Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1996 Oldsmobile 98 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2022.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 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 — 19
Against the median year of the Oldsmobile 98. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
25% 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 1996 Oldsmobile 98
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
433.3%
Median failure at 230,000 miles
Electrical System
433.3%
Seat Belts
216.7%
Suspension
18.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
18.3%
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.
Oct 1995peak 2Apr 2022
NHTSA investigations into the 1996 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.
RQ03001Opened 2 Jan 2003Closed 15 Sep 2003STEERING
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS T...
EA02030Opened 22 Oct 2002Closed 9 Mar 2004FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICL...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Dewitt, MI1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. AUTO MOVING AT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR, NO COLLISION WITH ANYTHING AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. UPPER BODY INJURIES, WENT TO HOSPITAL. AUTO TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10335366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Custer, OH1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. TT
NHTSA complaint #974134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Custer, OH1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. TT
NHTSA complaint #974134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 230,000 milesJoplin, MO
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 1996 Oldsmobile 98. The contact stated while driving at 10-15 MPH, the driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was drivable; however, the contact's boyfriend pushed the vehicle in the nearby parking lot with assistance of a bystander. The vehicle was towed to the residence of the contact's friend. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.
NHTSA complaint #11461221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER AS NOTED ON OTHER MODELS IS DEFECTIVE IN THIS MODEL BUT IS NOT LISTED WITH GM FOR THIS VIN. THEIR IS NO SECURITY WARNING CHIME WHEN "KEY IN THE IGNITION" IN THE OFF POSITION AND DOOR OPEN. HOWEVER, THE SEATBELT WARNING CHIME DOES WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10452669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER AS NOTED ON OTHER MODELS IS DEFECTIVE IN THIS MODEL BUT IS NOT LISTED WITH GM FOR THIS VIN. THEIR IS NO SECURITY WARNING CHIME WHEN "KEY IN THE IGNITION" IN THE OFF POSITION AND DOOR OPEN. HOWEVER, THE SEATBELT WARNING CHIME DOES WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10452669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dewitt, MI1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. AUTO MOVING AT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR, NO COLLISION WITH ANYTHING AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. UPPER BODY INJURIES, WENT TO HOSPITAL. AUTO TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10335366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT IWAS MISSING LIKE A SPARK PLUG IF IWAS NOT FIRING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT VERY ISSUE. HOWEVER, CONSUMER CONTACTED GMC, AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10099824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS ARE TOO SHORT FOR PROPER USE.
NHTSA complaint #526823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coral Gables, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR SEAT BELTS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO BE UTILIZED.
NHTSA complaint #519357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redondo Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #602774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hemet, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #602792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elsie, MI
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TRANSMISSION GEAR LEVER STICKS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE NOT ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK.
NHTSA complaint #510583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Custer, OH1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. TT
NHTSA complaint #974134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Custer, OH1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. TT
NHTSA complaint #974134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.