OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year

1994 OLDSMOBILE 98

23 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994OLDSMOBILE98 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 3 fires, 9 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 1994 98 is air bags:frontal with 7 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2) 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 1994 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.

23
Complaints
10
Crashes
3
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SEATS1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK1
TIRES1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL1

Recent Complaints

20030306CrashAIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB

20020806SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.*JB

20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.*JB

20020806FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.*JB

20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.*JB

20020614TIRES

THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED ON 11/26/2000 FROM A SEARS BRANCH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT 100000 MILE. CURRENTLY (6/11/2002) THE VEHICLE IS 122023 MILES AND THERE IS A BIG CRACK ON THE WALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. IT LOOKS MUCH LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH FORD MODELS. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW BUT THE AIR WAS GONE THINKING THAT IT WAS A FLAT I TOOK IT TO GET IT REPAIRED, IT WAS SAID THE TIRE BEYOND REPAIR. I HAVE THE TIRE WITH ME AND CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF WANTED...PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEOFE ANOTHER FORD INCIDENT HAPPENNES AND MORE PEOPLE DIES. I WAS LUCKY THAT I NOTICED IT EARLIER...THANKS. *AK

20010510CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A SMALL TREE, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO RIGHT SIDE OF FACE/ BLEEDING BEHIND RIGHT EYE, AND A FRACTURED NOSE. STILL UNDER MEDICAL ATTENTION. *AK *JB

20000426CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DUE TO HYPOGLYCEMIA AND HIT A TREE, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. NLM

19991115CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

19991105SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE DUE TO VALVE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC THAT FOUND THE PROBLEM SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND GENERAL MOTORS FAILS TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM THIS HAS BEEN. PERHAPS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RE-CALL ON THIS DEVICE.

19990610ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLED AT 40MPH ON DOWNHILL. HAS STALLED BEFORE AT SLOW SPEEDS

19980917ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

EXHAUST FUMES COME INTO VEHICLE. (QCAW)

19980520CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION , UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

19971023CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES: DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 10MPH ,STARTED BRAKING BECAUSE FIRE TRUCK WAS COMING . APPLIED BRAKES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND THEY WOULD NOT HOLD. BRAKES FAILED AND REAR ENDED A CAR. *AK *SLC

19970520FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL GAUGE GOES UP/DOWN WHILE DRIVING, DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND FUEL LEVEL, COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL UNKNOWINGLY. *AK

19960408SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FAILURE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBACK RECLINED TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE.

19960312CrashFireAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CAUSING A MINOR FIRE, ALSO AIRBAGS BROKE WINDSHIELD. *AK

19960312CrashFireAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CAUSING A MINOR FIRE, ALSO AIRBAGS BROKE WINDSHIELD. *AK

19960312CrashFireAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG WAS VIOLENT IN FRONTAL COLLISION, RESULTING IN A MINOR FIRE/INJURIES. *AK

19960312CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WAS VIOLENT IN FRONTAL COLLISION. *AK

Compare 1994OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?
The 1994 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 OLDSMOBILE 98?
The most-complained component for the 1994 OLDSMOBILE 98 is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1994 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.