1998 Oldsmobile 88 Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED OIL ON THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

ENGINE USING COOLANT BUT NO EVIDENT LEAK. AFTER A WEEK OF ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT TO RESERVOIR ENGINE RAN HOT AND HYDRO-LOCKED DUE TO CYLINDERS FLOODED WITH COOLANT. DISCOVERED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD HOLE IN IT WHERE THE EGR TUBE ENTERED PLASTIC MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO FLOOD INTAKE. THIS ENGINE HAD 84K MILES. ALSO DISCOVERED INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AT 45K MILES BY DEALER. DEFINITELY AN ENGINEERING DEFECT.

BRAKES FAILED UPON EXITING ON RAMP FROM RTE. 95..DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD..NO BRAKES...DOWNSHIFT/ PARKING BRAKE INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE..JUST LUCKY NO CAR COLLISION OCCURRED ...WAS FRIGHTENING !...I THINK GM VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE SO BADLY FAULTY..I'M JUST LUCKY I WASN'T HURT OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ! *TR

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT A LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DID NOT GO TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKING POWER WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ER *JB

I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED CAR ON JAN 1, 2013. I NOTICED A SMELL FROM THE CAR BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT IS WAS AND BOUGHT THE CAR ANYWAYS. WELL A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY BOYFRIEND WAS CHECKING MY FLUIDS ON THE CAR AND NOTICED A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD, SO WE WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND BOUGHT A FUEL LINE THAT COST AROUND $30, HE PUT IT ON, STILL LEAKING, WELL WE FIGURED SINCE THE FUEL LINE THAT WE BOUGHT WASN'T PRECRIMPED IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK, SO WE WENT TO THE JUNK YARD AND GOT THE EXACT SAME PART OFF ANOTHER 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88, FIGURED SINCE IT WAS PRECRIMPED IT WOULD WORK, NOT THE CASE, FUEL STILL LEAKING UNDER THE HOOD, SO WE WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN NASHVILLE AND BOUGHT THE VERY LAST FUEL LINE IN THE STATE AROUND $120, WHICH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS ONE AND THE OTHER TWO IS THAT IT IS 6 FT. LONG, SO WE PUT THE NEW 6FT FUEL LINE ON, WELL IT STOPPED LEAKING UNDER THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED 1 WEEK LATER THAT MY VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL UNDER THE CAR BY THE BACK PASSENGER WHEEL, SO WE PUT A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR ON THE VEHICLE FIGURING THAT WOULD CONTROL THE FUEL, BECAUSE WE HEARD THAT IF THAT GOES OUT IT WILL CAUSE FUEL TO LEAK FROM WEAK SPOTS, WELL ALMOST 4 MO. LATER MY VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING GAS FROM UNDER THE CAR BY THE PASSENGER BACK WHEEL.THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. I FOUND A RECALL ON THIS AND WOULD LIKE MY ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE DELTA EIGHTY EIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND SHUT DOWN AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED GASOLINE IN THE FUEL LINE. THIS SAME FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ONCE BEFORE ,AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AGAIN AND HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS STATED IN RECALL # 04V09000. THE CONTACTWAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 113,000.*AK

1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHTY HAS PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS LEAKAGE OF BATTERY FLUID FROM THE POSITIVE POLE OF THE BATTERY. *MR THE POSITIVE POLE HAD COME OUT OF THE BATTERY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THREE BATTERY'S HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE FIRST WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. (AC DELCO BATTERY) *SC *JB

CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF THIS BUT THE RED AREA OF THE GAUGE THEN THE CHECK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED IT GOT IT COOLED DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED TO THE VERY NEXT RD TO GAS STATION FOR BETTER VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. GOT TO IT VERY QUICKLY AND THE TEMP WAS BACK UP. STOPPED LET IT COOL AND ADDED WATER TO THE NOW EMPTY RESOVAIR THAT WAS FULL WHEN WE STARTED THE TRIP. AND NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AND NO BOILING OVER, LET IT COOL. ADDED WATER. THEN TRIED TO CRANK IT UP, IT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER, THOUGHT ENG HAD LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD THEIR WAS A FEATURE TO THIS CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN THE ENG WHEN A LEAK LIKE THIS OCCURS. WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKEN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE ENG WAS GONE......AND IT WAS NOT. BUT IT SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE STARTER WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE CAR BEFORE WE LEFT ON THIS TRIP, HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND EVERYTHING. BUT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WHEN THE LEAK, AND RUNNING HOT OCCURED. NOT SURE HOW IT MESSED UP THE STARTER. BUT ALSO KNOW SINCE IT SHUTS THE ENG DOWN, LOCKS IT UP, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GET A NEW ENG CAUSE THEIR PERSON DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS FEATURE AS WELL. *AK

WHILE ENTERING MY GARAGE AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT OR STOPPED VEHICLES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. I REMEMBER THE AUDI THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I REALLY THOUGHT I'D END UP IN MY LIVING ROOM. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL ON ALL OCCASIONS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T DROPPING DOWN TO IT'S LOW RANGE. HELP. *AK

CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT IN DRIVE, STILL NOTHING HAPPENED. CONSUMER CUT OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED, AND IT WENT INTO GEAR. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AKTHE FAULTY PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *JG

TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY 67 IN MISSISSIPPI. CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65. VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY STARTED TO INCREASE. APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL. NO EFFECT. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL ON STEERING COLUMN. NO EFFECT. REPEATEDLY TRIED BRAKES AND OFF SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY TURNED OFF IGNITION AND COASTED FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. RESTARTED ENGINE AND COULD RESUME SPEED NORMALLY WITH ACCELERATOR. DID NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL UNTIL HEADED BACK NORTH ON 67 LATER IN THE DAY. SET CRUISE CONTROL TO 65 AGAIN AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES VEHICLE SPEED BEGAN TO INCREASE. I TRIED BRAKES AND OFF SWITCH AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. TURNED VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED ENGINE. DID NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN. AFTER ARRIVING HOME DISCONNECT BATTERY OVERNIGHT. APPARENTLY CORRECTED WHATEVER "GLITCH" HAD OCCURRED SINCE I HAVE USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

THE MANIFOLD ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE ONE YEAR AGO AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE MANIFOLD. GM STATED THE DEFECT DID NOT AFFECT HIS VEHICLE. *JB AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARMED AND STARTED, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE WHEN STARTING. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT. *SC *JB

WAS DRIVING DOWN A TOLL ROAD, DEAR JUMPED IN FRONT OF CAR HIT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT, CAR HIT MEDIAN, FLIPPED, AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. CAR IS TOTALED. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND WAS APPROACHING RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, HORN WAS BLOWING. DRIVER WAS HURT.*AK

WAS DRIVING DOWN A TOLL ROAD, DEAR JUMPED IN FRONT OF CAR HIT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT, CAR HIT MEDIAN, FLIPPED, AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. CAR IS TOTALED. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKTHE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR. ALSO THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT SWITCH PLATE. *JG

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT JAMMED AND IS UNUSABLE. GM WEBSITE LIMITS CONTACT TO EXISTING BRANDS. THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR OLDSMOBILE OWNERS, AND NO DEALERSHIPS TO CONTACT. *TR

REAR AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WILL NOT BUCKLE. ALSO, VEHICLE SMELLED OF GAS. MANUFACTURER URGED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 LS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE THE PLASTIC NUT THAT SECURED THE SPARE TIRE WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE NUT WAS BROKEN WITH A HAMMER SO THAT THE TIRE COULD BE CHANGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN BECAUSE HE NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLLUMINATES WHILE TRAVELING. DEALER HAS REPLACED HUB ON EACH WHEEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON OUR 1998 OLDSMOBILE THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE INTAKE UPPER MAINIFOLD WAS AT 95,918 MILES ON 08/24/2002. DOES THIS MEAN THAT GENERAL MOTOR'S INTAKE MAINIFOLDS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR AN AVERAGE OF 54,000 MILES? WE HAD A 1997 BUICK WITH THE SAME MOTOR AND SAME INTAKE UPPER MAINIFOLD THAT FAILED AT 71,000 MILES JUST TWO WEEKS AGO! DT

A LOW PITCH HUM EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, NONE ABLE TO LOCATED PROBLEM, ON 12/17/00 THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER, SERVICE DEPARTMENT DECLARED VEHICLE TOO DANAGEROUS TO DRIVE AND REPLACED RIGHT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY UNIT. CJ

DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A NOISE. MIRROR FELL OUT OF RIGHT SIDE & ALSO MOTOR FROM MIRROR HOUSING. MIRROR & MOTOR FELL OUT AND WAS HANGING AND HITTING SIDE OF CAR.

DESIGN OF HEATER VENT CAUSES THE HEAT TO BLOW DIRECTLY INTO THE FACE OF THE DRIVER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 LS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE THE PLASTIC NUT THAT SECURED THE SPARE TIRE WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE NUT WAS BROKEN WITH A HAMMER SO THAT THE TIRE COULD BE CHANGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN BECAUSE HE NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

1) AUG. 2000 GENERATOR FAILURE 2) AUG. 2002 BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED 3) OCT. 2003 COOLANT LEAKING : REPLACED LEAKING WATER PUMP. INTAKE MANIFOLD ALSO LEAKING BUT NOT REPLACED AT THIS TIME DUE TO COST. 3.8L V6

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40-45 MPH RIGHT INNER TIE ROD BROKE, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT, CRASHED INTO A CULVER, AND WENT ACROSS A DRIVEWAY BEFORE STOPPING. THERE WERE FIVE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, AND ALL FIVE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. VEHICLE WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALLED. *AK

TRANSMISSION: UPPER PLATE GASKET WENT, CAUSING GEAR SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE IN THE LOWER GEARS. TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT UNIT WHICH IS NOW EXHIBITING MUCH OF THE SAME SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS (ONLY MINORLY AT THE MOMENT) @ 156,000KM. ENGINE: FIRST ENGINE HAD THE EGR/EXHAUST DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO MELT AND COOLANT TO POOR INTO THE ENGINE. REPORT FROM THE SHOP WAS THAT ENTIRE BOTTOM END WAS DESTROYED BY THE COOLANT, AND A FULL NEW ENGINE HAD TO BE ORDERED (COMPLETE WITH ACCESSORIES, ETC.). THE NEW ENGINE'S IDLER FOR THE SERPENTINE HAD THE BEARING CEASE, KNOCKING THE BELT OFF. SINCE THE WATERPUMP WAS BELT DRIVEN, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CAR WAS LEFT TO IDLE IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TOTAL TIME OF ~ 5-15MIN. (THE TEMPERATURE OUT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND -40C / -40F.). BRAKES: PERHAPS CRONICALLY UNDERSIZED FOR THIS VEHICLE, ROTORS HAVE WARPED LIKE CLOCKWORK EVERY 30,000KM. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WARPED APPROACHING 160,000KM AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED --- AGAIN --- SHORTLY. THIS IS NOT A CAR THAT SEE'S MUCH HEAVY USE. GROCERIES ON WEEKENDS, ~ 15-20KM MAX. TOTAL DAILY TRIP DURING WORKDAYS. IT HAS YET TO ACCOMPLISH AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP (I.E., NORTH BAY -> OTTAWA OR NORTH BAY -> TORONTO, 4 HOURS (~400KM) AND 3 HOURS (~300KM) RESPECTIVELY) WITHOUT THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT BEING LIT. ADDITIONAL RECOLLECTION: FRONT FOG LIGHTS CONSTANTLY FILLING WITH CONDENSATION AS WELL, HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4-5 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRENTY. NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND AND NOW THEY'RE JUST NOT USED.

HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF, THEREFORE FOG DROPLETS ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE HIGHER POSITON ABOVE THE ROAD AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD

DT: THE METAL BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR RIPPED IN HALF, THEY WERE 4 INCHES OFF THE FLOORBOARD, RIGHT UNDER THE SEAT. THE SEAT CONTROLS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE SEAT. CONSULTED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO HAD NO IDEA WHY THE SEAT BROKE OR WHTAT WAS THE STRESS ON THE SEAT. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE SEAT CAME UP AND FELL INTO THE BACK FLOORBOARD. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS POINT FOR REPAIRS.*AK

WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER IT BLOWS OUT A FUNNY ODOR THAT SMELLS LIKE URINE. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BLOWER DIDN'T DRY PROPERLY AND HELD WATER, WHICH CAUSED MILDEW. *AK