RoadVitals

1993 Oldsmobile 98

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
13
Latest Mar 28, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 23, 1996
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Oldsmobile 98, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 18 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes320.0%
  • Body & structure213.3%
  • Engine213.3%
  • Airbags213.3%
  • Seat belts16.7%
  • Tires & wheels16.7%
  • Transmission16.7%
  • Driver assistance16.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
96V015000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Jan 23, 1996
585,182 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
The risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2005
Fire reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10099350
Incident
Apr 19, 2001
Body & structure
Filed May 20, 2003

WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD "CLUNK" AND ALL CONTROL WAS LOST AS I ENTERED THE HIGH SPEED LANE. THE ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED FREELY AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE REAR FRAME BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE FAILED AND FRAME AND ENGINE FELL DOWN, DISCONNECTIONS THE STEERING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT AS OTHERS STOPPED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR IS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION, NO VISIBLE RUST, NO FLUID LEAKS AND HAS ONLY 140,000 MILES. IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN MECHANISM TO MAKE THE ENGINE DROP IN A CRASH(TO PROTECT THE DRIVER) FAILED (RUSTED) WAY BEFORE IT SHOULD HAVE. THE OLDSMOBILE HOTLINE SAID THE CAR WAS PAST THE 100,000 RUST WARRANTY, WHAT DID I EXPECT? I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER OLDSMOBILES AND PUT OVER 250,000 MILES ON EACH ONE AND CERTAINLY EXPECTED SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THIS ONE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT AND HAVE THE ENGINE FALL OUT BEFORE ANY OF THE NORMAL HIGH MILEAGE FAILURES SUCH AS TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, RADIATOR OR EVEN THE FAILURE OF THE BATTERY IN THE REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. I BELIEVE THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF SOME OR ALL THE CHARGES TO REPAIR THIS. HAD IT HAPPENED 5 MINUTES LATER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. IF THERE IS A GENERAL DEFECT, ALL OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018992
Incident
May 8, 2003
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 13, 2003

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBJECT NOR DID IT HIT ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010401
Incident
Mar 10, 2003
Mileage
108,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 12, 2001

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60 NEAR DUDLEY, MO @ 65 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE NEARBY EXIT AND STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. FILLED GAS TANK, EVERYTHING SEEMD TO BE WORKING FINE, SO I PULLED BACK ONTO ROAD, SOON AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND HORN STARTED HONKING. I STOPPED, DISCONNECTED HORN, CUT AWAY BAG AND DROVE HOME. NOTIFIED COMPANY, AND PER THEIR REQUEST HAD DIAGNOSTICS TEST RUN AT BLACKWELL-BALDWIN OLDS IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO; NO CODES FOUND, MECHANIC SAID A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. MECHANIC SAID COLUMN WAS TIGHT, AND NO SIGN IT HAD EVER BEEN OPENED, BUT A WIRE WAS STRETCHED. HE SAID APPARENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL SNAGGED THE WIRE. OLDSMOBILE WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THIS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE ON CAR, AND SAY I MUST BEAR ENTIRE COST OF TEST, REPLACEMENT, AND RESULTING EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IF I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR FINDINGS. SINCE WHEN DID AIRBAGS COME WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
750255
Incident
Jul 24, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 16, 2000

TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, REVEALING 23 INCH LENGTH OF TIRE LOST, SEPARATION AT EDGES, AND TORN WIRE MESH( DOT NUMBER: A3MOFFA163 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA ID
731672
Incident
Aug 17, 2000
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 20, 2000

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF TANK IT CUTS OFF AT ANY STOP. *AK ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ID
865793
Incident
May 20, 2000
BrakesTransmission
Filed Sep 30, 1999

ANYTIME WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
849512
Incident
Aug 27, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 1, 1998

REAR CHILDREN SECURITY LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
541445

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

990730030A

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT

990730030

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT

832006

STRUCTURE:BODY

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC

831704

STRUCTURE:BODY

CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC

98833005

SUSPENSION

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile 98 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000001—
1999101—
1998270240.6
1997300235.6
1996102257.4
1995302049.0
1994161052.6
1993Viewing131042.5
1992381145.1
1991472158.0
1990172050.7
1989111049.5
1988101341.5
1987154657.9
1986133753.1
1985915—
1984113—
1983101—
1982210—
1981200—
1980120—
1979030—
1977020—
1975120—
1974010—
1972030—
1971010—
1968030—
1967010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.