FaultScore

Worst years for a Oldsmobile 98

Owners have filed 417 complaints about the Oldsmobile 98 with NHTSA across model years 1975 to 1999. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

1995 Oldsmobile 98

71 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly brakes.

Cleanest on record

1997 Oldsmobile 98

35 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Oldsmobile 98 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
1999 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1998 C 32 1 0 81,500 Engine & Cooling
1997 B 35 0 0 Seat Belts
1996 C 12 0 0 Electrical System
1995 D 71 2 1 Brakes
1994 D 23 10 3 Airbags
1993 C 15 1 1 Brakes
1992 46 4 0 Brakes
1991 69 7 2 Brakes
1990 26 1 1 Engine & Cooling
1989 14 3 1 Electrical System
1988 11 0 0 Steering
1987 25 1 0 Brakes
1986 13 0 0 Brakes
1985 10 1 1 Steering
1984 2 0 0 Equipment & Accessories
1983 1 0 0 Electrical System
1982 2 0 0 Body & Structure
1981 7 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1980 1 0 0 Seat Belts
1975 1 0 0 Tires

What breaks on a Oldsmobile 98

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 83 19.9%

Worst in 1991

Worst in 1991

Worst in 1998

Airbags 33 7.9%

Worst in 1994

Seat Belts 33 7.9%

Worst in 1997

Worst in 1992

Steering 22 5.3%

Worst in 1985

Body & Structure 16 3.8%

Worst in 1995

Acceleration & Cruise Control 16 3.8%

Worst in 1995

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 16 3.8%

Worst in 1995

Fuel & Propulsion 15 3.6%

Worst in 1992

Suspension 13 3.1%

Worst in 1995

Equipment & Accessories 12 2.9%

Worst in 1991

Other & Unspecified 11 2.6%

Worst in 1995

Exactly what failed on a Oldsmobile 98

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 40 28.2%
Frontal 21 14.8%
Automatic Transmission 15 10.6%
Engine 12 8.5%
Ignition 12 8.5%
Buckle Assembly 9 6.3%
Master Cylinder 9 6.3%
Anchorage 9 6.3%
Rack AND Pinion 8 5.6%
AIR Conditioner 7 4.9%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Oldsmobile 98, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 26 Apr 2022

Oldsmobile 98 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Oldsmobile 98

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.