1998 Oldsmobile 98
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Oldsmobile › 98 › 1998
These records cover every 1998 Oldsmobile 98. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
27 complaints1 involved a crash2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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.…
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
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
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…
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
- Air bags › Frontal
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…
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
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Coolant leaked out the intake manifold. Had to replaced intake manifold and gaskets. *bf e-mailed consumer response exhaust gases had gotten into the plastic upper manifold had thermally broke down the plastic and caused the leak. *sc
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
I own a 1998 olds regency with 62000 miles on it. this car has the standard 3.8 liter V-6 which has been in production for probably 30 years. I noticed recently the coolant reservoir level was slightly down and added coolant to bring it up to level. two weeks later my engine temperature was…
I own a 1998 olds regency with 62000 miles on it. this car has the standard 3.8 liter V-6 which has been in production for probably 30 years. I noticed recently the coolant reservoir level was slightly down and added coolant to bring it up to level. two weeks later my engine temperature was slightly high so I checked the reservoir level again. the reservoir was dry and I couldn't see any coolant in the radiator. I called the local dealership, added distilled water and got it there. when I arrived there was coolant leaking out of the intake manifold. the dealer informed me the next day they had to replace the upper and lower intake manifolds and gaskets at a cost of $1050. I questioned myself and the service manager how an intake manifold could go bad. he informed that the upper manifold was made of plastic. I talked to the mechanic after the fix. he informed me that the egr nipple that flow exhaust gases into the plastic upper manifold had thermally broke down the plastic and caused the leak. gm's fix was to decrease the size of the nipple in the lower manifold so there was an air gap between the nipple and the plastic upper manifold. this fix would stop heat from being transferred directly to the plastic upper manifold. gm has an engineering problem and they have addressed it by changing the replacement manifolds. no recall has been issued so the total cost IS the burden of the owner. I have maintained my car properly and I believe this problem IS not my fault. the problem IS gm doesn't think it's their fault either.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Intake manifold, made of plastic, ruptured dumping coolant into cylinders. resulted in instantaneous stoppage of engine and loss of power steering. could easily have led to wreck. *ak mechanic at first gm dealer contacted diagnosed problem sight unseen as it IS a known common problem. gm…
Intake manifold, made of plastic, ruptured dumping coolant into cylinders. resulted in instantaneous stoppage of engine and loss of power steering. could easily have led to wreck. *ak mechanic at first gm dealer contacted diagnosed problem sight unseen as it IS a known common problem. gm strongly suggested having work done at a dealership so they could make "adjustments" to the repair bill. after having the vehicle towed to a dealer, no "adjustments" were made, towing bill was exhorbitant, and repair bill was 30% higher than quoted by independent repair shop. defective part IS available for inspection (in my possession).
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Over the past four months, the windshield wipers has not worked properly. *ph the dealership was unable to fixe the problem. *tt *jb
- Electrical system › Starter assembly › Solenoid
Vehicle does not down shift properly. Took vehicle to mechanic, and they were going to replace the pressure control solenoid. *Ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
The vehicle had to be towed, due to a failed transmission. *jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
The vehicle intake manifold warped which resulted in the engine overheating. *nlm
- Structure › Body › Door
Passenger driver side door will open and close intermittently. please fill in additional information. dealer IS aware of the problem. ph
- Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
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
- Air bags
Consumer states that when driving and without warning the air bag inadvertently deploy causing the consumer to pull over. Dealer notified. ph *dt
- Air bags › Frontal
Consumer states of having problems with the air bag on the drivers side. Dealer was contacted. mr
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Pump
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
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc · Tires
Consumer states vehicle IS shimmying when brakes are applied, dealer has completed a brake job, turned front brake rotors, replaced front brake rotors, problem still continues. *slc
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Power train › Automatic transmission · Structure
Consumer was getting a clunk at times when braking and also when starting the vehicle. Dealer said it sounded like an engine mount, which IS a loose cradle bolt. *yd
- Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
Intake manifold had to be replaced due to cracking and leaking. Contacted dealer. *Ak
- Seats
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)
- Tires › Tread/belt
Left front tire belts separated and the other three were capped causing excessive noise while driving (original goodyear invicta tires). nlm
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Suspension › Front
Tires wore out every 22,000 miles. Also, engine head gasket blew out, and oil was leaking from underneath the vehicle. *ak
- Tires
Tire blew out on highway. yh
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Computer failure.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Rear seat belt failed. *yc
- Air bags › Frontal
While backing out of a parking space the driver's air bag deployed without collision occurring. Cause unknown. *Ak.et.
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.
- 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.
- 601121Condition regarding the engine intermittently stalls during a closed throttle deceleration from about 35 mph.
- 600214Comments that the engine runs rough, has lack of power, has a knock noise, and/or the mil (malfunction indicator light) IS illuminated.
- 600210Some owners may comment that the battery IS low or dead.
- 600193Information on spark plug tip erosion calibration pcm reflash.
- 54421Experience a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration.
- 54285Experiencing a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration.
- 54065Comments on inoperative power door locks (front and/or rear doors).
Every Oldsmobile 98 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.