Total Complaints
15 filings
OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year
1993 OLDSMOBILE 98
15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993OLDSMOBILE98 carries 15 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 1993 98 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and seat belts:front:retractor (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 1993 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.
15
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041103FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK *NM
20030520STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD "CLUNK" AND ALL CONTROL WAS LOST AS I ENTERED THE HIGH SPEED LANE. THE ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED FREELY AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE REAR FRAME BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE FAILED AND FRAME AND ENGINE FELL DOWN, DISCONNECTIONS THE STEERING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT AS OTHERS STOPPED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR IS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION, NO VISIBLE RUST, NO FLUID LEAKS AND HAS ONLY 140,000 MILES. IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN MECHANISM TO MAKE THE ENGINE DROP IN A CRASH(TO PROTECT THE DRIVER) FAILED (RUSTED) WAY BEFORE IT SHOULD HAVE. THE OLDSMOBILE HOTLINE SAID THE CAR WAS PAST THE 100,000 RUST WARRANTY, WHAT DID I EXPECT? I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER OLDSMOBILES AND PUT OVER 250,000 MILES ON EACH ONE AND CERTAINLY EXPECTED SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THIS ONE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT AND HAVE THE ENGINE FALL
Mileage: 140,000
20030313AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBJECT NOR DID IT HIT ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. *JB
Mileage: 108,000
20010816AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60 NEAR DUDLEY, MO @ 65 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE NEARBY EXIT AND STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. FILLED GAS TANK, EVERYTHING SEEMD TO BE WORKING FINE, SO I PULLED BACK ONTO ROAD, SOON AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND HORN STARTED HONKING. I STOPPED, DISCONNECTED HORN, CUT AWAY BAG AND DROVE HOME. NOTIFIED COMPANY, AND PER THEIR REQUEST HAD DIAGNOSTICS TEST RUN AT BLACKWELL-BALDWIN OLDS IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO; NO CODES FOUND, MECHANIC SAID A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. MECHANIC SAID COLUMN WAS TIGHT, AND NO SIGN IT HAD EVER BEEN OPENED, BUT A WIRE WAS STRETCHED. HE SAID APPARENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL SNAGGED THE WIRE. OLDSMOBILE WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THIS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE ON CAR, AND SAY I MUST BEAR ENTIRE COST OF TEST, REPLACEMENT, AND RESULTING EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IF I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR FINDINGS. SINCE WHEN DID AIRBAGS COME WITH AN EXPI
20000922TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, REVEALING 23 INCH LENGTH OF TIRE LOST, SEPARATION AT EDGES, AND TORN WIRE MESH( DOT NUMBER: A3MOFFA163 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
20000720FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF TANK IT CUTS OFF AT ANY STOP. *AK ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
20000720ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF TANK IT CUTS OFF AT ANY STOP. *AK ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
19990930SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANYTIME WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON. *AK
19990930POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ANYTIME WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON. *AK
19981030LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR CHILDREN SECURITY LOCKS FAILED.
19980126SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE.
19970603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS WOULD COME ON AT UP TO 10MPH EVEN WHEN BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. *AK
19961210STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RUBBER DOOR GASKETS LEAKED.
19960325CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DURING A REAR-END COLLISION PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT. *AK
19951102VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SURGING PROBLEMS. *AK
Compare 1993OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?▼
The 1993 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 OLDSMOBILE 98?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 OLDSMOBILE 98 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1993 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.