RoadVitals

1990 Oldsmobile 98 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Apr 13, 2010
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 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

  • Brakes416.7%
  • Body & structure312.5%
  • Driver assistance312.5%
  • Engine312.5%
  • Steering28.3%
  • Transmission28.3%
  • Electrical28.3%
  • Interior & seats28.3%
  • Seat belts28.3%
  • Fuel system14.2%

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

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ORIGINAL ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILED ON 10/10/99. THIS MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A GM ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PART. THIS REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND WAS SUSPECTED AS BEING A FAULTY PUMP AND WAS AGAIN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER GM ORIGIAL PART. ON 07/12/99 THIS REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED. ALL THREE FAILURES RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID 726020 · filed Jul 25, 2000

THE BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. OWNER HAS ADDED A HALF OF CONTAINER OF BRAKE FLUID EVERY (2) WEEKS FOR THE PAST (5) YEARS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 818458 · filed Nov 6, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRUNK LID OPENED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10325508 · filed Apr 13, 2010

THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING,. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID 10097814 · filed Oct 26, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DASH CLUSTER.

NHTSA ID 605850 · filed Jul 21, 1998

PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED TWICE FOR NO REASON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 970802 · filed Aug 21, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT BAD. THIS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HARMOIC BALANCER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE HAD WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID 10001238 · filed Dec 19, 2002

VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DASH CLUSTER.

NHTSA ID 605850 · filed Jul 21, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS DRIVING 55MPH STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD, AND PUT OUT FLAMES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO LOCATE CAUSE OF FIRE. MECHANIC WAS STILL WORKING ON VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID 10042805 · filed Oct 14, 2003

STEERING WHEEL IS SMOKING AND MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. TT

NHTSA ID 959725 · filed Feb 7, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID 604316 · filed Oct 14, 1997

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE, VEHICLE RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY *AK

NHTSA ID 968054 · filed Jun 30, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SOUND OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID 826629 · filed Aug 12, 1998

VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DASH CLUSTER.

NHTSA ID 605850 · filed Jul 21, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRUNK LID OPENED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10325508 · filed Apr 13, 2010

VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DASH CLUSTER.

NHTSA ID 605850 · filed Jul 21, 1998

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AND WOULD NOT LOCK, THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM WEARING THE SEATBELT, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE SEATBELT WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. NLM

NHTSA ID 562995 · filed Sep 7, 2001

DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST IS NOT PROPERLY ANGLED FOR PROTECTION IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID 960182 · filed Feb 17, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE, VEHICLE RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY *AK

NHTSA ID 968054 · filed Jun 30, 1995

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

Data on this page last refreshed .