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FaultScore report

1990 Oldsmobile 98 problems

Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 1990 Oldsmobile 98 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2010. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Oldsmobile 98
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

26

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

How 1990 compares with every other Oldsmobile 98

Click any bar 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

What breaks on a 1990 Oldsmobile 98

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 4 15.4%
Engine & Cooling 4 15.4%

Median failure at 160,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 11.5%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Body & Structure 3 11.5%
Electrical System 3 11.5%
Seat Belts 2 7.7%
Steering 2 7.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 7.7%
Doors, Latches & Locks 1 3.8%
Seats 1 3.8%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 3.8%

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.

Feb 1995 peak 5 Apr 2010

Recalls on the 1990 Oldsmobile 98

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

90E043004

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.

Risk: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASESTO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Garfield Heights, OH Fire

STEERING:COLUMN

WAS DRIVING 55MPH STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD, AND PUT OUT FLAMES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO LOCATE CAUSE OF FIRE. MECHANIC WAS STILL WORKING ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10042805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmel, IN Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/TWO ACCIDENTS/INJURIES. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #486803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oliver, MD 1 injured

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST IS NOT PROPERLY ANGLED FOR PROTECTION IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #960182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Prince Albert, 00

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TRUNK LID OPENED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #10325508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Prince Albert, 00

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TRUNK LID OPENED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #10325508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nekoosa, WI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING,. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY.

NHTSA complaint #10097814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garfield Heights, OH Fire

STEERING:COLUMN

WAS DRIVING 55MPH STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD, AND PUT OUT FLAMES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO LOCATE CAUSE OF FIRE. MECHANIC WAS STILL WORKING ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10042805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Mount GAY, WV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT BAD. THIS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HARMOIC BALANCER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE HAD WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chapel Hill, NC

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AND WOULD NOT LOCK, THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM WEARING THE SEATBELT, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE SEATBELT WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #562995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chapel Hill, NC

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AND WOULD NOT LOCK, THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM WEARING THE SEATBELT, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE SEATBELT WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #562995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anchorage, AK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ORIGINAL ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILED ON 10/10/99. THIS MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A GM ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PART. THIS REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND WAS SUSPECTED AS BEING A FAULTY PUMP AND WAS AGAIN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER GM ORIGIAL PART. ON 07/12/99 THIS REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED. ALL THREE FAILURES RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #726020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cucamonga, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM OF CLEAR COAT, I WANT TO KNOW IF I REDO IT OR IS IT STILL UNDER WARRANTY

NHTSA complaint #713081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Howard Beach, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #604316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malverne, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL AND IDLER AIR VALVE.

NHTSA complaint #605850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malverne, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL AND IDLER AIR VALVE.

NHTSA complaint #605850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malverne, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

FUEL AND EMISSION SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malverne, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DASH CLUSTER.

NHTSA complaint #605850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaumont, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SOUND OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #826629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laplace, LA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

THE BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. OWNER HAS ADDED A HALF OF CONTAINER OF BRAKE FLUID EVERY (2) WEEKS FOR THE PAST (5) YEARS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #818458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Myersville, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION OF ABS BLOCK AND MODULATOR PRESSURE VALVE. NONVISUAL BLOCK OF WOOD APPEARS TO LAY UNDER BRAKE PEDAL DURING APPLICATION.

NHTSA complaint #814686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union City, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED TWICE FOR NO REASON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #970802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmel, IN Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/TWO ACCIDENTS/INJURIES. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #486803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, KY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #968054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #968054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, KY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE, VEHICLE RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA complaint #968054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, KY

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

REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #968054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, KY

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

REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #968054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oliver, MD 1 injured

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST IS NOT PROPERLY ANGLED FOR PROTECTION IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #960182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.