Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
47
Latest Mar 25, 2005
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.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 26, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 47 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Oldsmobile 98. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 47 · page 1 of 2
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2005
I SMELLED WHAT SEEMED TO BE BURNING WIRE COMING FROM INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10114724
Incident
Dec 7, 2004
Mileage
115,970 mi
Seat belts
Filed Dec 5, 2003
THE BUCKLE ON THE HARNESS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE LATCH BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS. CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE BUCKLE TOGETHER WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO GET THE SYSTEM TO WORK. *AK
NHTSA ID
10050150
Incident
Nov 20, 2003
Mileage
176,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. TS
NHTSA ID
8021595
Incident
Oct 20, 2002
ElectricalExterior lightingOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Aug 2, 2002
WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING THROUGH RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT GO FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED. *JG *YH
NHTSA ID
566883
Engine
Filed May 21, 2002
ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING ONTO PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE ON FLOOR. THERE IS ABOUT A HALF INCH OF ANTIFREEZE ON FLOOR. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
NHTSA ID
8010235
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2002
3.8 ENGINE--SHUTTER ALSO AT THE 70 MI.PER HR. SPEED. *AK
NHTSA ID
758672
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2002
CONSUMER HAD NOTICED A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED ENGINE VALVE TO FIND A SOLUTION, BUT DID NOT HELP AND THE PROBLEM STILL THERE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8003961
Incident
Feb 11, 2002
Brakes
Filed Dec 13, 2001
PANIC STOP TO AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT THAT STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID DOG IN ROAD. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, STEERED AROUND CAR AHEAD AVOIDING ACCIDENT. BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RETURNTO NORMAL FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF PUMPING AND TEST STOPS, PROCEEDED WITH JOURNEY NORMALLY. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER NEXT DAY. PARKING BRAKE CABLE REPLACED BUT NO FAULT FOUND IN BRAKING SYSTEM. NOTE ABS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 8 MONTHS BUT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN ABS WAS NOT DISABLED IN LAST 2 YEARS, I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. *AK
NHTSA ID
755618
Incident
Dec 10, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 19, 2001
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CONTROL HIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
886325
Incident
Jan 10, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 12, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH, AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA ID
882741
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jan 8, 2001
91 V 198 00/AUTOMATIC: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PARKED ON A UPPER GRADE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ID
877684
Incident
Jan 5, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 6, 2000
WHEN DRIVING SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED WIRES WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE MELTED. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
872429
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2000
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO WIRING HARNESS AND OTHER PARTS, REPAIRS WERE DONE BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK A BROKEN BULB SHORTED OUT AND BURNED THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC. THE BURNING REACHED THE STEERING COLUMN TRAVELING THE WIRES AND DAMAGED SWITCH ASSEMBLY, WIRING HARNESS, HORN ASSEMBLY AND MORE. *YH
NHTSA ID
871752
Incident
Sep 7, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 2000
WHEN DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED MASTER CYLINDERS/ROTORS, AND ABS BRAKES.*AK
NHTSA ID
864747
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Apr 17, 2000
ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH PANEL, WHEN IT ILLUMINATES ABS SYSTEM WILL GO INTO EFFECT WHEN DRIVING. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER DIDN'T COMPLY BECAUSE OF THE COST. VEHICLE LATER TAKEN TO A SPECIALIST, SAID THAT THE WHEEL SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOT THE ABS SYSTEM. OWNER WANTS MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR REPAIR EXPENSES. *AK *ML
NHTSA ID
860447
Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 2000
Crash reported
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH IN SLOW TRAFFIC, PRESSED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER REAREDNDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER INDICATED THIS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
859606
Incident
Mar 27, 2000
Brakes
Filed Feb 9, 2000
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WAS HARD WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR INFORMATON. *AK
NHTSA ID
856621
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 1999
THIS IS TOTAL BREAK FAILURE.PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THREE PUMPS & BRAKES WORKED FINE. HAD SYS.PURGED & MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED BY OLDS DEALER. THIS SAME INCINDENCE OF TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME WAS IN 1994, LAST TIME HAPPENED TODAY.11/16/1999 ALSO HAD REPLACED 2ND MASTER CYINDER. ONE & ONE HALF YRS. AGO. *AK
NHTSA ID
714867
Incident
Sep 7, 1994
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 7, 1999
WHILE USING THE JACK (PART # 14063553) IT DROPPED DUE TO THE METAL OF WHICH JACK IS MADE OFF NEEDS TO BE "HEAT TREATED" IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE JACK. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA ID
838973
Incident
Jun 5, 1999
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 1999
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAGS DEPLOYED-NO INJURIES INCURRED. *AK
NHTSA ID
835577
Incident
Feb 13, 1999
Airbags
Filed Feb 24, 1999
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT ABOUT 2-3MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SOLENOID SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON JUST BEFORE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR THE OCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
835203
Incident
Feb 20, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 18, 1999
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE DASH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND DRIVER HAD TO JUMP OUT TO BORROW A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT FLAMES OUT. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM *AK *ML
NHTSA ID
835035
Incident
Feb 10, 1999
Airbags
Filed Feb 11, 1999
1 injury reported
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING MINIMAL INJURIES TO CONSUMER.
NHTSA ID
543861
Brakes
Filed Jan 12, 1999
ABS SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WOULD COST $75.00 TO INSPECT, AND ESTIMATED $1000.00 FOR REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA ID
833391
Incident
Oct 12, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Oct 5, 1998
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED.
NHTSA ID
541817
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.
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