Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Oldsmobile 98
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
646.2%
Steering
430.8%
Suspension
215.4%
Electrical System
17.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Apr 1995peak 1Jan 2008
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Oldsmobile 98
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===
PE89098Opened 10 Mar 1989Closed 17 May 1989SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI LOCK BRAKES
===
C89001Opened 6 Mar 1989Closed 16 Jan 1990VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
EA88031Opened 22 Apr 1988Closed 23 Oct 1989VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===
EA88019Opened 28 Jan 1988Closed 31 Oct 1990STEERING
HYDRO BOOST
EA87022Opened 27 Aug 1987Closed 27 Nov 1991VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
STALLING
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===
PE87038Opened 9 Jul 1987Closed 28 Jan 1988STEERING
HYDROBOOST FAILURE
SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Soco, ME
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BOUGHT AFTER-MARKET BALL JOINTS (MODEL # FA1478) FOR A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PARTS WAS BEST PARTS, INC IN MEMPHIS, TN. UPDATED 01/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/29/08
NHTSA complaint #10213403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THEY FELT VERY SPONGY IN THE MORNING. *AK THE BRAKES WERE FIXED AND REMAINED INOPERATIVE WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10022051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anderson, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #821189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inver Grove Heights, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE (HOSE) BROKE, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #520679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jonesboro, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STOP WHILE TURNING CORNERS OR WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD LOSE POWER COMPLETELY, VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK, THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #803133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valley STR, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
LEFT REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #483537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, CO
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
'COLD POWER STEERING'.
NHTSA complaint #485280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davenport, IA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reading, MA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . TT
NHTSA complaint #977762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Floral Park, NY
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING BELT TENSIONER BROKE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VECHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #975878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valley Strea, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND THE COMPANY NO LONGER MAKES THE PART TO CORRECT IT, SO NOW THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT HAS NO BRAKING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #968571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flint, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HAS FAILED WITH BRAKE PEDAL START HIGH RIDING AWHILE THEN BECOMES VERY LOW. EA88-019. TT
NHTSA complaint #967385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Paso Roble, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
SHOCK ABSORBERS/FRONT STRUTS FAIL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER SIDE TO SIDE/LOSS OF TRACTION AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND ABOVE. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.