1985 Oldsmobile 98
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Oldsmobile › 98 › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Oldsmobile 98. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1985 Oldsmobile 98. Newest first.
Omission of the certification labels as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110 "tire selection and rims".
Owner complaints
9 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Consumer states while driving, there was a loud noise coming from the vehicle, consumer then pulled over and looked under the vehicle and discovered a small fire and the drivetrain axle was on the ground, the transmission was replaced, consumer states he was injured.*jb
- Steering › Rack and pinion
No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
- Steering › Rack and pinion
When steering IS cold it IS hard to turn, in the summer time it works well. describe .*ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
'Cold power steering'. *Sd
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Seat belt retractor; failure on the driver side seat belt retractor, seat belt will not retract. *ak
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
The steering wheel and column locks up caused consumer to have a near accident. tt
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
The steering IS hard to turn there IS a service bulletin for this car . tt consumer until the vehicle heats up the steering IS extremly difficult, consumer assumed that this was normal due to the vehicle being new.*jb
- Vehicle speed control
Engage in reverse, vehicle suddenly accelerated out of control, resulting in totalled vehicle. tt
- Vehicle speed control
Cruise control failure. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Throttle non-return
There is no summary currently available
- Sudden acceleration
Status:analysis of information from the manufacturer IS in progress.however, neither nhtsa of gm has identified a failure or malfunction thatcould result in unintended acceleration.some vehicles in this group werefound potentially subject to throttle cable restrictions, and wererecalled along with h cars with similar problems.investigation iscontinuing.===
- Hydro boost
There is no summary currently available
- Hydroboost failure
Subject vehicles:caprice, caprice classic, custom cruiser, deville,electra, estate wagon, fleetwood, lesabre, ninety-eight, parisienne,park avenue.(all 1984-86 gm vehicles equipped with hydroboost II systems)analysis:consumer complaints allege several problems involving the powersteering and power brake systems of…
Subject vehicles:caprice, caprice classic, custom cruiser, deville,electra, estate wagon, fleetwood, lesabre, ninety-eight, parisienne,park avenue.(all 1984-86 gm vehicles equipped with hydroboost II systems)analysis:consumer complaints allege several problems involving the powersteering and power brake systems of these vehicles.these problemsinclude: power steering fluid loss, power brake fluid loss, leakage fromthe hydro-boost II power brake booster, broken booster seals, and mastercylinder failure.all problems seem to be related to the hydro-boost iipower assist system, in which the working fluid provides power assist to boke booster.the effect of these problems could be a loss of steeringcontrol and/or brake effectiveness.status:the voluminous amount of data supplied by gm IS presently being coded by a contractor and should be completed by 12/30/87. Gm data indicated a 50% weibull distribution failure at 50K miles for the piston push-rod seal. This pe looks to have an extrodinarily high frequency, although the severity apears to be low.should be interesting discussing this for upgrade/closure.===
- Windshield wipers
Summary:gm believes the problem has been corrected through its publi-cation of 7 service bulletins concerning this matter. In addition, gmdoes not believe windshield wiper failure represents a safety hazard.analysis: three failure modes have been identified; insulating film maybuild up between the brush face and the…
Summary:gm believes the problem has been corrected through its publi-cation of 7 service bulletins concerning this matter. In addition, gmdoes not believe windshield wiper failure represents a safety hazard.analysis: three failure modes have been identified; insulating film maybuild up between the brush face and the commutator of the wiper motor,corrosion may form in the wiper motor brush and disengagement of thewiper arms may occur. In view of the existing legal precedent, the largenumber of warranty claims concerning wiper motor failures (114,000) andthe high wiper motor and motor kit part sales (251,000), it IS imperativethat this matter receive management support.status: gm response dated 2/23/87. Analyzing as time permits.ea closed 3/2/88.=== d@
Every Oldsmobile 98 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.