1988 Oldsmobile 98 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Oldsmobile 98, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering436.4%
- Brakes327.3%
- Electrical218.2%
- Seat belts19.1%
- Transmission19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE INDICATOR LEVER GEAR.
FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
FEELS AND HEARS A BUZZING SOUND WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING DRY WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM PULSATES, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER OCCASIONALLY. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER ANTENNA FAILURE CAUSES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HEAT GENERATED BY THE UNIT WHILE THE STRIPPED GEAR SPINS OUT OF CONTROL IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 20 TIMES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE INDICATOR LEVER GEAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .