Total Complaints
13 filings
OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year
1986 OLDSMOBILE 98
13 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986OLDSMOBILE98 carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 98 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 2 filings, followed by steering:rack and pinion (2) and suspension:front:shock absorber (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 1986 98. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080102SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BOUGHT AFTER-MARKET BALL JOINTS (MODEL # FA1478) FOR A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PARTS WAS BEST PARTS, INC IN MEMPHIS, TN. UPDATED 01/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
20030602SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THEY FELT VERY SPONGY IN THE MORNING. *AK THE BRAKES WERE FIXED AND REMAINED INOPERATIVE WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING. *SCC *JB
19980205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19970918SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE (HOSE) BROKE, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE.
19961002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STOP WHILE TURNING CORNERS OR WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD LOSE POWER COMPLETELY, VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK, THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
19960711SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
LEFT REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. *DH
19960619STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD
19960502STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DSH
19960118STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . TT
19951201STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING BELT TENSIONER BROKE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VECHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950711SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND THE COMPANY NO LONGER MAKES THE PART TO CORRECT IT, SO NOW THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT HAS NO BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
19950621SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HAS FAILED WITH BRAKE PEDAL START HIGH RIDING AWHILE THEN BECOMES VERY LOW. EA88-019. TT
19950420SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
SHOCK ABSORBERS/FRONT STRUTS FAIL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER SIDE TO SIDE/LOSS OF TRACTION AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND ABOVE. *SKD
Compare 1986OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?▼
The 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 13 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:RACK AND PINION and SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER.
Is the 1986 OLDSMOBILE 98 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.