1991 Oldsmobile 98: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
145,985 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 27 complaints (29.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 37.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 14.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Child Seat:Harness Buckle:Infant | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Child Seat:Harness Buckle:Infant: 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 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
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: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 25 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 | 4 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 4; 2000: 6; 2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 1; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10050150 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)
THE BUCKLE ON THE HARNESS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE LATCH BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS. CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE BUCKLE TOGETHER WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO GET THE SYSTEM TO WORK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 176,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114724 · 2005-03-25 (March 25, 2005)
I SMELLED WHAT SEEMED TO BE BURNING WIRE COMING FROM INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 115,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484414 · 1995-07-22 (July 22, 1995)
LEFT/RIGHT REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED DUE TO LEAK. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484803 · 1995-08-09 (August 9, 1995)
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488251 · 1995-09-19 (September 19, 1995)
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506244 · 1996-07-08 (July 8, 1996)
REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDERS FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 566883 · 2002-08-02 (August 2, 2002)
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHER ACTIVATION SWITCH. THE CENTER ACTIVATION PORTION CANNOT BE DEPRESSED TO ENERGIZE THE FLASHER. IT IS MOUNTED INTERNALLY AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE DISASSEMBLED. TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. *JG THE ARROWS FOR TURN SIGNALS WAS NOT VISIBLE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 755618 · 2001-12-13 (December 13, 2001)
PANIC STOP TO AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT THAT STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID DOG IN ROAD. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, STEERED AROUND CAR AHEAD AVOIDING ACCIDENT. BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RETURNTO NORMAL FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF PUMPING AND TEST STOPS, PROCEEDED WITH JOURNEY NORMALLY. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER NEXT DAY. PARKING BRAKE CABLE REPLACED BUT NO FAULT FOUND IN BRAKING SYSTEM. NOTE ABS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 8 MONTHS BUT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN ABS WAS NOT DISABLED IN LAST 2 YEARS, I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755618 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.
91V167000 · Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical
Reported: 1991-09-23 (September 23, 1991)
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V198000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1991-11-14 (November 14, 1991)
THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Consequence: THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARKPOSITION WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BEIN PARK, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ON AGRADE. ALSO, THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SELECTOR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITHOUTTURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT BE IN THE POSITION INDICATED,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BOTH CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL TWO TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIPS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗