUT OF HAND. TT
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1990 Oldsmobile Trofeo problems:

1990 Toronado Trofeo : r/Oldsmobile
1990 Toronado Trofeo : r/Oldsmobile
https://www.reddit.com/r/Oldsmobile/comments/1435cph/1990_toronado_trofeo/

Jun 7, 2023 ... Considering buying this 1990 Toronado Trofeo, has 72K miles and is rust free, any common problems with them?

1990 Olds Trofeo VIC - Buick Reatta - Antique Automobile Club of ...
1990 Olds Trofeo VIC - Buick Reatta - Antique Automobile Club of ...
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/215062-1990-olds-trofeo-vic/

May 2, 2013 ... I do know a common problem on these is loss of vertical deflection (results in the picture being squashed down to one horizontal line at mid ...

Q&A: 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo - Common Issues & Solutions
Q&A: 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo - Common Issues & Solutions
https://www.justanswer.com/oldsmobile/5elgc-oldsmobile-1992toronado-trofeo-two-92-olds-toronado.html

Aug 13, 2011 ... What causes intermittent failure of 92 Olds Toronado Trofeos? - Answered by a verified Oldsmobile Mechanic.

1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo - Oldsmobile Forum - Oldsmobile ...
1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo - Oldsmobile Forum - Oldsmobile ...
https://oldsmobileforum.com/forum/toronado-27/1990-oldsmobile-tornado-trofeo-48/

Sep 27, 2004 ... I have seen this problem before in other GM vehicles with this type of security. This is a common problem for cars with resistors imbedded in ...

Possible Electrical Problem 1990 Trofeo | The Oldsmobile Owners ...
Possible Electrical Problem 1990 Trofeo | The Oldsmobile Owners ...
https://oldsmobileforums.com/forums/threads/possible-electrical-problem-1990-trofeo.13999/

Aug 26, 2011 ... Hey everyone, I am the proud new owner of a 1990 Toronado Trofeo and have experiencing some problems related to the VIC and the instrument ...

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