1997 Oldsmobile 98
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Oldsmobile › 98 › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Oldsmobile 98. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
30 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine · Steering
While getting on the freeway the engine just stopped. I noticed the steering wheel froze, and looked down and saw that the lights had come in and the engine had stopped. I was able to put in park and start the engine. No further problems the rest of that trip. about a month later the same thing…
While getting on the freeway the engine just stopped. I noticed the steering wheel froze, and looked down and saw that the lights had come in and the engine had stopped. I was able to put in park and start the engine. No further problems the rest of that trip. about a month later the same thing happened to my daughter. Engine shut off while getting on freeway and she wa able to start car back up. this week, tuesday, my daughter was driving she came to a full stop at a stop sign and as she started to go the oil light came on and the voltage light came on, car would not move forward, she tried to rev engine nothing happened that IS when she put in park and it started right up. the mileage no IS 117,375. I have looked on recall list and have not found this year and model. *tr
- Seat belts › Rear/other
Rea seat belts unable to fasten them to secure passengers. Buckles recessed to far into rear seat cushion. Requires asistance tobuckles passengers belts. Very dangerous.
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
I own a 1997 oldsmobile regency v6-3800 3.8L, vin: [xxx]. The intake manifold IS leaking coolant, and the cost to replace IS approx. $800~$1000, due to a gasket failure. I don't feel that the gasket should have failed so soon. The service dept. At olds tells me that their are gasket problems with…
I own a 1997 oldsmobile regency v6-3800 3.8L, vin: [xxx]. The intake manifold IS leaking coolant, and the cost to replace IS approx. $800~$1000, due to a gasket failure. I don't feel that the gasket should have failed so soon. The service dept. At olds tells me that their are gasket problems with 3.1L as well as 3.8L, which IS what I have. I would like to know if there are other complaints on this same issue, and what IS being done, or IS my problem normal. Please respond asap. thank you, [xxx]. *nlm information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(B)(6). *tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Vehicle has stalled 7 times at various speeds. dealer has inspected vehicle twice, but could not find the cause.*ak to stop engine stalling, the dealer replaced the crank shaft position sensor. *Yh
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Female parts in three rear seat seat belts are too short, can't get a good grip to plug them into the male ends. consumer stated that in winter time while having on a lot of clothes belts are impossible to fasten, so consumer IS not properly restrained.*ak
- Electrical system · Visibility
Defect in the electrical system and visual system
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
Battery blew up because acid leaked from the positive terminal. dealer has replaced the battery at the owner's expense.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
Wires to spark plugs are defective and cause misfiring. owner's manual says to replace at 100,000 miles. they are causing problems at 46,000 miles.
- Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
This vehicle has an elctrical drivers seat, when the consumer shut the vehicle off the seat automaticaly adjusted itself all the way up to the steering whell and will not return. The seat IS so close the consumer cannot sit in the drivers seat. The dealer has been contacted. Mjs
- Unknown or other
The a/c on light/indicator IS too small to be observed while driving. yh
- Seat belts › Rear/other · Structure › Frame and members
Side bars holding windshield obstruct view. Seat belts hard to buckle because of placement.
- Suspension › Rear
Front suspension insulator--bushings, lower control arm and sway bar.
- Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Two wheel studs and lug nuts failed. Mjs
- Seat belts
Seat belts do not fit around the consumer. They are too small dealer has been contacted. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Rear seat belt receptor ends are too short, use of belts very difficult to keep latched.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Rear seat buckle extension too short, dealer put a sleeve around extension but did not lengthen the extension to fix the problem.
- Seat belts › Rear/other
Rear safety belts too small to use.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
New brake system was designed and installed by manufacturer which IS causing a longer stopping distance at least 1-2 car lengths, and almost resulted in rearend collisions. *Ak
- Suspension › Front › Stabilizer bar
Going hwy speed (60mph) when vehicle started to wonder for no reason. Took to dealer & was informe that stablizer link was missing from right front wheel. Dealership order part that was missing off of vehicle.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Rear seat belt failed.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belt latches in the rear seat are not able to be latched.
- Seat belts › Rear/other
Rear seat belts are practically unsable.
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)
Intermittently when the vehicle IS in reverse, it does not engage. the vehicle spins like it IS in neutral. It has been serviced numerous times, same problem reoccurred. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Consumer's wife weight IS 125lbs. She got into the rear seat of the vehicle, but could not be properly restrained. The rear seat belts were TO0 short to fasten around her. *ak
- Seat belts
Consumers seat belts are not long enough to accomodate passengers, thee rear seat belts are sunken into the cushions ,when pulled out they do not reach. dealer said they would give extedners when called, consumer was told they had to be obese to receive it. Oldsmobile said they would have…
Consumers seat belts are not long enough to accomodate passengers, thee rear seat belts are sunken into the cushions ,when pulled out they do not reach. dealer said they would give extedners when called, consumer was told they had to be obese to receive it. Oldsmobile said they would have something in september, retrofits have not been received, consumers front driver seat belt IS so far behind the lock that it does not reach, and the rear seat has three belts that are not long enough. *ak consumer states receptacle IS too short.*jb
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Power rack and pinion steering failure
Gm conducted a safety recall (nhtsa # 02v286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix vehicles built between march 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, 1996-1998 pontiac trans…
Gm conducted a safety recall (nhtsa # 02v286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix vehicles built between march 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, 1996-1998 pontiac trans sport, chevrolet lumina apv, chevrolet venture, oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and chevrolet cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019.
- Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 IS closed with gmea02-030 IS closed with gm?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some…
Ea02-030 IS closed with gmea02-030 IS closed with gm?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10248444Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10082506This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in colder ambient temperature areas due to calibration concerns.
- 10017568Intermittent chuggle or fishbite on light acceleration or a highway speeds with no diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs).
- 603085Some customers may comment that there IS corrosion ( rust ) appearing on the left and /or right rocker panel(s).
- 602983Concerns of door handles on white painted vehicles truning yellow.
- 602751Some customers may comment that the vehicle
- 601394Some customers may comment that the cupholder does not stay latched.
- 601052Experiencing a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration between 20 and 40 mph.
- 600210Some owners may comment that the battery IS low or dead.
- 54421Experience a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration.
- 54327Comments of an engine oil leak that appears to originate toward the driver's side of the vehicle; rear of engine.
- 54205Condition with outer rear seat belts are difficult to fasten.
- 54065Comments on inoperative power door locks (front and/or rear doors).
- 54063Comments that the park brake pedal IS not setting correctly or releasing prematurely while trying to set the park brake.
- 54062Comments on insufficient range of the keyless entry system.
- 53015When brakes are depressed force or engine load may affect and cause various noises.
- 52603Intermittent a/c system thump noise on initial start up from front passenger side floor panel (replace accumulator).
- 52600Cln indicator appears on radio display and does not turn off (reset cln indicator with the eject button on tape).
- 52573Engine oil level indicates over full (replace oil level indicator tube assembly).
- 52564Excessive vibration of electrochromic inside rearview mirror.
- 51240A/c system flutter and/or moan noise with hvac in a/c modes.
Every Oldsmobile 98 model year
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