Selling an old Oldsmobile Firenza
The Firenza has more recalls than complaints. NHTSA lists six recall campaigns for it and only four complaints from owners, counted as of October 10, 2026. One recall names a fire hazard under the hood, and another a fuel leak there.
- Model years in EPA data
- 1984-1988
- Bodies
- Compact car and Firenza Cruiser wagon
- Platform
- GM J-body, shared with the Cadillac Cimarron
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 4
- Recall campaigns
- 6
- Built in
- Leeds, Missouri
An old Firenza or Firenza Cruiser wagon doesn't need to run for you to sell it. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
One generation, two halves of the record
Wikipedia puts the Firenza on GM's front-drive J-body from 1982 to 1988, built in Leeds, Missouri, and related to the Cadillac Cimarron. It launched with a 1.8-liter overhead-valve four and a 4-speed Muncie manual, and a Brazilian-built overhead-cam 1.8 joined during the first model year. The EPA data here starts in 1984.
1984-1985: seats and an under-hood cover
All three of the earliest complaints fall here: two on the 1984 (one on latches and locks, one unspecified) and one fuel-system complaint on the 1985 that reported a fire. The 1984 has two seat recalls. Bucket seat back locks might not hold in a crash (84V011000), and a fatigue crack in the floor anchor bar under the driver's seat could free the outer adjuster stud (87V079000). That second campaign lists 1,136,407 vehicles in total, a figure that may reach well beyond the Firenza. On the 1985, the air cleaner's plastic trim cover could drop onto the exhaust manifold (86V073000).
1986-1988: a lamp, a brake lever and fuel hoses
The 1986 has one complaint, on visibility, and a recall for a right rear tail lamp that may have been put together wrong (86V062000, 216 vehicles). The 1987 has no complaints but two recalls. The parking brake lever might not engage, so a parked car could roll (86V128000). Its fuel lines, feed and return, could split or pull apart and spill gasoline into the engine bay (87V184000). The 1988, the final year, has neither.
By model year
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 2 | 2 |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | 0 | 2 |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 |
Complaint source: NHTSA's owner file, October 10, 2026 copy.
Fix it or sell it?
Type the VIN into NHTSA's recall search and ask a GM dealer about anything listed. Our open recall guide explains selling with one unfinished. After that, weigh the repair bill against the going rate for a Firenza that runs. On a car this age, see selling an old or high-mileage car.
Selling it whole
Note the VIN, odometer reading and known faults, then get an offer or call (877) 421-6008. Say where the car is parked and if its wheels still turn. Sell the whole car as it sits, peeling trim and all. Title and ID are needed at collection.
Questions people ask
- How many complaints do Firenza owners have on file with NHTSA?
- Four in NHTSA's October 10, 2026 file. The 1984 has two; the 1985 and 1986 have one each. None are on file for 1987 or 1988. Numbers this small say little about any single car.
- Which Firenza recalls involve fire or fuel under the hood?
- Two. The 1985's air cleaner had a plastic trim cover that might drop onto the hot exhaust manifold, which NHTSA calls a fire hazard (86V073000); dealers simply removed it. On the 1987, cracked or separated fuel hoses could leak fuel into the underhood area (87V184000).
- Will you buy a Firenza wagon that doesn't run?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 84V011000: seat back locks, 1984 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 86V062000: right rear tail lamp, 1986 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 86V073000: air cleaner trim cover, 1985 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 86V128000: parking brake lever, 1987 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 87V079000: driver's seat anchor, 1984 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 87V184000: fuel feed and return hoses, 1987 nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years, classes, name variants) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Oldsmobile Firenza (platform, plant, engines) en.wikipedia.org