U.S. public vehicle records

Oldsmobile TORONADO brakes problems

11 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.

Key facts

40 owner complaints analyzed

17 distinct recall campaigns

121,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 1995 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Braking behavior evidence

11 of 40 complaints match this topic (27.5%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.

Owner report 806548 · 1996-12-18 (December 18, 1996)

MAKING TURN INTO ALLEY, APPLIED BRAKES, BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE WENT UP PHONE LINE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 806548 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974797 · 1995-11-08 (November 8, 1995)

ABS BRAKING PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974797 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 517802 · 1997-06-18 (June 18, 1997)

UPON APPLICATION OF ABS BRAKES IN PANIC STOP, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND EXPERIENCES REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS FOR ABOUT A SECOND, THEN BRAKES BEGIN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 517802 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 530453 · 1998-02-08 (February 8, 1998)

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 530453 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 530461 · 1998-02-08 (February 8, 1998)

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 530461 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

40 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

2.5%Usable mileage1 / 40 records

77.5%Valid incident date31 / 40 records

100.0%Valid filing date40 / 40 records

77.5%Ordered incident and filing dates31 / 40 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 723860 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 723860 at NHTSA ↗	318.8% ODI 517802 UPON APPLICATION OF ABS BRAKES IN PANIC STOP, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND EXPERIENCES REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS FOR ABOUT A SECOND, THEN BRAKES BEGIN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. *AK Look up ODI 517802 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 982182 ABS: BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY, ESPECIALLY IF ROAD IS WET; BRAKES EMIT A CLICKING SOUND WHEN APPLIED; CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK Look up ODI 982182 at NHTSA ↗	250.0% ODI 505421 ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD Look up ODI 505421 at NHTSA ↗	1100.0% ODI 967695 ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE BRAKIG, TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AK Look up ODI 967695 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	425.0% ODI 783803 THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EXPERIENCED AND ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS AND INDICATOR NOT TO WORK ON DAMP OR COLD WEATHER. NLM Look up ODI 783803 at NHTSA ↗	250.0% ODI 539645 INSTRUMENT PANEL:CLUSTER MODULE FAILED. Look up ODI 539645 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Structure:Frame And Members	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 729417 ENGINE CRADLE BROKE UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF CAR BUT MANAGED TO STOP IT BEFORE IMPACTING ANYTHING. CRADLE WAS REMOVED FROM CAR AND FOUND TO BE SOUND AND ALMOST RUST FREE EXCEPT FOR A SECTION ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (AND DIRECTLY BELOW THE AC UNIT). THAT 6 INCH LONG SECTION WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND WHAT LITTLE MATERIAL REMAINED APPARENTLY BROKE DURING THE LEFT HAND TURN. THE ENGINE CRADLE REMAINED FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE BODY AT THE 6 MOUNTING POINTS. Look up ODI 729417 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seats	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 861598 A FIRE HAD STARTED ON THE FRONT SEAT LUMBAR SYSTEM WHERE THE INTERIOR WAS BURNED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK Look up ODI 861598 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 834176 WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACKWARDS, WHEN CHECKED OUT THE STEEL BRACKET WAS BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AK ML Look up ODI 834176 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 530453 WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. Look up ODI 530453 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Rack And Pinion	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 964802 WHEN MAKING A TURN NOTICED STEERING STIFFNESS. TT Look up ODI 964802 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 981386 AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO TURN STEERING; STEERING EVENTUALLY EASES UP; CAUSES HAZARDOUS DRIVING. *AK Look up ODI 981386 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 520082 NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION. Look up ODI 520082 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 10649866 ENGINE CRANKS BUT WONT START .SPUTTERS A BIT THEN STALLS OUT I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING. *TR Look up ODI 10649866 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1992: 0 complaints · 1995: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1992	0	0	0
1995	1	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1992	3	1	0
1995	1	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	Structure:Frame And Members	Seats	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	Steering:Rack And Pinion	Air Bags	Electrical System
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Structure:Frame And Members	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Seats	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Steering:Rack And Pinion	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Air Bags	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Electrical System	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

2 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 5.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 806548

MAKING TURN INTO ALLEY, APPLIED BRAKES, BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE WENT UP PHONE LINE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK

Look up ODI 806548 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 817401

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 817401 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 2.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10649866

ENGINE CRANKS BUT WONT START .SPUTTERS A BIT THEN STALLS OUT I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING. *TR

Look up ODI 10649866 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b