Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 1993 Oldsmobile 98 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 24
Against the median year of the Oldsmobile 98. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
26.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1993 Oldsmobile 98
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
320.0%
Body & Structure
213.3%
Median failure at 140,000 miles
Airbags
213.3%
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
213.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Doors, Latches & Locks
16.7%
Seat Belts
16.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Tires
16.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
16.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA
rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that
ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do
not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
1993 Oldsmobile 98 4-DR.
—
—
—
—
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.
Nov 1995peak 2Nov 2004
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cleveland, OHFire2 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10099350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pomeroy, NHCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DURING A REAR-END COLLISION PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.
NHTSA complaint #981185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Cleveland, OHFire2 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10099350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesBrunswick, GA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD "CLUNK" AND ALL CONTROL WAS LOST AS I ENTERED THE HIGH SPEED LANE. THE ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED FREELY AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE REAR FRAME BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE FAILED AND FRAME AND ENGINE FELL DOWN, DISCONNECTIONS THE STEERING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT AS OTHERS STOPPED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR IS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION, NO VISIBLE RUST, NO FLUID LEAKS AND HAS ONLY 140,000 MILES. IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN MECHANISM TO MAKE THE ENGINE DROP IN A CRASH(TO PROTECT THE DRIVER) FAILED (RUSTED) WAY BEFORE IT SHOULD HAVE. THE OLDSMOBILE HOTLINE SAID THE CAR WAS PAST THE 100,000 RUST WARRANTY, WHAT DID I EXPECT? I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER OLDSMOBILES AND PUT OVER 250,000 MILES ON EACH ONE AND CERTAINLY EXPECTED SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THIS ONE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT AND HAVE THE ENGINE FALL OUT BEFORE ANY OF THE NORMAL HIGH MILEAGE FAILURES SUCH AS TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, RADIATOR OR EVEN THE FAILURE OF THE BATTERY IN THE REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. I BELIEVE THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF SOME OR ALL THE CHARGES TO REPAIR THIS. HAD IT HAPPENED 5 MINUTES LATER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. IF THERE IS A GENERAL DEFECT, ALL OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10018992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesTecumseh, MI
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBJECT NOR DID IT HIT ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10010401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dexter, MO
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60 NEAR DUDLEY, MO @ 65 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE NEARBY EXIT AND STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. FILLED GAS TANK, EVERYTHING SEEMD TO BE WORKING FINE, SO I PULLED BACK ONTO ROAD, SOON AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND HORN STARTED HONKING. I STOPPED, DISCONNECTED HORN, CUT AWAY BAG AND DROVE HOME. NOTIFIED COMPANY, AND PER THEIR REQUEST HAD DIAGNOSTICS TEST RUN AT BLACKWELL-BALDWIN OLDS IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO; NO CODES FOUND, MECHANIC SAID A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. MECHANIC SAID COLUMN WAS TIGHT, AND NO SIGN IT HAD EVER BEEN OPENED, BUT A WIRE WAS STRETCHED. HE SAID APPARENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL SNAGGED THE WIRE. OLDSMOBILE WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THIS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE ON CAR, AND SAY I MUST BEAR ENTIRE COST OF TEST, REPLACEMENT, AND RESULTING EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IF I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR FINDINGS. SINCE WHEN DID AIRBAGS COME WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
NHTSA complaint #750255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granada Hills, CA
TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, REVEALING 23 INCH LENGTH OF TIRE LOST, SEPARATION AT EDGES, AND TORN WIRE MESH( DOT NUMBER: A3MOFFA163 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
NHTSA complaint #731672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lusby, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF TANK IT CUTS OFF AT ANY STOP. *AK ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #865793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lusby, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF TANK IT CUTS OFF AT ANY STOP. *AK ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #865793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANYTIME WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON.
NHTSA complaint #849512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, CT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ANYTIME WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON.
NHTSA complaint #849512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Front Roya, VA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR CHILDREN SECURITY LOCKS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #541445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Neffsville, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #529787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Schenectady, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS WOULD COME ON AT UP TO 10MPH EVEN WHEN BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #812689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glen Cove, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RUBBER DOOR GASKETS LEAKED.
NHTSA complaint #510222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pomeroy, NHCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DURING A REAR-END COLLISION PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.
NHTSA complaint #981185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Punta Gord, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SURGING PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #479684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.