1998 Oldsmobile 98: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
81,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 15 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 7; 2003: 4; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10006427 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL OPEN AND CLOSE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012505 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
THE VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014977 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, DUE TO A FAILED TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042492 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
VEHICLE DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057264 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. *PH THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIXE THE PROBLEM. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 22,647 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091349 · 2004-09-20 (September 20, 2004)
INTAKE MANIFOLD, MADE OF PLASTIC, RUPTURED DUMPING COOLANT INTO CYLINDERS. RESULTED IN INSTANTANEOUS STOPPAGE OF ENGINE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO WRECK. *AK MECHANIC AT FIRST GM DEALER CONTACTED DIAGNOSED PROBLEM SIGHT UNSEEN AS IT IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM. GM STRONGLY SUGGESTED HAVING WORK DONE AT A DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD MAKE "ADJUSTMENTS" TO THE REPAIR BILL. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, NO "ADJUSTMENTS" WERE MADE, TOWING BILL WAS EXHORBITANT, AND REPAIR BILL WAS 30% HIGHER THAN QUOTED …
Owner-reported narrative. 90,195 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096360 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
I OWN A 1998 OLDS REGENCY WITH 62000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS THE STANDARD 3.8 LITER V-6 WHICH HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS. I NOTICED RECENTLY THE COOLANT RESERVOIR LEVEL WAS SLIGHTLY DOWN AND ADDED COOLANT TO BRING IT UP TO LEVEL. TWO WEEKS LATER MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS SLIGHTLY HIGH SO I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR LEVEL AGAIN. THE RESERVOIR WAS DRY AND I COULDN'T SEE ANY COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, ADDED DISTILLED WATER AND GOT IT THERE. WHEN I ARRIVED THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING OUT OF THE INTAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101571 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
COOLANT LEAKED OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. HAD TO REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS. *BF E-MAILED CONSUMER RESPONSE EXHAUST GASES HAD GOTTEN INTO THE PLASTIC UPPER MANIFOLD HAD THERMALLY BROKE DOWN THE PLASTIC AND CAUSED THE LEAK. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101571 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.