Total Complaints
11 filings
OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE · model year
1998 OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE
11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998OLDSMOBILEOLDSMOBILE carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1998 OLDSMOBILE is steering with 2 filings, followed by suspension:front:macpherson strut (1) and steering:rack and pinion:rack (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 12 investigation files overlapping the 1998 OLDSMOBILE. 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.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20051109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY DID NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER . THEY SENT HIM A NEW KEY, HOWEVER, THE KEY DID NOT WORK. HE RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE RECALL STATED MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE SWITCH OR THE WIRES. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIRS. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE DEALERS. *AK
20050513STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER STATED: THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP WHILE THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT BUT NOT LEFT. *JB CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION, NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ON BUMPY ROADS, BOTTOM OF STEERING SHAFT LOOSE, VIBRATION COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED, TRANSACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT ABOUT 5MPH, CAR NOT KEEPING STRAIGHT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE INFORMATION BEFORE THIS CAME OFF THE INVOICES FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER. NHTSA HAD A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2003 ON THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. *SB
Mileage: 17,904
20030124EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT LENS IN PLACE HAS DRIED OUT, CAUSING THE LENS TO FALL OUT. *JG
20000911SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE. *ET
19990926SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
IN THE STEERING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THE BRAKES SEEM TO MAKE IT DO THAT WHEN I DRIVE. I HAVE TROUBLE STEERING, IT'S VERY TIGHT.
19990926STEERING
IN THE STEERING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THE BRAKES SEEM TO MAKE IT DO THAT WHEN I DRIVE. I HAVE TROUBLE STEERING, IT'S VERY TIGHT.
19990610EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
STEREO SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *YC
19980420STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
POWER STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE.
19980420TIRES
GENERAL HP400 205/65R15 TIRE BLEW OUT.
19980408STEERING
LOUD AND KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING. ALSO REPLACED MCPHERSON STRUT. *AK
19980408SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
LOUD AND KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING. ALSO REPLACED MCPHERSON STRUT. *AK
Compare 1998OLDSMOBILEOLDSMOBILE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE have?▼
The 1998 OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT and STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK.
Is the 1998 OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE 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.