OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year

1992 OLDSMOBILE 98

46 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992OLDSMOBILE98 carries 46 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1992 98 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 10 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (3) and power train:automatic transmission (3). 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 1992 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.

46
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

46 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS1

Recent Complaints

20071113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED. UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB

Mileage: 166,000

20071113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED. UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB

Mileage: 166,000

20070629POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. WHILE DRIVING 45-60 MPH OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM SLOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FLIPS. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2006 AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY EVER SINCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

20040221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

92 OLDSMOBILE 98 ELECTRICAL FIRE WIRING HARNESS NO ACTUAL FLAMES POLICE OFFICER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. *JB

20030917FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *NLM *TS *JB

20030225POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE TO WORK ON A COLD DAY MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN, EVENTUALLY IT GO TO WERE I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY DRIVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD ANY LONGER. I KEEP MY CAR IN PERFECT CONDITION IT ONLY 105,970 MILES. ONCE I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE I HAD IT TOWED WHICH COST ME OVER$100.00 TO AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER IN CHIEFLAND, IT WAS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT INFORMED ME THE NEXT WEEK THAT MY TRANSMISSION FLEW APART I THEN HAD TO FORK OUT $2417.39 TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE FROM GM. I FEEL THAT SINCE I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED MANY TIMES BY AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER, THAT SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG SINCE IT WAS JUST SERVICED AND ADJUSTED ONE WEEK PRIOR. AFTER I HAD BROUGHT IT IN FOR NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I FEEL THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD AT LEAST COVER 1/2 THE COST SINCE IT ONLY HAS 105,970 MILES. TRANSMISSIONS JUST DON'T FLY APART WITH THAT LITTLE MILES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN IT

Mileage: 105,970

20030213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE INSIDE LIGHT OVERHEATED THE VEHICLE. *JB

20010515POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

THERE IS RECALL 96V015002 FOR THIS CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM CONCERNING TRANSMISSION COOLING LEAK. THE CAMPAIGN I CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL FOR MY CAR. SAFETY DEFECT NOT LISTED. *AK

20010419POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

BEFORE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I WAS AWARE THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE UPPER TRANSAXLE COOLER HOSE/LINE. I CAREFULLY CHECKED THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND IT APPEARED TO BE INTACT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES A SLOW LEAK APPEARED WHICH PROGRESSED TO A MAJOR LEAK VERY QUICKLY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR, WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISED IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER. I MENTIONED THE POSSIBLE RECALL (RE: CAMPAIGN 96V015000 AND GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BUILLETIN 95C68). THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED GM AND REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT MY VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED IN THE VIN SPECIFIC LISTING AND THAT THE EXPENSE OF THIS REPAIR WAS MY OBLIGATION. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND WAS TOLD ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING. MY CAR FALLS IN THE PARAMETERS OF THE VINS ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY DELIVERED IN COLORADO. OBVIOUSLY, THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME BECAUSE THE PARTS USED WERE THOSE CALLE

20000824EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND HEADLIGHT SWITCH BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. *AK

20000531POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20000410AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, BUT THE FUMES CAME OUT OF IT. CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY & HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND MOVED THE VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAG POPPED OUT, ALMOST CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO BUILDING. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. *AK

20000313POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION MOVING WHENEVER VEHICLE PULLED FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE REPAIRED, CONSUMER WANTS GM TO REIMBURSE THE COST. *AK *ML

19990217ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A NO START CONDITION/STALLING. MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED 4 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

19980610EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY.

19980610PARKING BRAKE

PARKING BRAKE FAILS ON OCCASSION.

19980407SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS VALVE REGULATOR FAILED.

19980224SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO DETECT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SYSTEM. *AK

19971126SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS FAILED.

19971126SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

BRAKE ROTORS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS FAILED.

Compare 1992OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?
The 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 46 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98?
The most-complained component for the 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1992 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.