1996 Oldsmobile Ciera SL from North America - Comments

A/C Compressor seals gone when purchased. This is a chronic problem for every GM car I've owned.

Noisy motor. I've been told it's the intake manifold gasket causing a ticking or minor knock. Better gas helps reduce this.

Very noisy transmission. Makes a very noticeable grinding noise when turning at low-moderate speeds. Noisy enough to cause people to look.

Disc brake calipers replaced at 90,000 & 125,000. The remanufactured ones are worse than the factory ones. Use GM replacement parts for these.

Water pump replaced at 95,000. Cheap fix and easy to do if you're so inclined.

Gas tank & sending unit replaced at 120,000.

Generally, I'm quite pleased with the car overall. For 1996, this was a 'fleet only' vehicle, so the options package is a bit wierd (power locks, but no power windows. A/C & auto, but no cruise).

In late 1995, GM made a change in the 3.1 V6 engine which causes them to be noisy (most cars that had these motors in 95 & 96 experienced this issue). Lifter tap, piston slap, rod knocks, whatever you want to call it. I've been told this is caused by a leaky intake manifold gasket. After 50,000 miles, I have yet to address the issue and the engine runs fine. It does rob the motor of some if it's performance, but gas mileage is still the same (24C/31H). We've just renamed the car the "Gutlass" and keep on driving it.

The transmission makes a grinding sound when turning. The sound will dissipate once you're going straight. Almost sounds as if the tranny is running dry, but my fluid levels are fine. Could be a faulty transmission pump or lousy torque converter. I haven't bothered to address it and the tranny is still working. Another issue is hard shifting from 1st to 2nd, but that's only a sticky solenoid which will be fixed when/if it fails.

I have not had any issues with door handles falling off on any 90's vintage GM car I've owned... (all high mileage when sold/traded/junked)

These cars do rust, especially here in the Northeast! Trunk lids & gas tanks are always the first to go. Fuel & brake lines are usually not far behind.

Changing of rear plugs on any V6 is a pain. For these cars, simply removing the bracket for the MAP sensor will give better access. I actually did my own plugs without removing anything, took about 2 hours.

This was my second Ciera (the first an '87 w/V6), and has met my expectations. Keep the engines tuned up, and go easy on the tranny and these cars will last until they rot away.

The grinding sound you describe reminds me of a power steering pump problem I had with my 92 Cutlass. Mine had a fluid leak, and 80% of the time made a loud whine/grinding sound when turning, especially when turning very sharply, as in a parking lot. I put some fluid with a stop-leak agent and the sound has not returned. I hope this helps.

I wrote the original review posted above. That vehicle made it to 154,000 miles, when one of the heads cracked (my fault for driving her hard one day). But, somehow I stumbled onto another 1996 Ciera at the local county auction for the price of $700, with 51,000 miles on her and equipped identically (3.1w/4spd) I couldn't pass it up. Well, it appears that many of the Ciera's problems are age related, not mileage related. Right off the bat, had to change a rotted fuel tank, just like the previous one. Rotted brake lines changed too. While I don't have a noisy torque converter in this car, the hard shift from 1st-2nd is there. Transmission overheats a bit when taxed (high speeds with AC on, or going up long grades). Noisy A/C compressor when off, but quiet when it's clutch is engaged. Rust is becoming an issue, although it's due to lousy paintwork (paint flaking off). Fuel economy is similar to my previous car, and generally the car drives out very similar. That is to say, she leans like an old Chrysler in a curve, but tracks through OK. Both cars had issues with the ABS system taxing the alternator. No idea why. Still the same noisy 3.1L under the hood too. Just a bad engine in my book, but it keeps up with modern cars OK. Can't really complain at this point. For the car is getting on 13 years old, now with 72,000 miles, most repairs have been routine for a car this age here in the rust belt. But.. they haven't been cheap. So, if you do your own repairs, these cars pay for themselves pretty quick. If you let a shop do them, expect to shell out the bucks. That said, this car is a 'thumb-on-the-wheel' driver, even at highway speeds. It rides OK, it's obscenely easy to drive, I've never had another that was more stable on snow covered roads (all my Ciera's were/are exceptional in snow). For such a technologically antiquated vehicle, they make really good commuter transportation vehicles. Not flashy and it won't get you a date anytime soon, but it'll get you where you're going without drama or denting your wallet that much.

It's too bad Detroit just won't build a simple bare bones cheap sedan anymore. Every country had one: Russia had the Lada, Europe had the Beetle, and we had the Ciera.

Fellow '96 Ciera owner here, and agree with just about all your analysis on the car, it's faithful and ordinary, all day long. Do most of my driving with a thumb at the bottom of the steering wheel, too. A/C compressor and driver's window regulator are bad on mine. Window isn't getting fixed, but I'm wondering about how much I should budget for the compressor, since I won't be doing it myself. Hope your second Ciera is still running true. I just bought my sister a '95 Ciera, even nicer than mine, and she is head over heels with it already.

Grettings,

I just picked up a 1995 Oldsmobile Ciera SL with 75k miles and super clean, I had to replace power window motor on driver side, but other than that I just love this car. Would like to hear comments about this model if anybody has anything to share.

-yammagamma.

I own a 1996 Ciera, the driver side and passenger side electric window regulators are about gone, I believe this should have been a recall item.

Air conditioning line installed way too close to the fan shroud housing and it was cut in a matter of little time, replaced and wrapped the new hose with metal type material to prevent chaffing. Car has 3.1 litre engine and is very peppy, no problems noted with tranny but we kept the fluids and filter changed ahead of schedule. Car now has around 85.000 miles and still runs very well. Engine rattling noise noted on cold startup, but dissapates as engine warms up. Had to replace intake gaskets, the DEXCOOL radiator fluid ate up the originals.

Not a bad little car for running around town and even does respectable job on the freeway, I love the shift into overdrive, really brings down those RPM's!!!