Total Complaints
26 filings
OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year
1990 OLDSMOBILE 98
26 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990OLDSMOBILE98 carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 3 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 1990 98 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys with 2 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 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 1990 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.
26
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100413STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TRUNK LID OPENED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKED. *TR
20100413LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TRUNK LID OPENED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKED. *TR
20041026STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING,. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. *AK
20031014FireSTEERING:COLUMN
WAS DRIVING 55MPH STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD, AND PUT OUT FLAMES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO LOCATE CAUSE OF FIRE. MECHANIC WAS STILL WORKING ON VEHICLE.*AK
20021219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT BAD. THIS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HARMOIC BALANCER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE HAD WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Mileage: 160,000
20020514SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AND WOULD NOT LOCK, THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM WEARING THE SEATBELT, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE SEATBELT WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. NLM
20011015SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AND WOULD NOT LOCK, THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM WEARING THE SEATBELT, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE SEATBELT WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. NLM
20000822SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ORIGINAL ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILED ON 10/10/99. THIS MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A GM ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PART. THIS REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND WAS SUSPECTED AS BEING A FAULTY PUMP AND WAS AGAIN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER GM ORIGIAL PART. ON 07/12/99 THIS REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED. ALL THREE FAILURES RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. *AK
19991010STRUCTURE:BODY
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM OF CLEAR COAT, I WANT TO KNOW IF I REDO IT OR IS IT STILL UNDER WARRANTY
19990112POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
19990111ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DASH CLUSTER.
19990111ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
FUEL AND EMISSION SYSTEM FAILED.
19990111VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL AND IDLER AIR VALVE.
19990111ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL AND IDLER AIR VALVE.
19980812ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SOUND OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK
19971106SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
THE BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. OWNER HAS ADDED A HALF OF CONTAINER OF BRAKE FLUID EVERY (2) WEEKS FOR THE PAST (5) YEARS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
19970722SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION OF ABS BLOCK AND MODULATOR PRESSURE VALVE. NONVISUAL BLOCK OF WOOD APPEARS TO LAY UNDER BRAKE PEDAL DURING APPLICATION. *AK
19950821VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED TWICE FOR NO REASON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950713CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/TWO ACCIDENTS/INJURIES. *SKD
19950630FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE, VEHICLE RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY *AK
Compare 1990OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?▼
The 1990 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 26 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 OLDSMOBILE 98?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 OLDSMOBILE 98 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1990 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.