Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Oldsmobile 98, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 23 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Apr 1996 | 1 | 4 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 6 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 8 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 9 |
| Nov 1999 | 2 | 11 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 12 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 14 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 15 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 16 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.*JB
THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED ON 11/26/2000 FROM A SEARS BRANCH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT 100000 MILE. CURRENTLY (6/11/2002) THE VEHICLE IS 122023 MILES AND THERE IS A BIG CRACK ON THE WALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. IT LOOKS MUCH LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH FORD MODELS. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW BUT THE AIR WAS GONE THINKING THAT IT WAS A FLAT I TOOK IT TO GET IT REPAIRED, IT WAS SAID THE TIRE BEYOND REPAIR. I HAVE THE TIRE WITH ME AND CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF WANTED...PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEOFE ANOTHER FORD INCIDENT HAPPENNES AND MORE PEOPLE DIES. I WAS LUCKY THAT I NOTICED IT EARLIER...THANKS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A SMALL TREE, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO RIGHT SIDE OF FACE/ BLEEDING BEHIND RIGHT EYE, AND A FRACTURED NOSE. STILL UNDER MEDICAL ATTENTION. *AK *JB
CONSUMER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DUE TO HYPOGLYCEMIA AND HIT A TREE, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. NLM
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE DUE TO VALVE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC THAT FOUND THE PROBLEM SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND GENERAL MOTORS FAILS TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM THIS HAS BEEN. PERHAPS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RE-CALL ON THIS DEVICE.
ENGINE STALLED AT 40MPH ON DOWNHILL. HAS STALLED BEFORE AT SLOW SPEEDS
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
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
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
STRUCTURE:BODY
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC
SUSPENSION
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE
STRUCTURE:BODY
CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1998 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 40.6 |
| 1997 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 35.6 |
| 1996 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 57.4 |
| 1995 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 49.0 |
| 1994Viewing | 16 | 1 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 1993 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 42.5 |
| 1992 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 45.1 |
| 1991 | 47 | 2 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 1990 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 1989 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 1988 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 41.5 |
| 1987 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 57.9 |
| 1986 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 53.1 |
| 1985 | 9 | 1 | 5 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.