Total Complaints
71 filings
OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year
71 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995OLDSMOBILE98 carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 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 1995 98 is unknown or other with 6 filings, followed by visibility:power window devices and controls (5) and structure:body:door (4). 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 1995 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.
Total Complaints
71 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 3 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, SPARKS APPEARED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A GAS LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
Mileage: 105,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98 ROYAL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE AIR BAG DOWN AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SORENESS IN HIS NECK AND RIBS. HE ALSO HAS AN ABRASION ON HIS ARM FROM THE FAILURE. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS CAUSED BY THE MOISTURE IN THE COMPONENT. THEY OFFERED HIM A SETTLEMENT TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE AIR BAGS OR GIVE HIM A NEW VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 184,716.
Mileage: 184,716
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 06/20/06 WHILE THE IGNITION WAS ON BUT IN PARK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON 06/21/06. THE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE DURING BOTH INCIDENTS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FIRST INCIDENT HOWEVER THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED NOR LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON 06/22/06 WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 06/23/06 FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DUE TO THE COST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.
Mileage: 121,000
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO BREAK AND DUE TO COST TO REPAIR DASH AND AIRBAGS CAUSED CAR TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
Mileage: 65
COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON---A LARGE POOL OF COOLANT UNDER CAR AFTER STOPPING---INSPECTION OF CAR SHOWED RETAINING CLIPS WERE BROKEN, BUT SENSOR STILL IN PLACE
CONSUMER STATES COOLANT WARNING LIGHT FLASHES, THERE IS PUDDLES OF ANTIFREEZE CAUSED BY THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR RETAINER CLIPS BREAKING OFF AND LEAVING THE SENSOR RETAINED ONLY BY THE FRICTION OF THE O-RING SEALS. *TT
THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE STEERING WHEEL, DURING AN ACCIDENT IT VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED AND BLEW THE CONSUMERS HAND OFF THE WHEEL WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BROKE HER WRIST (RIGHT) AND RESULTED IN 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO THE LEFT ARM, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY TOWARDS THE PASSENGER BUT WENT UP THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THESE AIR BAGS ARE OLD AND OUTDATED AND BELIEVES THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED. NLM
RETURNED FUEL LINE FOR THE 3.8L ENGINE WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL LINE IS ON BACK ORDER FOR 2-3 MONTHS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER TO LEFT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACING. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES FRONT STRUTS WERE FAILING AND WAS REPLACED.*JB
WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER TO LEFT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACING. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES FRONT STRUTS WERE FAILING AND WAS REPLACED.*JB
THE OXYGEN SENSOR CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST TRAIN RESULTING IN LOUD MUFFLER NOISE. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THE ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM THE OXYGENSENSOR WHICH HAD COME OUT, THE MECHANIC SHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG SO HE REINSERTED IT . I WAS THEN ADVISED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY EHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE ABS MODULE AND AFFECTED PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO $1013.61 WHICH I PAID. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD AT THAT MILEAGE AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION THAT THE FACTORY MAY HAVE PUT OUT ABOUT A CLAIM FOR THAT OBVIOUS DEFECT.*AK
THE OXYGEN SENSOR CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST TRAIN RESULTING IN LOUD MUFFLER NOISE. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THE ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM THE OXYGENSENSOR WHICH HAD COME OUT, THE MECHANIC SHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG SO HE REINSERTED IT . I WAS THEN ADVISED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY EHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE ABS MODULE AND AFFECTED PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO $1013.61 WHICH I PAID. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD AT THAT MILEAGE AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION THAT THE FACTORY MAY HAVE PUT OUT ABOUT A CLAIM FOR THAT OBVIOUS DEFECT.*AK
AIR CONDITIONER COOLING TEMP WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL STOPPED COOLING INSIDE OF CAR DEALER SAID HE FOUND LEAK AND REPLACED UNDER DASH CONDENSER UNIT AT $800 COST NEXT DAY NO DIFFERENCE IN AIR CONDITIONER RETURNED TO DEALER PROBLEM STILL UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL POWER DOOR LOCK AND POWER WINDOW PROBLEMS STILL UNRESOLVED BY DEALER WHO SAID WINDOW MORTERS ARE BAD. IN ADDITION AFTER DALER REPALCED BRAKE SYSTEM MASTER CYILINDER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DEALER SAID NOTHING THEY DID CAUSED PROBLEM- THIS WAS THE THIRD VEHICLE FLUID LEAK REPARED BY DEALER
AIR CONDITIONER COOLING TEMP WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL STOPPED COOLING INSIDE OF CAR DEALER SAID HE FOUND LEAK AND REPLACED UNDER DASH CONDENSER UNIT AT $800 COST NEXT DAY NO DIFFERENCE IN AIR CONDITIONER RETURNED TO DEALER PROBLEM STILL UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL POWER DOOR LOCK AND POWER WINDOW PROBLEMS STILL UNRESOLVED BY DEALER WHO SAID WINDOW MORTERS ARE BAD. IN ADDITION AFTER DALER REPALCED BRAKE SYSTEM MASTER CYILINDER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DEALER SAID NOTHING THEY DID CAUSED PROBLEM- THIS WAS THE THIRD VEHICLE FLUID LEAK REPARED BY DEALER
AIR CONDITIONER COOLING TEMP WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL STOPPED COOLING INSIDE OF CAR DEALER SAID HE FOUND LEAK AND REPLACED UNDER DASH CONDENSER UNIT AT $800 COST NEXT DAY NO DIFFERENCE IN AIR CONDITIONER RETURNED TO DEALER PROBLEM STILL UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL POWER DOOR LOCK AND POWER WINDOW PROBLEMS STILL UNRESOLVED BY DEALER WHO SAID WINDOW MORTERS ARE BAD. IN ADDITION AFTER DALER REPALCED BRAKE SYSTEM MASTER CYILINDER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DEALER SAID NOTHING THEY DID CAUSED PROBLEM- THIS WAS THE THIRD VEHICLE FLUID LEAK REPARED BY DEALER
A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED CAUSING ENGINE NOISE. NLM
WHEEL BEARING, RIGHT FRONT HUB, LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING FAILED. NLM
WHEEL BEARING, RIGHT FRONT HUB, LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING FAILED. NLM
POWER LOCKS ON ALL DOORS DO NOT WORK. NLM
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK. NLM
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.