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Oldsmobile 98Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 295 NHTSA owner complaints across 28 model years, no Oldsmobile 98 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998. The 98 has 30 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1991Best years'92 '95 '97 '98Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints295Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls301967–1999 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Oldsmobile 98 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 98 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'68'71'72'74'75'77'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Solid56/10027 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid58/10030 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/10010 complaints · 2 recalls1995Solid50/10030 complaints · 2 recalls1994Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/10013 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid47/10038 complaints · 1 recall1991Caution38/10047 complaints · 2 recalls1990Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/10010 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10015 complaints · 3 recalls1986Not rated–/10013 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1009 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1980Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1975Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Oldsmobile 98 problems

All model years combined: 295 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic628
Electrical system403
Engine and engine cooling341
Air bags2915
Seat belts292
Power train241
Steering221
Structure140
Visibility140
14 other systems839
30 recalls

Oldsmobile 98 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system96V-116 · 1996 · Jul 1, 1996 · 275,811 vehicles–Automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines96V-015 · 1992–1993 · Jan 23, 1996 · 585,182 vehicles–Anti-theft: control module95V-204 · 1996 · Oct 23, 1995 · 32,869 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights94V-190 · 1995 · Oct 4, 1994 · 1,997 vehicles–Headlights: switch94V-138 · 1994–1995 · Aug 2, 1994 · 1,487 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission91V-198 · 1991 · Nov 14, 1991 · 6,866 vehicles–Conventional: mechanical91V-167 · 1991 · Sep 23, 1991 · 20,765 vehicles–Vehicle speed control89V-102 · 1984 · Jun 16, 1989 · 1,755,897 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal88V-080 · 1987 · May 16, 1988 · 35,057 vehicles–Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers87V-135 · 1987 · Sep 1, 1987 · 479,715 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip87V-093 · 1986–1987 · Jun 23, 1987 · 6,004 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections86V-145 · 1986 · Nov 3, 1986 · 88,668 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 30 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

13 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 98

  1. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · 1996–1998 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1996–2000 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  3. FUEL LINE FAILUREEA93011 · 1992 · closed May 31, 1994
    No recall
  4. FUEL LINE FAILUREPE93007 · 1991 · closed May 3, 1993
    No recall
  5. REAR BRAKE PINEA89028 · 1986–1987 · closed Jul 27, 1990
    No recall
  6. ANTI LOCK BRAKESPE89098 · 1986–1988 · closed May 17, 1989
    No recall
  7. THROTTLE NON-RETURNC89001 · 1984–1988 · closed Jan 16, 1990
    No recall
  8. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA88031 · 1985–1988 · closed Oct 23, 1989
    No recall
  9. HYDRO BOOSTEA88019 · 1983–1986 · closed Oct 31, 1990
    No recall
  10. THROTTLE CONTROLEA88010 · 1987 · closed Oct 31, 1989
    Led to recall 88V-080