1993 Oldsmobile 98: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
124,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 8 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1; Tires: 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 | 2 |
| 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: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 6 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10010401 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBJECT NOR DID IT HIT ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018992 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD "CLUNK" AND ALL CONTROL WAS LOST AS I ENTERED THE HIGH SPEED LANE. THE ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED FREELY AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE REAR FRAME BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE FAILED AND FRAME AND ENGINE FELL DOWN, DISCONNECTIONS THE STEERING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT AS OTHERS STOPPED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR IS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION, NO VISIBLE RUST, NO FLUID LEAKS AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099350 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 479684 · 1995-09-11 (September 11, 1995)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SURGING PROBLEMS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 479684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731672 · 2000-09-16 (September 16, 2000)
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, REVEALING 23 INCH LENGTH OF TIRE LOST, SEPARATION AT EDGES, AND TORN WIRE MESH( DOT NUMBER: A3MOFFA163 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 750255 · 2001-08-12 (August 12, 2001)
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60 NEAR DUDLEY, MO @ 65 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE NEARBY EXIT AND STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. FILLED GAS TANK, EVERYTHING SEEMD TO BE WORKING FINE, SO I PULLED BACK ONTO ROAD, SOON AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND HORN STARTED HONKING. I STOPPED, DISCONNECTED HORN, CUT AWAY BAG AND DROVE HOME. NOTIFIED COMPANY, AND PER THEIR REQUEST HAD DIAGNOSTICS TEST RUN AT BLACKWELL-BALDWIN OLDS IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO; NO CODES FOUND, MECHANIC SAID A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. MECHA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 865793 · 2000-07-20 (July 20, 2000)
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF TANK IT CUTS OFF AT ANY STOP. *AK ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 981185 · 1996-03-25 (March 25, 1996)
DURING A REAR-END COLLISION PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981185 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.
96V015000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
Reported: 1996-01-23 (January 23, 1996)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗