Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Delta 88.
The 1979 Oldsmobile Delta 88 is defined by a reliability record that includes three recalls and a total of two owner complaints. These complaints were centered specifically on the child seat. This low volume of reports indicates a stable reliability history for this model year.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 218.1 in |
| Overall width | 77.2 in |
| Overall height | 55.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.1 in |
| Curb weight | 3624 lb |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1979 Oldsmobile Delta 88 dominate in one area — the child seat, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the child seat, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the child seat pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE HEADS MAY BREAK OFF THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION EVEN UNDER NO LOAD CONDITIONS. THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF BOLTS USED, HIGH INSTALLATION TORQUE AND ARRANGEMENT OF… Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.
A GASKET WAS MISTAKENLY PLACED BETWEEN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE POWER BOOST WHICH PREVENTED THE TWO PARTS FROM FITTING TOGETHER PROPERLY. DAMAGE MAY HAVE RESULTED TO THE MOUNTING EARS OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRO-BOOST UNIT, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.