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U.S. public vehicle records

Oldsmobile 98 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

180 owner complaints analyzed

30 distinct recall campaigns

105,970 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 180 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3318.3%
Steering behavior2513.9%
Transmission and shifting116.1%
Engine operation116.1%
Electrical and battery issues105.6%
Fuel system concerns31.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
18
Air Bags:Frontal
13
Electrical System:Ignition
10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
10
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Air Bags
8
Electrical System
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip18
Air Bags:Frontal13
Electrical System:Ignition10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine10
Power Train:Automatic Transmission10
Vehicle Speed Control9
Air Bags8
Electrical System7

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 18; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Electrical System:Ignition: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags: 8; Electrical System: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 157 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
45
1996
31
2000
26
2001
17
2002
19
2003
17
2004
8
2005
4
2006
3
2007
3
2008
2
2010
2
2012
1
2014
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199545
199631
200026
200117
200219
200317
20048
20054
20063
20073
20082
20102
20121
20141
20221

1995: 45; 1996: 31; 2000: 26; 2001: 17; 2002: 19; 2003: 17; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10022051 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)

BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THEY FELT VERY SPONGY IN THE MORNING. *AK THE BRAKES WERE FIXED AND REMAINED INOPERATIVE WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022051 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967385 · 1995-06-21 (June 21, 1995)

HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HAS FAILED WITH BRAKE PEDAL START HIGH RIDING AWHILE THEN BECOMES VERY LOW. EA88-019. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967385 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 485755 · 1995-07-01 (July 1, 1995)

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974699 · 1995-11-07 (November 7, 1995)

THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS CAR . TT CONSUMER UNTIL THE VEHICLE HEATS UP THE STEERING IS EXTREMLY DIFFICULT, CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING NEW.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974699 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 567694 · 2002-09-23 (September 23, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A SMALL FIRE AND THE DRIVETRAIN AXLE WAS ON THE GROUND, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS INJURED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567694 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012364 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)

NAR 03-25-2003. *MR. SEVERAL PARTS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED SUCH AS 2 EGR VALVES, IDLE PASSAGE SWITCH, POWER ANTENNA, TRANSMISSION GASKET, CV BOOT, AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITION CONTROL UNIT, RADIO SPEAKERS, CRUISE CONTROL, RANDOM STALLING, CRACKED RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE SPRING, WHEEL ALIGNMENT DID NOT HOLD, AIR CONDITION DID NOT WORK DUE TO A FREON LEAK, HEAD LIGHT ADJUSTING SCREW BROKE, TIE RODS, BATTERY CABLES, GAS GAUGE BROKE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE, THE HORN WAS HARD TO PUSH. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801117 · 1996-08-20 (August 20, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 20 TIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001238 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT BAD. THIS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HARMOIC BALANCER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE HAD WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001238 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 507694 · 1996-08-20 (August 20, 1996)

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY, SHORTING OUT FUEL PUMP, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507694 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040192 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *NLM *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040192 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1983
0
1984
1
1985
1
1986
2
1987
3
1988
0
1989
0
1990
0
1991
2
1992
1
1993
1
1994
1
1995
2
1996
2
1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19830
19841
19851
19862
19873
19880
19890
19900
19912
19921
19931
19941
19952
19962
19970
19980
19990

1983: 0; 1984: 1; 1985: 1; 1986: 2; 1987: 3; 1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0

Year-by-year records

Oldsmobile 98 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196701Not available
196803+2
197101Not available
197203+2
197401Not available
197512+1
197702Not available
197903Not available
198002-1
198120-2
198221+1
198310-1
198401+1
1985710
1986102+1
1987103+1
198870-3
1989700
19901100
1991272+2
1992261-1
1993810
1994910
1995182+1
1996520
199770-2
19982100
1999100