Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Oldsmobile 98
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
535.7%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 117,000 mi
Seats
214.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
214.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
214.3%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Other & Unspecified
17.1%
Seat Belts
17.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
17.1%
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.
Mar 1995peak 4Jun 2005
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 117,000 milesDemoines, IAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED A. HEATER SWITCH. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THERE WERE NO INSTRUCTIONS/WARNING OR CAUTIONS ON THE BOX. THERE WERE SPECS ON THE BOX ON HOW MANY INCHES TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM ANYTHING FLAMMABLE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE INSTALLED SWITCH AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE 5 MINUTES LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10124482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, INCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, WENT INTO NEIGHBOR'S FENCE.
NHTSA complaint #979769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, INCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, WENT INTO NEIGHBOR'S FENCE.
NHTSA complaint #979769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aberdeen, NCCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER SHOULDER LAP BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL, DURING TOTALLED HEAD ON COLLISION. TT CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #975340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 117,000 milesDemoines, IAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED A. HEATER SWITCH. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THERE WERE NO INSTRUCTIONS/WARNING OR CAUTIONS ON THE BOX. THERE WERE SPECS ON THE BOX ON HOW MANY INCHES TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM ANYTHING FLAMMABLE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE INSTALLED SWITCH AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE 5 MINUTES LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10124482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia City, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE OCTOBER '99 ISSUE OF CONSUMER'S REPORT STATES THAT BULLETIN 331708 COVERS A HIDDEN WARRANTY ON 1988-1992 OLDSMOBILES IF THE BASE COAT CLEAR COAT CHALKS, DEGRADES, OR WHITES. OUR CAR HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR MANY YEAR AND WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE HIDDEN WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER TODAY, HE STATED THAT THIS BULLETIN EXPIRED SEVEN (7) YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS BUILT (1996). WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS COVERAGE OR WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION EARLIER.
NHTSA complaint #711817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duncan, OK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTANTLY BECAUSE THE RACKETS THAT THE HORN PAD CONNECTS TO ARE BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #543223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN SWITCH FAILED CPMPLETELY WHICH LEAVES HORN ACTIVATED CONTINUOUSLY. HORN HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED.
NHTSA complaint #523912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Humble, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER SUGGESTED GOING TO A JUNK YARD TO REPLACE HORN.
NHTSA complaint #815962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clovis, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY, SHORTING OUT FUEL PUMP, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #507694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clovis, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY, SHORTING OUT FUEL PUMP, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #507694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Freemont, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #985596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, INCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, WENT INTO NEIGHBOR'S FENCE.
NHTSA complaint #979769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, INCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, WENT INTO NEIGHBOR'S FENCE.
NHTSA complaint #979769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland, NY
SEATS
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AWAY FROM THE WELD AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. IF VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #979285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland, NY
SEATS
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AWAY FROM THE WELD AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. IF VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #979285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aberdeen, NCCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER SHOULDER LAP BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL, DURING TOTALLED HEAD ON COLLISION. TT CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #975340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
V, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN CAR IS WARM AND AT STOP LIGHT CAR MAKE NOISE. TT
NHTSA complaint #961063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.