1991 OLDSMOBILE 98 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
I SMELLED WHAT SEEMED TO BE BURNING WIRE COMING FROM INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE.*AK
Mileage: 115,970
THE BUCKLE ON THE HARNESS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE LATCH BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS. CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE BUCKLE TOGETHER WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO GET THE SYSTEM TO WORK. *AK
Mileage: 176,000
CONSUMER STATES THAT AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. TS
WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING THROUGH RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT GO FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED. *JG *YH
THE JACK WHICH IS SUPPLIED IN THE VEHICLE, IS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY TO LOCATE THE GROOVE IN THE LIFT HEAD OF THE JACK INTO THE NOTCH OF THE FRAME FOR SAFETY RATION. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY NOTCHES. THE BUMPER DOES NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN USING ...
THE IGNITION MODULE HAS A POTTED SEALER WHICH ENCAPSULATED THE MODULE WIRES. THE SEALER MELTED AND LEAKED. *JG *YH
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHER ACTIVATION SWITCH. THE CENTER ACTIVATION PORTION CANNOT BE DEPRESSED TO ENERGIZE THE FLASHER. IT IS MOUNTED INTERNALLY AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE DISASSEMBLED. TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. *JG THE ARROWS FOR TURN SIGNALS WAS NOT VISIBLE. *YH
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHER ACTIVATION SWITCH. THE CENTER ACTIVATION PORTION CANNOT BE DEPRESSED TO ENERGIZE THE FLASHER. IT IS MOUNTED INTERNALLY AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE DISASSEMBLED. TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. *JG THE ARROWS FOR TURN SIGNALS WAS NOT VISIBLE. *YH
ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING ONTO PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE ON FLOOR. THERE IS ABOUT A HALF INCH OF ANTIFREEZE ON FLOOR. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
3.8 ENGINE--SHUTTER ALSO AT THE 70 MI.PER HR. SPEED. *AK
CONSUMER HAD NOTICED A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED ENGINE VALVE TO FIND A SOLUTION, BUT DID NOT HELP AND THE PROBLEM STILL THERE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
PANIC STOP TO AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT THAT STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID DOG IN ROAD. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, STEERED AROUND CAR AHEAD AVOIDING ACCIDENT. BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RETURNTO NORMAL FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF PUMPING AND TEST STOPS, PROCEEDED WITH JOURNEY NORMALLY....
PANIC STOP TO AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT THAT STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID DOG IN ROAD. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, STEERED AROUND CAR AHEAD AVOIDING ACCIDENT. BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RETURNTO NORMAL FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF PUMPING AND TEST STOPS, PROCEEDED WITH JOURNEY NORMALLY....
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CONTROL HIS VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH, AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK
91 V 198 00/AUTOMATIC: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PARKED ON A UPPER GRADE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHEN DRIVING SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED WIRES WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE MELTED. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO WIRING HARNESS AND OTHER PARTS, REPAIRS WERE DONE BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK A BROKEN BULB SHORTED OUT AND BURNED THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC. THE BURNING REACHED T...
WHEN DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED MASTER CYLINDERS/ROTORS, AND ABS BRAKES.*AK
WHEN DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED MASTER CYLINDERS/ROTORS, AND ABS BRAKES.*AK
WHEN DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED MASTER CYLINDERS/ROTORS, AND ABS BRAKES.*AK
ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH PANEL, WHEN IT ILLUMINATES ABS SYSTEM WILL GO INTO EFFECT WHEN DRIVING. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER DIDN'T COMPLY BECAUSE OF THE COST. VEHICLE LATER TAKEN TO A SPECIALIST, SAID...
ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH PANEL, WHEN IT ILLUMINATES ABS SYSTEM WILL GO INTO EFFECT WHEN DRIVING. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER DIDN'T COMPLY BECAUSE OF THE COST. VEHICLE LATER TAKEN TO A SPECIALIST, SAID...
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH IN SLOW TRAFFIC, PRESSED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER REAREDNDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER INDICATED THIS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WAS HARD WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR INFORMATON. *AK
THIS IS TOTAL BREAK FAILURE.PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THREE PUMPS & BRAKES WORKED FINE. HAD SYS.PURGED & MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED BY OLDS DEALER. THIS SAME INCINDENCE OF TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME WAS IN 1994, LAST TIME HAPPENED TODAY.11/16/1999 ALSO HAD REPLACED 2ND...
THIS IS TOTAL BREAK FAILURE.PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THREE PUMPS & BRAKES WORKED FINE. HAD SYS.PURGED & MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED BY OLDS DEALER. THIS SAME INCINDENCE OF TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME WAS IN 1994, LAST TIME HAPPENED TODAY.11/16/1999 ALSO HAD REPLACED 2ND...
WHILE USING THE JACK (PART # 14063553) IT DROPPED DUE TO THE METAL OF WHICH JACK IS MADE OFF NEEDS TO BE "HEAT TREATED" IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE JACK. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAGS DEPLOYED-NO INJURIES INCURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT ABOUT 2-3MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SOLENOID SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON JUST BEFORE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR THE OCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. CURRE...
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE DASH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND DRIVER HAD TO JUMP OUT TO BORROW A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT FLAMES OUT. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM *AK *ML
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING MINIMAL INJURIES TO CONSUMER.
ABS SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WOULD COST $75.00 TO INSPECT, AND ESTIMATED $1000.00 FOR REPAIRS. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED.
TRANSMISSION CAUSES VEHICLE TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR WHEN CONSUMER SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT FOR NO REASON .POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FIRE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED.
MAIN COMPUTER FAILED.
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
REAR WINDOW FAILED, NOT SEALED PROPERLY.
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
BATTERY FAILED.
MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
TIRE SIDEWALL RUPTURED (MICHELIN).
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE CRACKED AROUND THE BOLTS OF THE SEATS. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE OPERATES AS IF IT IS ON ICE DUE TO THE REAR SENSORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SENSORS ON TWO OCCASIONS. *AK
SEVERAL ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURES.
EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE, SOMETIMES PEDAL FADES, REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER, FAILURE STILL OCCUR.
WHEN ENGINE VIBRATED TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE BRACKET CUT METAL COOLING LINE HOSE DUE TO ITS PLACEMENT.
POWER STEERING LINE REPLACED DUE TO LEAK.
ON THREE OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED.*AK CONSUMER STATES FIRST OCCURENCE WAS ONLY A PARTIAL FAILURE, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND THEY RECOVERED SHORTLY, SECONFD FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRKAE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE,...
ON THREE OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED.*AK CONSUMER STATES FIRST OCCURENCE WAS ONLY A PARTIAL FAILURE, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND THEY RECOVERED SHORTLY, SECONFD FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRKAE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE,...
REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDERS FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH
ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE CAR HAS ABS BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. IT HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
BATTERY FAILED. *SD
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *SD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN VEHICLE, WILL NOT FUNCTION, POWER WINDOWS OR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL OPEN. TT
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. *SD
ONE BRAKE SHOE REPLACED.
REAR WHEEL DRUMS TURNED.
LEFT/RIGHT REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED DUE TO LEAK. *SKD
LOSS OF BRAKES THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. TT
THE ABS BRAKES FAILED WHEN TRIED TO BE APPLIED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK