1986 Oldsmobile 98: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 30.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 30.0% |
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:Rack And Pinion | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist | 1 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 1 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 1; Suspension: 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. 10 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 2; 2003: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 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 10213403 · 2008-01-02 (January 2, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BOUGHT AFTER-MARKET BALL JOINTS (MODEL # FA1478) FOR A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PARTS WAS BEST PARTS, INC IN MEMPHIS, TN. UPDATED 01/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481586 · 1995-03-02 (March 2, 1995)
SHOCK ABSORBERS/FRONT STRUTS FAIL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER SIDE TO SIDE/LOSS OF TRACTION AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND ABOVE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483537 · 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)
LEFT REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485280 · 1995-06-13 (June 13, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503570 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503570 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 968571 · 1995-07-11 (July 11, 1995)
ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND THE COMPANY NO LONGER MAKES THE PART TO CORRECT IT, SO NOW THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT HAS NO BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968571 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V145000 · Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
Reported: 1986-11-03 (November 3, 1986)
THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP RETURN HOSE AND THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: HOSE COULD OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN A HOLE AND FLUID LEAK, AND A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE AND CORRECTLY ROUTE HOSE, AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V093000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1987-06-23 (June 23, 1987)
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.
Consequence: LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE RED BRAKEWARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. IF THIS WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, ALOSS OF REAR BRAKES AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULDRESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. AN INOPERATIVE ABS ELECTRICAL RELAY COULD CAUSELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION, BUT NORMAL POWER ASSISTED BRAKING WOULD BE RETAINED.THE AMBER ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON.
Remedy: THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗