1985 Oldsmobile 98: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 42.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 2; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 485755 · 1995-07-01 (July 1, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485755 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 962339 · 1995-03-21 (March 21, 1995)
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967728 · 1995-06-26 (June 26, 1995)
ENGAGE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN TOTALLED VEHICLE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967728 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 977993 · 1996-01-22 (January 22, 1996)
THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKS UP CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 980388 · 1996-03-07 (March 7, 1996)
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR; FAILURE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980388 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
84V063000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1984-05-21 (May 21, 1984)
OMISSION OF THE CERTIFICATION LABELS AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 110 "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS".
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL REQUIRED CERTIFICATION LABELS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗