1998 Oldsmobile 88 engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED OIL ON THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10915750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ENGINE USING COOLANT BUT NO EVIDENT LEAK. AFTER A WEEK OF ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT TO RESERVOIR ENGINE RAN HOT AND HYDRO-LOCKED DUE TO CYLINDERS FLOODED WITH COOLANT. DISCOVERED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD HOLE IN IT WHERE THE EGR TUBE ENTERED PLASTIC MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO FLOOD INTAKE. THIS ENGINE HAD 84K MILES. ALSO DISCOVERED INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AT 45K MILES BY DEALER. DEFINITELY AN ENGINEERING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10911055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE ENGINE PLEMUN, WHICH WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED FLUID TO PENETRATE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,191 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 10/30/13 *BF UPDATED 10/31/2013

NHTSA complaint #10538524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

YESTERDAY OUR CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. WE ADDED A BOTTLE OF COOLANT YESTERDAY AND ANOTHER TWO GALLONS TODAY ALONG WITH A BOTTLE OF STOP LEAK AND HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED COMPLETELY AND HE IS NOT EQUIPPED TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10460856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

ENGINE HYDRO LOCKED WHEN A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWED COOLANT TO BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDERS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AT A COST OF $5,400.00. WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT PEOPLE WERE JUST AFFORDED A SHORT TIME TO ACT ON IT, AND WE WERE NOT EVEN NOTIFIED. IS THERE ANOTHER SUIT THAT WE CAN BE A PART OF? WE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE WITH JUST 44,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10455916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE LATEST GM RECALL IN CARS WITH THE 3.8 L MOTOR IN WHICH OIL LEAKS OUT ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NUMBER GIVEN BUT IT SHOWED MY 1998 OLDS 88 IS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME MOTOR AND PROBLEM IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10265731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

GRADUALLY YOU WILL SEE A DEPLETION OF THE ANTI-FREEZE FROM THE HOLDING RESERVOIR. THIS IS COULD BE A SIGN THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS BEGINNING TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE (JUST A LITTLE) INTO THE ENGINE. SOONER OR LATER WHEN THE EROSION IS LARGE ENOUGH THEN A PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE WILL COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PULL OVER AND CALL THE TOW TRUCK. I HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD TWICE ON MY 1998 OLDS 88 DUE TO DEGRADING OF THE INTERIOR WALL WHERE THE ANTI-FREEZE FLOWS BACK INTO THE ENGINE. BOTH TIMES THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR (INCLUDING PLUGS, WIRES, NEW MANIFOLD, LABOR) WAS AROUND $1,200. ON THE LAST MANIFOLD GM HAD ESTABLISHED ADDING A PIECE OF METAL WHERE THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS ERODING THE "SPACE AGE PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD. BASED ON THIS, GM KNOWS THIS IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT AND OR PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA complaint #10207093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 LS. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE STEERING DIDN'T LOCK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ABLE DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,435. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR 2 DIANOSTICS CHECKS NO FAILURES FOUND. ENGINE STILL CONTINUES TO STALL. UPDATE *4/23/07TR

NHTSA complaint #10185910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

LTR TO GM REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR ON RECALL DEFECT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT. *BF THE VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE IT BACKFIRED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS.

NHTSA complaint #10113011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY OLDSMOBILE 88 WAS LOOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, SO I TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR AND HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THEY SAID MY INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE TO THE CAR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES.APPARENTLY THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD IS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE HEAT. MY CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I HAVE 133,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS MANIFOLD TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10112037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE FUMES OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, LEAKING ON THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE EGR PIPING DEGRADED AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10111582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING,\ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. NOTICED THAT COOLANT LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE ,AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10108987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT A LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DID NOT GO TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKING POWER WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ER

NHTSA complaint #10099430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING ON A NATIONAL HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. ALSO WATER WAS IN THE CYLINDERS, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK AND THE STARTER TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10092293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED TO REPAIR VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER.

NHTSA complaint #10090300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE MANIFOLD ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE ONE YEAR AGO AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE MANIFOLD. GM STATED THE DEFECT DID NOT AFFECT HIS VEHICLE. *JB AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARMED AND STARTED, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE WHEN STARTING. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10083482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER HAVING A DIANOSTIC TEST DONE REPAIRS WERES DONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED.

NHTSA complaint #10081690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10079420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS, ONE WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET, AND THE OTHER WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT IN WHICH GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED THE WARRANTY RATES OFFERED SO THE CONSUMER ENDED UP PAYING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. WITH FRUSTRATION THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO MILLER BROTHERS AND IS NOW ASKING THAT THE TOTAL REPAIR COST BE REFUND FOR THE AMOUNT OF $2,946. *CB

NHTSA complaint #10024447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I PURCHASED A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 IN MARCH OF 2003, I PUT NEW WIRING ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY IN DECEMBER AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BECAUSE THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS USING ALL THE WATER ABOUT EVERY 10 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER LEAVING THE REPAIR SHOP, I STOPPED BY A STORE AND WAS INSIDE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START RIGHT AWAY, I HAD TO TRY STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. ON MY WAY BACK HOME THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 40 MPH AND WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER, EVEN WITH THE GAS TO THE FLOOR; IT WOULD ONLY GET SLOWER. AFTER GETTING BACK HOME, THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK BACK UP AT ALL; IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK HOME THAT SAME DAY AND CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2004.

NHTSA complaint #10073204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

IN OCTOBER OF 2003, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY OLDSMOBILE 88LS, 3.8 SERIES TWO ENGINE, CAME ON. THE CAR HAD A LOSS OF POWER AND STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. BEFORE I GOT THE CAR STOPPED THE ENGINE QUIT. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE WATER RUNNING OUT OF THE GASKETS. I CHECKED THE RADIATOR TO FIND NO WATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE OVERFLOW TANK HAD NONE. I PULLED THE DIPSTICK TO FIND ALL THE REMAINING WATER TO BE IN THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED UNDER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE DEALER OF WHICH IT WAS PUCHASED TO FIND THAT THE UPPER INTAKE HAD EITHER CRACKED OR BURST. THE DEALER REFERED TO THE DAMAGED PART AS A PLENTIUM. THIS OCCURED AT 89,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DAMAGED PART AND PUT THE ENGINE BACK TOGETHER. THE DEALER ADVISED ME TO KEEP A WATCH ON THE CAR TO SEE IF ANY CHANGES DEVELOP. AT THE FIRST THREE THOUSAND MILE OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE HAD LOST OIL AND I ALSO ADDED WATER TO THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO BACK TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE FOR LOSS OF GAS MILEAGE AND A FEW OTHER CONCERNS. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER FOR THE OIL CHANGE THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE ENGINE AND ASKED THAT I LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT A DETECTED PROBLEM DURING THE PRESSURE TEST. THE REPAIRS DONE DURING THIS TIME INVOLVED THE GASKETS AGAIN, AND ALSO THE HEADS WHERE WARPED AND THEY REPAIRED THEM. AT 106,000 MILES THE DEALER REQUESTED THAT I REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TESTED THE ENGINE AGAIN TO DETERMINE AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK. NOW THE CAR HAS A LOSS OF WATER AND ALSO HAS STARTED TO BURN SOME OIL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE IS IN ALL OLDSMOBILE, BUICK, PONTIAC, AND CHEVROLET MADE VEHICLES. ALL THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES NEED SOME ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10072378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF THIS BUT THE RED AREA OF THE GAUGE THEN THE CHECK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED IT GOT IT COOLED DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED TO THE VERY NEXT RD TO GAS STATION FOR BETTER VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. GOT TO IT VERY QUICKLY AND THE TEMP WAS BACK UP. STOPPED LET IT COOL AND ADDED WATER TO THE NOW EMPTY RESOVAIR THAT WAS FULL WHEN WE STARTED THE TRIP. AND NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AND NO BOILING OVER, LET IT COOL. ADDED WATER. THEN TRIED TO CRANK IT UP, IT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER, THOUGHT ENG HAD LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD THEIR WAS A FEATURE TO THIS CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN THE ENG WHEN A LEAK LIKE THIS OCCURS. WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKEN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE ENG WAS GONE......AND IT WAS NOT. BUT IT SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE STARTER WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE CAR BEFORE WE LEFT ON THIS TRIP, HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND EVERYTHING. BUT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WHEN THE LEAK, AND RUNNING HOT OCCURED. NOT SURE HOW IT MESSED UP THE STARTER. BUT ALSO KNOW SINCE IT SHUTS THE ENG DOWN, LOCKS IT UP, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GET A NEW ENG CAUSE THEIR PERSON DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS FEATURE AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10067797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1) AUG. 2000 GENERATOR FAILURE 2) AUG. 2002 BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED 3) OCT. 2003 COOLANT LEAKING : REPLACED LEAKING WATER PUMP. INTAKE MANIFOLD ALSO LEAKING BUT NOT REPLACED AT THIS TIME DUE TO COST. 3.8L V6

NHTSA complaint #10069449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRANSMISSION: UPPER PLATE GASKET WENT, CAUSING GEAR SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE IN THE LOWER GEARS. TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT UNIT WHICH IS NOW EXHIBITING MUCH OF THE SAME SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS (ONLY MINORLY AT THE MOMENT) @ 156,000KM. ENGINE: FIRST ENGINE HAD THE EGR/EXHAUST DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO MELT AND COOLANT TO POOR INTO THE ENGINE. REPORT FROM THE SHOP WAS THAT ENTIRE BOTTOM END WAS DESTROYED BY THE COOLANT, AND A FULL NEW ENGINE HAD TO BE ORDERED (COMPLETE WITH ACCESSORIES, ETC.). THE NEW ENGINE'S IDLER FOR THE SERPENTINE HAD THE BEARING CEASE, KNOCKING THE BELT OFF. SINCE THE WATERPUMP WAS BELT DRIVEN, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CAR WAS LEFT TO IDLE IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TOTAL TIME OF ~ 5-15MIN. (THE TEMPERATURE OUT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND -40C / -40F.). BRAKES: PERHAPS CRONICALLY UNDERSIZED FOR THIS VEHICLE, ROTORS HAVE WARPED LIKE CLOCKWORK EVERY 30,000KM. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WARPED APPROACHING 160,000KM AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED --- AGAIN --- SHORTLY. THIS IS NOT A CAR THAT SEE'S MUCH HEAVY USE. GROCERIES ON WEEKENDS, ~ 15-20KM MAX. TOTAL DAILY TRIP DURING WORKDAYS. IT HAS YET TO ACCOMPLISH AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP (I.E., NORTH BAY -> OTTAWA OR NORTH BAY -> TORONTO, 4 HOURS (~400KM) AND 3 HOURS (~300KM) RESPECTIVELY) WITHOUT THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT BEING LIT. ADDITIONAL RECOLLECTION: FRONT FOG LIGHTS CONSTANTLY FILLING WITH CONDENSATION AS WELL, HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4-5 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRENTY. NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND AND NOW THEY'RE JUST NOT USED.

NHTSA complaint #10071326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1998 OLDS LSS WITH 79,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT MOST OF THE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE ENGINE THROUGH A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. STALL CONDITION WAS DUE TO COLLANT IN THE CYLINDERS. DEALER CITED THE PROBLEM AS STRESS CRACKING. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. A SECOND, INTERMITTANT PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING. IT RESTARTS FINE. THIS HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY 1-2 TIMES PER WEEK AND STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE ARE NO DIAGNOSTICS CODES SET AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME FOR CERTAIN WHAT CAUSES THIS. I DID CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10064033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE DID NOT GAIN ANY SPEED, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LOSING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TECHNICIAN WHO THEN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10064918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

IN EARLY 1998, I PURCHASED A 1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT BRAND NEW FROM RELIABLE OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND, OH. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS A FEW YEARS OLD, THE PROBLEM I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT BEGAN AROUND MAY 1998. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS COMPLAINING ABOUT EXCESSIVE, LOUD NOISES THAT WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME I WENT WAS JUNE 1, 1998. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP TRIED FIXING OR DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. I ENDURED THE NOISE AND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. WHILE TRAVELING FROM GEORGIA TO OHIO LAST SUMMER (2003), THE CAR FINALLY BROKE DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP IN TENNESSEE DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE TENSION PULLEY. THIS DEFECTIVE PULLEY ALSO CAUSED AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RESIDURAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THIS WAS THE NOISE I WAS HEARING . WHEN I CONTACTED THE GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY (THE OLDSMOBILE DIVISION HAS SHUT DOWN), THEY IGNORED ME EXCEPT FOR TELLING ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I RECOGNIZE THAT IT HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM AROSE LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED LONG BEFORE IT EXPIRED BUT FOR THE OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR THAT A DEALERSHIP CAN FAIL (DELIBERATELY OR NOT) TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM COVERED BY THE WARRANTY WHILE THE WARRANTY IS IN EFFECT AND THEN SCREAM THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. PARTICULARLY, AFTER ONE OF ITS OWN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. IF THE DEALERSHIP IN TENNESSEE COULD DIAGNOSE IT, THEN THE ONE IN OHIO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO AS WELL. I WISH TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, WHICH WAS $1944.67. I AM NOT ASKING FOR THE COST OF THE HOTEL ROOM AND THE WAGES I MISSED, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10056957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.