1998 OLDSMOBILE 98

0 recalls, 32 complaints - 13 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

32 total complaints 1 crashes 3 injuries

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
TIRES2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
SEATS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Dec 20, 2006
Incident date: Mar 16, 2006
BOUGHT MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY IN JULY OF 2005 WITH 78000 MILES ON IT. MARCH OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE COOLANT WAS BONE DRY UPON INSPECTION BY SELF. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE PLENUM AT A COST OF $533.00. TH... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Mar 19, 2006
Incident date: Mar 13, 2006
MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY WAS LOSING COOLANT. I COULD NOT SEE A VISIBLE LEAK. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE UPPER INTAKE (PLENUM) TO BE LEAKING THE COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE (CYLINDER #3.) THE LEAK WAS CAUSED DUE TO THE FACT... Read more
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Aug 19, 2005
Incident date: Aug 16, 2005
DT: 1996 OLDSMOBILE 98 ELITE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THIS AIR BAG HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT, ALMOST 6-7 INCHES LONG AND 2-3 INCHES WIDE. ALSO IT HAD A BURNED LOOK TO IT. NO ONE INVESTIGATE... Read more
Crash 1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE Dec 1, 2004
Incident date: Nov 1, 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Oct 25, 2004
Incident date: Aug 10, 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 SLIGH... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Sep 20, 2004
Incident date: Aug 5, 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 ... Read more
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER Feb 5, 2004
Incident date: Sep 1, 2003
OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. *PH THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIXE THE PROBLEM. *TT *JB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID Oct 7, 2003
VEHICLE DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. *AK
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Apr 1, 2003
Incident date: Apr 1, 2003
THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, DUE TO A FAILED TRANSMISSION. *JB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE Mar 26, 2003
THE VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. *NLM
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR Feb 4, 2003
Incident date: Feb 1, 2003
PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL OPEN AND CLOSE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM Dec 9, 2002
Incident date: Jul 19, 2002
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TAIL PIPE DUE TO THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
AIR BAGS Dec 9, 2002
Incident date: Oct 20, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH *DT
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Oct 22, 2002
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP Aug 1, 2002
Incident date: Dec 28, 1999
VEHICLE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING PUMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES FROM 1,000 MILES UP TO PRESENT. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING, FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC Jul 31, 2002
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS SHIMMYING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DEALER HAS COMPLETED A BRAKE JOB, TURNED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *SLC
TIRES Jul 31, 2002
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD SHIMMY, DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES AT 6000 MILES, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. *SLC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Jul 2, 2002
Incident date: Feb 4, 2002
CONSUMER WAS GETTING A CLUNK AT TIMES WHEN BRAKING AND ALSO WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH IS A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT. *YD
STRUCTURE Jul 2, 2002
Incident date: Jan 1, 2002
CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFTER SHAFT WOULD SLIDE TO 2ND GEAR AND NOT CLICK TO 1ST,THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE NUT AND TIGHTENED IT ON THE SHIFTER SHAFT AND ADJUSTED THE CABLE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *YD *CB THE DEALER ALSO FIXED A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A CL... Read more
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Jul 2, 2002
Incident date: Jan 1, 2002
CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFTER SHAFT WOULD SLIDE TO 2ND GEAR AND NOT CLICK TO 1ST,THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE NUT AND TIGHTENED IT ON THE SHIFTER SHAFT AND ADJUSTED THE CABLE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *YD *CB THE DEALER ALSO FIXED A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A CL... Read more
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM Jul 1, 2002
Incident date: Jun 27, 2002
INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING AND LEAKING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
SEATS May 14, 2002
Incident date: Mar 2, 2001
CONSUMERS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE SHE WAS DRIVING WAS REAR ENDED AND THE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING INJURIES. *YH (DAUGHTER FOR MOTHER-IN-LAW)
1 injured
SEATS Oct 24, 2001
Incident date: Mar 2, 2001
CONSUMERS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE SHE WAS DRIVING WAS REAR ENDED AND THE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING INJURIES. *YH (DAUGHTER FOR MOTHER-IN-LAW)
1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT Nov 14, 2000
Incident date: Oct 2, 2000
LEFT FRONT TIRE BELTS SEPARATED AND THE OTHER THREE WERE CAPPED CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE WHILE DRIVING (ORIGINAL GOODYEAR INVICTA TIRES). NLM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE May 17, 2000
Incident date: May 17, 2000
TIRES WORE OUT EVERY 22,000 MILES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
SUSPENSION:FRONT May 17, 2000
Incident date: May 17, 2000
TIRES WORE OUT EVERY 22,000 MILES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
TIRES Mar 22, 2000
TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY. YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH Sep 8, 1999
COMPUTER FAILURE.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE Apr 20, 1999
Incident date: Sep 1, 1998
REAR SEAT BELT FAILED. *YC
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Dec 24, 1998
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT COLLISION OCCURRING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jun 10, 1998
CONSUMER IS TOO SHORT AND CAN'T REACH PEDALS.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION May 4, 1998
Incident date: Apr 29, 1998
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE IT SPINS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALER STATES THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, IT GOES PASSED THE DETENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Technical Service Bulletins, 1998 OLDSMOBILE 98

13 manufacturer communications from 13 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

ComponentBulletins
061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT1
102000 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
116000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
020000 SUSPENSION1
16NA260 Aug 26, 2016
353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBR
Recalls Jun 30, 2014
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Vehicle Recalls
130089009 Sep 1, 2013
061600 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
98833005 Oct 1, 1998
020000 SUSPENSION
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE
831704 Oct 1, 1998
162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC
98838313 May 1, 1998
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE CUPHOLDER DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. *YC
971201776530 Apr 29, 1998
061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
COMMENTS THAT THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH, HAS LACK OF POWER, HAS A KNOCK NOISE, AND/OR THE MIL (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT) IS ILLUMINATED. *YC
98876514 Apr 1, 1998
061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONDITION REGARDING THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS DURING A CLOSED THROTTLE DECELERATION FROM ABOUT 35 MPH. *YC
98003 Feb 1, 1998
116000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INFORMATION ON SPARK PLUG TIP EROSION CALIBRATION PCM REFLASH. *YC
738153 Jan 1, 1998
111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE BATTERY IS LOW OR DEAD. *YC
971101631041 Nov 1, 1997
162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS).
970801777155 Aug 1, 1997
105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
EXPERIENCING A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. *YC
97080177715F Aug 1, 1997
102000 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
EXPERIENCE A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. *YC

NHTSA Safety Investigations, OLDSMOBILE 98

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA88010 Opened: Nov 30, 1987 , Closed: Oct 31, 1989
EA, Closed , Model Year: 1987
THROTTLE CONTROL
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:UNDER PE87-041, GM PROVIDED THECOMPLAINT, ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND FATALITY DATA TABULATED ABOVE.ANALYSIS:DURING GM'S COMPILATION AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION REQUIREDTO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA'S REQUEST UNDER THE PE, INDICATIONS WERE GIVEN THATTHE NUMBERS OF CONS... Read more

OLDSMOBILE 98 - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the OLDSMOBILE 98 across all model years (1967, 1996).

41 Total Recalls
417 Total Complaints
1 Investigations
31 Reported Crashes
10 Reported Fires
0 Reported Deaths

OLDSMOBILE 98 - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
1999 0 1 View
1998 (current) 0 32
1997 0 35 View
1996 2 12 View
1995 2 71 View
1994 1 23 View
1993 1 15 View
1992 1 46 View
1991 2 69 View
1990 2 26 View
1989 1 14 View
1988 1 11 View
1987 4 25 View
1986 3 13 View
1985 1 10 View
1984 1 2 View
1983 0 1 View
1982 1 2 View
1981 0 7 View
1980 2 1 View
1979 3 0 View
1977 2 0 View
1975 2 1 View
1974 1 0 View
1972 3 0 View
1971 1 0 View
1968 3 0 View
1967 1 0 View

Other OLDSMOBILE Models

Model Recalls Complaints
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88 46 1,228 View
BRAVADA 46 1,350 View
OMEGA 36 5 View
INTRIGUE 32 1,608 View
TORONADO 27 45 View
ALERO 21 2,936 View