Oldsmobile INTRIGUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,011 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 486 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 150 of 1,011 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 229 | 22.7% |
| Braking behavior | 110 | 10.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 85 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 79 | 7.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 39 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 1.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 150 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 93 |
| Steering | 88 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 71 |
| Engine | 60 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 51 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 41 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 37 |
Electrical System: 150; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 93; Steering: 88; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 71; Engine: 60; Engine And Engine Cooling: 51; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 41; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 37
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 76 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 121 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 94 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 100 |
| 150,000 and above | 54 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 76; 50,000 to 74,999: 121; 75,000 to 99,999: 94; 100,000 to 149,999: 100; 150,000 and above: 54
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (121). 525 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 122 |
| 2001 | 111 |
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 121 |
| 2004 | 137 |
| 2005 | 61 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 29 |
| 2009 | 36 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 69 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 46 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 122; 2001: 111; 2002: 102; 2003: 121; 2004: 137; 2005: 61; 2006: 36; 2007: 31; 2008: 29; 2009: 36; 2010: 27; 2011: 15; 2012: 8; 2013: 8; 2014: 69; 2015: 34; 2016: 46; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 229 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 110 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 85 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 10000793 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING REGULAR ENGINE FAILURES WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH RESULTS IN THE ENGINE ENTIRELY SHUTTING DOWN. OCCURS DURING VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FAILURE RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND OVERALL ABILITY TO SAFELY CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER STATES GM INDICATES PROBLEM IS RESULT OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013715 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. STEERING SUDDENLY BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT (AS IF NO POWER STEERING AT ALL). IF YOU ARE TURNING TO THE RIGHT YOU CAN EASILY TURN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, LEFT HAND TURNS ARE IMPOSSIBLE. THE DEALERSHIP MAKING THE REPAIR AGREED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE COST BECAUSE THEY AGREED THE PART WAS FAULTY AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME LET ALONE TWICE. GM, HOWEVER, REFUSED TO PAY FOR EITHER OF THE REPAIRS AND WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIRS . *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000794 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER STATES ABS MOTOR PACK (FP PART # 18024482) FAILED. DEALER INDICATES THIS IS "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR THIS VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED SAME.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,596 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036766 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)
MY 1998 OLDS INTRIGUE FAILED TO START ONE TIME, THEN TWO TIMES AFTER THAT IT STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WITHIN 3 MILES OF MY HOUSE. IT WOULD THEN FAIL TO RESTART FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE, AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. AFTER TAKING TO BE REPAIRED TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. LOOKING OVER THE ENGINE, I NOTICED THE WIRE RUNNING FROM THE FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS OUT OF ONE OF ITS HOLDERS. I REPLACED THAT AND ALSO CLEANED BATTERY CONTACT. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN IN THE 2,000 MILES SINCE THEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050231 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
A BROKEN POSITIVE CABLE POST CAUSED THE BATTERY TO LEAK ACID. *AK BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BY DEALER WITH A WARRANTY ON 05/24/00 AT 13,522 MILES. THE BATTERY HAS SIDE MOUNT CONNECTIONS AND THE POSITIVE SIDE DISCONNECTED FROM THE PLASTIC OF THE BATTERY. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 29,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021977 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A POP THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MR *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025915 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 25,608 MILES ON A CAR THAT IS FIVE YEARS OLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,608 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069029 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY SMALL PROBLEMS. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AIR CONDITIONING. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 78000. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WEARS OUT AFTER ABOUT 20,000 MILES. I AM ABOUT TO HAVE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE FIRST WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE WARRANTY. THE SECOND CAME OUT OF MY POCKET AND NOW I AM ABOUT TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000797 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
ENGINE REPEATEDLY MIS-FIRES. PROBLEM MORE COMMON DURING COLD OR DAMP WEATHER, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THESE CONDITIONS. MULTIPLE PARTS REPLACED BEFORE RESOLVING PROBLEM BY REPLACING FUEL INJECTOR FOR CYLINDER #3. PROBLEM CORRESPONDED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY (WITHIN 10 DAYS OF) THE FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH, AND DEALER SPECULATED BOTH PROBLEMS RELATED.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,596 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041602 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
GASOLINE EVAPORATION LEAK AT TANK HOSE CAUSING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. GM DEALER SAYS HOSE IS BROKE AT TANK AND ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE LENGTH OF HOSE AND FUEL TANK AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $780. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A ONE PIECE SEALED SYSTEM AND WOULD APPEAR THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL IF THE LEAK IS OCCURRING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE TWO ENDS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041602 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 6; 1999: 6; 2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 1