OLDSMOBILE 98 · model year

1995 OLDSMOBILE 98

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.

71
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

71 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS5
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
AIR BAGS4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH4
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING3
PARKING BRAKE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2

Recent Complaints

20080122FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

20070724AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20060711AIR BAGS

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

20040503AIR BAGS

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

20021017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

20010927CrashAIR BAGS

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

20010814FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

20010717STEERING:RACK AND PINION

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

20010717SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

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

20010301ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

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

20010301UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20000905SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

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

20000905VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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

20000905EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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

20000522EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED CAUSING ENGINE NOISE. NLM

20000522SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

WHEEL BEARING, RIGHT FRONT HUB, LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING FAILED. NLM

20000522SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

WHEEL BEARING, RIGHT FRONT HUB, LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING FAILED. NLM

20000522STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

POWER LOCKS ON ALL DOORS DO NOT WORK. NLM

20000522POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK. NLM

Compare 1995OLDSMOBILE98 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98 have?
The 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98 has 71 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98?
The most-complained component for the 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98 is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1995 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.