Overview & Reviews

At the dawn of the automobile, Oldsmobile was there. Owned by General Motors, Oldsmobile was the most senior domestic marque and one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, with a run that spanned some 107 years.

Ransom E. Olds was born in Ohio, but moved to Lansing, Michigan, to work in his father's machine shop. His experiences there helped whet his appetite for all things automotive, and he soon garnered enough expertise to develop a gasoline-powered vehicle. Joining forces with other partners, Olds cofounded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. By the early 1900s, the company had introduced the nation to upscale models like the Curved Dash and had risen to become the best-selling car company in the United States.

Ransom Olds eventually left the company and it was sold to General Motors in 1908, where it became known as the Oldsmobile Division. More than ever, Oldsmobile became the brand of choice for car buyers seeking vehicles steeped in luxury and sophistication. Early models like the 1915 Model 42 Touring Roadster offered sleek lines and style aplenty. The 1918 Model 37 was its first model to offer a closed top, ensuring that the brand's well-heeled buyers had protection from the elements.

Oldsmobile had another hit in the 1920s with the Model 46, a V8-powered touring car that seated seven. The manufacturer did its part to make sure that the decade's elegance wasn't lost on its automobiles. It introduced fancy chrome-plated trim that served to raise the glamour quotient of its already eye-catching vehicles.

The '30s was a decade of innovation for the brand. The company wooed customers with its "Knee-Action" independent front suspension, an affordably priced option that served to improve ride quality. The company also offered one of the earliest automatic transmissions, freeing drivers from the rigors of the clutch with its four-speed "Hydra-matic" system.

Postwar, Oldsmobile gave consumers the Rocket 88. The car offered new levels of performance, giving the North American market its first taste of the short-stroke, overhead-valve V8. The car was adored by enthusiasts, and was chosen to serve as the pace car for the 1949 Indy 500.

The 1950s saw Olds continuing to distinguish itself as a purveyor of fine performance machines. With a name inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, its 1953 Starfire show car offered a fiberglass body, a stylishly low beltline and most importantly, a 200-horsepower engine. The car was one of the first to display a wraparound windshield, and in the years following, many other manufacturers adopted this styling cue.

Oldsmobile's innovations continued into the 1960s. The manufacturer was the first since the 1930s Cord to taste success with a front-wheel-drive vehicle, in the form of its sporty Toronado. The '70s saw Olds breaking new ground in the area of safety. In 1974, it introduced a Toronado equipped with a driver-side airbag; Olds was the first domestic automaker to offer this feature. Around this time, the company's Cutlass had also become one of America's favorite cars.

Less successful was the company's effort to get on board with diesel technology. In 1978, Oldsmobile introduced a 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine as a response to that decade's fuel crisis; the engine was meant to appeal to buyers desperate to save money at the pump. Rising diesel prices and the unreliability of the engines caused the program to suffer, and Oldsmobile was eventually forced to terminate its efforts on this front.

In the '80s, Oldsmobile left its competitors in the dust when its Aerotech — piloted by noted racecar driver A.J. Foyt — set a closed-course world speed record of 257 mph. The company continued to have a huge hit with its Cutlass; the model spent much of the decade atop the sales charts.

The '90s saw Oldsmobile's introduction of Guidestar, the first onboard navigation system combining mapping and satellite positioning. The company made history yet again when its race-modified Aurora V8 won the Indy 500, making Olds the first manufacturer to pace and win the race in the same year.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Oldsmobile's sales were in a rut. The brand's identity had suffered over the years due to parts-sharing and rebadging within the GM camp. GM ultimately decided to pull the plug, and the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in model-year 2004.

User Reviews:

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  Dont drive this Bravada SUV in snow! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Bravada owner - August 23 - 2:00 am

  The outside and interior of the Bravada is what sold me. However, from day one, there is a vibration as the car shifts into gear. The dealer could not duplicate the vibration. I live in snow country and my front bumper popped loose as I backed out of my driveway over approximately 6" of snow! This is an SUV and it cannot withstand normal winter driving! I am very disappointed and after owning the vehicle for four months, I am ready to trade. My AWD light came on, but the next day the mechanic said the AWD was in working order.

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  not reliable - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By not reliable - August 18 - 10:00 am

  bought olds bravada three years ago had nothing but problems from the start the second day I drove it it wouldnt start the battery terminals were loose since then i have replaced wheel bearings and hub assembly THREE times twice on driver front once on passenger, also idler arm, ball joints (both sides upper and lower), new alternator, constant default in power windows, u joints, front differential....must i go on. I have only put on 30k since I got it. Maybe the whole vehicle should be recalled and our money plus some returned!!!!!! I have almost sucessfully put a new front end on my car!!!

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  Beware-o Alero 2001 GLS Sedan - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Den1 - August 14 - 4:23 am

  I have had numerous problems with this car, the most expensive of which is the coolant system leaks due to poor design at GM. Theres a class action lawsuit on this because it is such a consistent problem on these engines (3.4 Liter). If you have this engine, it will develop leaks. It cant possibly do otherwise since the coolant actually erodes the gasket material. Its simply a matter of time. Now with the wheel and brake problems and the numerous small issues, I have to say this would be a terrible choice as a used vehicle. If you like your money, stay away from it.

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  A Bottomless Money Pit - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Joe - August 13 - 10:10 pm

  This car has caused me quite a bit of trouble. I bought it with 30,000 miles on it and it now has just under 100,000. Ive had to replace mufflers on it three times. I replaced the gas tank on it, along with a fuel pump because I would nearly stall after coming down certain hills. This probably needs to be fixed again, as its acting up. About 1,000 miles ago my belt tensioner broke, spinning my belt off the pulleys so that no water made it to my radiator and so my engine overheated on the spot. This happened out of nowhere for no reason. A cable snapped in my left mirror so I need to wedge something there to keep the mirror aimed where I want it. This car needs one fix after another.

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  Piece Of steaming crap. - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By macinman - July 25 - 6:33 am

  I bought my 98 olds at a dealership and from day 1 the car has had problem after problem and now after 7 months the rod blew out the side of the car and is being deemed totaled.

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  1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sedan - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By lemko - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Not a bad car, but not a very good car either. It is the very epitome of average. The car is obviously a Chevrolet Malibu doing a poor imitation of an Oldsmobile. The 3.1 V-6 is rather anemic while delivering poor fuel economy. The interior is a classic example of why many criticize GM - its contemporary American rental car. Despite all these faults, the car is rather reliable and holds up well against it harsh urban environment.

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  Fun to Drive, but not Reliable - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Michelle - May 16 - 11:00 pm

  This is a stylish car that is fun to drive, but its not reliable. First, all four of the power windows quit working. Then the regulator broke in ALL four windows so the windows would not stay up. Now the A/C is on the fritz and it has had numerous electrical problems that are extremely expensive to fix. The cruise control no longer works and the drivers side sun visor broke so it no longer stays up.

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  cheaply made - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Joe - May 16 - 7:26 pm

  This car is good looking and has a lot of pep. Unfortunately out of view the car is cheaply made. I bought the car with about 50k. The car was a one owner and well maintained so I expected only normal maintenance, but not so. The latest expense, the power window mechanisms have to be replaced,lf an rr, along with the lf window because the clamps that hold the window to the up and down track came off. This latest cost $530. Cruise control switch, front wheel bearings power steering problems in the past. The car has a lot of road noise and the dash is cracking. Ive been a GM fan for years but now I finally understand why so many people buy imports.

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  Not too Impressed - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By DBNJ - May 1 - 1:46 pm

  I got this car cheap ($4,000), but it has had lots of problems already. It needed an intake manifold job, the gas gauge and AC have problems, and now the ABS light is coming on. The brakes are low-grade. The V6 engine is powerful but unrefined and has to work too hard for good pickup. Also, the cupholder next to the steering wheel is lousy. The style is pretty nice for and the seats are comfortable.

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  Last one for me! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By drmimller - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Im glad that Olds is going to stop making the Bravada soon. This is my third one and they keep getting worse. The 2002 has demonstrated the worst quality control during the build that I have ever experienced in a new vehicle. It started with a bad paint job, followed by a problem with the AWD system, then trim on the rear gate coming loose and replaced, followed by a moonroof air deflector that would not respond to repair and finally caused a total moonroof module replacement, and finally (to date!)replacement of front door power windows control unit replacement (wouldnt go all the way down).