1998 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 1998 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
- Engine826.7%
- Airbags413.3%
- Transmission310.0%
- Tires & wheels310.0%
- Interior & seats26.7%
- Body & structure26.7%
- Fuel system26.7%
- Seat belts13.3%
- Steering13.3%
- Suspension13.3%
- Electrical13.3%
- Brakes13.3%
- Visibility13.3%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY IN JULY OF 2005 WITH 78000 MILES ON IT. MARCH OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE COOLANT WAS BONE DRY UPON INSPECTION BY SELF. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE PLENUM AT A COST OF $533.00. THE PLENUM HAD CRACKED AND COOLANT RAN INTO THE #3 CYLINDER. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED AT THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $170.00 FOR THAT JOB. NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM. MY SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING AND GOING AND MY CAR WON'T RECOGNIZE MY KEY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ABOUT (EVERY 3RD START LATELY) THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE STARTER SHUT DOWN FOR 3 MINUTES. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START AFTER I WAIT 3 OR 4 MINUTES EITHER, SO I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 3-4 MINUTES AND SO ON. (ONCE I HAD WAITED 2 HOURS BEFORE IT WOULD START.) I HAD A LOCKSMITH LOOK AT IT WHO SAID HE COULD FIX IT (ULTIMATELY HE COULDN'T) BUT ENDED UP PAYING $135.00 FOR THAT SERVICE AND THEN FIGHTING HIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HELP AND GOT A REFUND. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS "PROBABLY" THE COMPUTER AND CHARGED ME $80.00 TO TELL ME THAT. HE SAID HE COULD "TRY" TO FIX THAT PROBLEM FOR ABOUT $450.00. I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS ANYMORE AND WISH SOMEONE COULD HELP ME. *NM
MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY WAS LOSING COOLANT. I COULD NOT SEE A VISIBLE LEAK. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE UPPER INTAKE (PLENUM) TO BE LEAKING THE COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE (CYLINDER #3.) THE LEAK WAS CAUSED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE INTAKE PLENUM IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I INTEND TO SEND OLDSMOBILE A COPY OF MY BILL WHICH WAS $533.32. WHY WOULD A COMPANY MAKE A PART SUCH AS THIS OUT OF PLASTIC? BY THE WAY, MY INDICATOR LIGHT IS STILL ON, SO I WILL NEED TO HAVE A DEALER CHECK IT OUT, AS THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC CAN FIND NO REASON FOR IT REMAINING LIT. *NM
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: 1996 OLDSMOBILE 98 ELITE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THIS AIR BAG HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT, ALMOST 6-7 INCHES LONG AND 2-3 INCHES WIDE. ALSO IT HAD A BURNED LOOK TO IT. NO ONE INVESTIGATED TO SEE WHY IT HAD A HOLE. THE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER'S GRANDDAUGHTER SUSTAINED A DEVIATED SEPTUM. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH *DT
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
THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, DUE TO A FAILED TRANSMISSION. *JB
CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFTER SHAFT WOULD SLIDE TO 2ND GEAR AND NOT CLICK TO 1ST,THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE NUT AND TIGHTENED IT ON THE SHIFTER SHAFT AND ADJUSTED THE CABLE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *YD *CB THE DEALER ALSO FIXED A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK NOISE AFTER BRAKING OR WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD SHIMMY, DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES AT 6000 MILES, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. *SLC
LEFT FRONT TIRE BELTS SEPARATED AND THE OTHER THREE WERE CAPPED CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE WHILE DRIVING (ORIGINAL GOODYEAR INVICTA TIRES). NLM
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMERS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE SHE WAS DRIVING WAS REAR ENDED AND THE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING INJURIES. *YH (DAUGHTER FOR MOTHER-IN-LAW)
COMPUTER FAILURE.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL OPEN AND CLOSE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFTER SHAFT WOULD SLIDE TO 2ND GEAR AND NOT CLICK TO 1ST,THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE NUT AND TIGHTENED IT ON THE SHIFTER SHAFT AND ADJUSTED THE CABLE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *YD *CB THE DEALER ALSO FIXED A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK NOISE AFTER BRAKING OR WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. *JB
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TAIL PIPE DUE TO THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING AND LEAKING. CONTACTED DEALER. *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
REAR SEAT BELT FAILED. *YC
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING PUMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES FROM 1,000 MILES UP TO PRESENT. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING, FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRES WORE OUT EVERY 22,000 MILES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
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
VEHICLE DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. *AK
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
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD SHIMMY, DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES AT 6000 MILES, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. *PH THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIXE THE PROBLEM. *TT *JB
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 .