Model year record

1995 Oldsmobile 98 recalls & problems

The 1995 Oldsmobile 98 has 2 safety recalls and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is visibility (7 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints30filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingOct 4, 1994

Headlights

Recall 94V1900001,997 vehicles

Problem: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULES WHICH CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT LEAKAGE DUE TO DAMAGED SURFACE MOUNTING CAPACITORS. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND PARKING LAMPS.
Risk: SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS CAN CAUSE REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE HEAD LAMPS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, OR THEY MAY TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE.

Exterior lightingAug 2, 1994

Headlights › Switch

Recall 94V1380001,487 vehicles

Problem: A SPRING IN THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE HEAD PARK LAMP SWITCH CAN FAIL PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION.
Risk: THE HEAD LAMPS WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT HEAD/PARK LAMP SWITCH BUILD DATE CODES AND REPLACE SWITCHES WITH SUSPECT DATE CODES.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Windshield	7	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Cooling system	6	0	0	—
Unknown or other	6	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Front › Hub	6	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	5	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	5	1	3	121,000 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights › Switch; Headlights	5	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	4	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch; Automatic transmission	4	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages	4	1	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	4	0	0	—
Parking brake	3	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel system, gasolineFire
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.
Sep 11, 2007 · 105,000 miles
Air bags › Frontal1 injury
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.
Jul 18, 2007 · 184,716 miles
Air 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…
Jun 20, 2006 · 121,000 miles
Air bags1 injury
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
Apr 15, 2004 · 65 miles
Engine 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
Jul 17, 2002
Engine 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
Jul 11, 2002
Air bagsCrash1 injury
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
May 2, 2001
Fuel 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
Jul 30, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.