1998 Oldsmobile INTRIGUE: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING REGULAR ENGINE FAILURES WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH RESULTS IN THE ENGINE ENTIRELY SHUTTING DOWN. OCCURS DURING VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FAILURE RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND OVERALL ABILITY TO SAFELY CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER STATES GM INDICATES PROBLEM IS RESULT OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000793 at NHTSA ↗

ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER STATES ABS MOTOR PACK (FP PART # 18024482) FAILED. DEALER INDICATES THIS IS "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR THIS VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED SAME.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,596 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000794 at NHTSA ↗

DEALER INDICATES VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS, WHICH ARE PREMATURE FOR VEHICLE MILEAGE, AND ARE RESULT OF "FAILED GASKETS." DEALER REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKETS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, RESOLVING PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,596 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000795 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE REPEATEDLY MIS-FIRES. PROBLEM MORE COMMON DURING COLD OR DAMP WEATHER, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THESE CONDITIONS. MULTIPLE PARTS REPLACED BEFORE RESOLVING PROBLEM BY REPLACING FUEL INJECTOR FOR CYLINDER #3. PROBLEM CORRESPONDED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY (WITHIN 10 DAYS OF) THE FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH, AND DEALER SPECULATED BOTH PROBLEMS RELATED.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,596 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000797 at NHTSA ↗

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED ON 1998 INTRIGUE WITH 57000 MILES. MY MECHANIC AND HIS PARTNER ARE SCHEDULED TO FIX THREE OF THESE NEXT WEEK. MY INQUIRIES HAVE LEAD ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005052 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITH OUT WARNING. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005876 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT WITH A THREE WEEK OLD DUNLOP TIRE WHILE MERGING ON TO AN ON RAMP AT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE TIRE LOST PRESSURE IMMEDIATELY AND CAUSED TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS ONLY AND 30 DEGREES, AND I OPENLY HAD MYSELF AND EMPTY TRUNK CAR. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER AND INSTALLED WITH A SET OF EQUALLY SIZED FOUR TIRES. CORPORATE AND RETAIL GOODYEAR PEOPLE WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TIRE IF THEY CAN BE PROVED THAT IT WAS DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE TIRE, NOT WITH INSTALLA…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,535 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007969 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE CRACKED, WHICH RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009113 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-02-16 (February 16, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT COULD TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BE JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. WHEN THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT BECOMES UNUSABLE.

Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, AND A RISK OF INJURY TO AN UNBELTED PERSON IN A CRASH WOULD BE INCREASED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ANY TWISTS FROM THE REAR SHOULDER BELT(S) AND INSTALL CLIPS TO THE BELT WEB GUIDE TO PREVENT TWISTING.

Reported: 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Reported: 1998-05-18 (May 18, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED AN OWNER MANUAL'S INSERT WHICH CONTAINS THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION.