IllustrationIGNITION IS MESSED UP THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THERE IS A RECALL BUT NEVER SHOW ME PAPERS AND I WAS WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ONE
1998 Oldsmobile 88
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 88 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
1125–50K
2350–75K
1575–100K
9100–150K
2150K+
62 reports with mileage · 102 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports13 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
164 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED OIL ON THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
ENGINE USING COOLANT BUT NO EVIDENT LEAK. AFTER A WEEK OF ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT TO RESERVOIR ENGINE RAN HOT AND HYDRO-LOCKED DUE TO CYLINDERS FLOODED WITH COOLANT. DISCOVERED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD HOLE IN IT WHERE THE EGR TUBE ENTERED PLASTIC MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO FLOOD INTAKE. THIS ENGINE HAD 84K MILES. ALSO …
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ENGINE USING COOLANT BUT NO EVIDENT LEAK. AFTER A WEEK OF ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT TO RESERVOIR ENGINE RAN HOT AND HYDRO-LOCKED DUE TO CYLINDERS FLOODED WITH COOLANT. DISCOVERED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD HOLE IN IT WHERE THE EGR TUBE ENTERED PLASTIC MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO FLOOD INTAKE. THIS ENGINE HAD 84K MILES. ALSO DISCOVERED INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AT 45K MILES BY DEALER. DEFINITELY AN ENGINEERING DEFECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, THE EXHAUST PIPE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, THE EXHAUST PIPE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RELEASED LARGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE SHORTLY AFTER SHUTDOWN. INCIDENT 2015-00005013
BRAKES FAILED UPON EXITING ON RAMP FROM RTE. 95..DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD..NO BRAKES...DOWNSHIFT/ PARKING BRAKE INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE..JUST LUCKY NO CAR COLLISION OCCURRED ...WAS FRIGHTENING !...I THINK GM VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE SO BADLY FAULTY..I'M JUST LUCKY I WASN'T HURT OR KILLED IN A…
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BRAKES FAILED UPON EXITING ON RAMP FROM RTE. 95..DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD..NO BRAKES...DOWNSHIFT/ PARKING BRAKE INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE..JUST LUCKY NO CAR COLLISION OCCURRED ...WAS FRIGHTENING !...I THINK GM VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE SO BADLY FAULTY..I'M JUST LUCKY I WASN'T HURT OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ! *TR
TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY 67 IN MISSISSIPPI. CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65. VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY STARTED TO INCREASE. APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL. NO EFFECT. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL ON STEERING COLUMN. NO EFFECT. REPEATEDLY TRIED BRAKES AND OFF SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY TURNED OFF IGNITION AND COASTED FOR ABO…
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TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY 67 IN MISSISSIPPI. CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65. VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY STARTED TO INCREASE. APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL. NO EFFECT. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL ON STEERING COLUMN. NO EFFECT. REPEATEDLY TRIED BRAKES AND OFF SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY TURNED OFF IGNITION AND COASTED FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. RESTARTED ENGINE AND COULD RESUME SPEED NORMALLY WITH ACCELERATOR. DID NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL UNTIL HEADED BACK NORTH ON 67 LATER IN THE DAY. SET CRUISE CONTROL TO 65 AGAIN AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES VEHICLE SPEED BEGAN TO INCREASE. I TRIED BRAKES AND OFF SWITCH AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. TURNED VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED ENGINE. DID NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN. AFTER ARRIVING HOME DISCONNECT BATTERY OVERNIGHT. APPARENTLY CORRECTED WHATEVER "GLITCH" HAD OCCURRED SINCE I HAVE USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR
WAS DRIVING DOWN A TOLL ROAD, DEAR JUMPED IN FRONT OF CAR HIT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT, CAR HIT MEDIAN, FLIPPED, AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. CAR IS TOTALED. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE ENGINE PLEMUN, WHICH WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED FLUID TO PENETRATE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE ENGINE PLEMUN, WHICH WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED FLUID TO PENETRATE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,191 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 10/30/13 *BF UPDATED 10/31/2013 *JS
I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED CAR ON JAN 1, 2013. I NOTICED A SMELL FROM THE CAR BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT IS WAS AND BOUGHT THE CAR ANYWAYS. WELL A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY BOYFRIEND WAS CHECKING MY FLUIDS ON THE CAR AND NOTICED A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD, SO WE WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND BOUGHT A FUEL LINE THAT COST AROUND $30, HE PUT IT ON, ST…
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I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED CAR ON JAN 1, 2013. I NOTICED A SMELL FROM THE CAR BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT IS WAS AND BOUGHT THE CAR ANYWAYS. WELL A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY BOYFRIEND WAS CHECKING MY FLUIDS ON THE CAR AND NOTICED A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD, SO WE WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND BOUGHT A FUEL LINE THAT COST AROUND $30, HE PUT IT ON, STILL LEAKING, WELL WE FIGURED SINCE THE FUEL LINE THAT WE BOUGHT WASN'T PRECRIMPED IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK, SO WE WENT TO THE JUNK YARD AND GOT THE EXACT SAME PART OFF ANOTHER 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88, FIGURED SINCE IT WAS PRECRIMPED IT WOULD WORK, NOT THE CASE, FUEL STILL LEAKING UNDER THE HOOD, SO WE WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN NASHVILLE AND BOUGHT THE VERY LAST FUEL LINE IN THE STATE AROUND $120, WHICH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS ONE AND THE OTHER TWO IS THAT IT IS 6 FT. LONG, SO WE PUT THE NEW 6FT FUEL LINE ON, WELL IT STOPPED LEAKING UNDER THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED 1 WEEK LATER THAT MY VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL UNDER THE CAR BY THE BACK PASSENGER WHEEL, SO WE PUT A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR ON THE VEHICLE FIGURING THAT WOULD CONTROL THE FUEL, BECAUSE WE HEARD THAT IF THAT GOES OUT IT WILL CAUSE FUEL TO LEAK FROM WEAK SPOTS, WELL ALMOST 4 MO. LATER MY VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING GAS FROM UNDER THE CAR BY THE PASSENGER BACK WHEEL.THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. I FOUND A RECALL ON THIS AND WOULD LIKE MY ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Official recalls
104V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Feb 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.