Total Complaints
11 filings
OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year
1988 OLDSMOBILE 98
11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988OLDSMOBILE98 carries 11 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 1988 98 is steering:rack and pinion with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (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 1988 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.
11
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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19990115STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE INDICATOR LEVER GEAR.
19990115POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE INDICATOR LEVER GEAR.
19980918EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
POWER ANTENNA FAILURE CAUSES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HEAT GENERATED BY THE UNIT WHILE THE STRIPPED GEAR SPINS OUT OF CONTROL IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY.
19970128SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FEELS AND HEARS A BUZZING SOUND WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING DRY WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
19960820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 20 TIMES. *AK
19960711SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM PULSATES, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER OCCASIONALLY. *DH
19960123STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION. TT
19950713STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN, IT IS THE RACK AND PINION . *AK
19950420SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKES ENGAGE BUT GO TO THE FLOOR CONTINUOUSLY. *AK
19950323SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. *SKD
19950308STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING, DEALER SAID DUE TO FLUID BEING BURNT, REPLACE STEERING RACK 2 TIMES. TT
Compare 1988OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?▼
The 1988 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 OLDSMOBILE 98?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 OLDSMOBILE 98 is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1988 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.