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1998 Oldsmobile 88

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

76 reports
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61,318 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED TO REPAIR VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10090300

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON A NATIONAL HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. ALSO WATER WAS IN THE CYLINDERS, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK AND THE STARTER TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10092293

58,416 miles · Aug 20, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

THE MANIFOLD ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE ONE YEAR AGO AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE MANIFOLD. GM STATED THE DEFECT DID NOT AFFECT HIS VEHICLE. *JB AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARMED AND STARTED, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES …

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THE MANIFOLD ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE ONE YEAR AGO AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE MANIFOLD. GM STATED THE DEFECT DID NOT AFFECT HIS VEHICLE. *JB AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARMED AND STARTED, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE WHEN STARTING. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083482

79,000 miles · Jul 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER HAVING A DIANOSTIC TEST DONE REPAIRS WERES DONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081690

49,890 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10079420

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 IN MARCH OF 2003, I PUT NEW WIRING ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY IN DECEMBER AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BECAUSE THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS USING ALL THE WATER ABOUT EVERY 10 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY T…

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I PURCHASED A 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 IN MARCH OF 2003, I PUT NEW WIRING ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY IN DECEMBER AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BECAUSE THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS USING ALL THE WATER ABOUT EVERY 10 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER LEAVING THE REPAIR SHOP, I STOPPED BY A STORE AND WAS INSIDE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START RIGHT AWAY, I HAD TO TRY STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. ON MY WAY BACK HOME THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 40 MPH AND WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER, EVEN WITH THE GAS TO THE FLOOR; IT WOULD ONLY GET SLOWER. AFTER GETTING BACK HOME, THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK BACK UP AT ALL; IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK HOME THAT SAME DAY AND CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2004. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10073204

89,114 miles · May 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN OCTOBER OF 2003, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY OLDSMOBILE 88LS, 3.8 SERIES TWO ENGINE, CAME ON. THE CAR HAD A LOSS OF POWER AND STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. BEFORE I GOT THE CAR STOPPED THE ENGINE QUIT. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE WATER RUNNING OUT OF THE GASKETS. I CHECKED THE RADIATOR TO FIND NO WATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE O…

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IN OCTOBER OF 2003, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY OLDSMOBILE 88LS, 3.8 SERIES TWO ENGINE, CAME ON. THE CAR HAD A LOSS OF POWER AND STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. BEFORE I GOT THE CAR STOPPED THE ENGINE QUIT. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE WATER RUNNING OUT OF THE GASKETS. I CHECKED THE RADIATOR TO FIND NO WATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE OVERFLOW TANK HAD NONE. I PULLED THE DIPSTICK TO FIND ALL THE REMAINING WATER TO BE IN THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED UNDER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE DEALER OF WHICH IT WAS PUCHASED TO FIND THAT THE UPPER INTAKE HAD EITHER CRACKED OR BURST. THE DEALER REFERED TO THE DAMAGED PART AS A PLENTIUM. THIS OCCURED AT 89,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DAMAGED PART AND PUT THE ENGINE BACK TOGETHER. THE DEALER ADVISED ME TO KEEP A WATCH ON THE CAR TO SEE IF ANY CHANGES DEVELOP. AT THE FIRST THREE THOUSAND MILE OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE HAD LOST OIL AND I ALSO ADDED WATER TO THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO BACK TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE FOR LOSS OF GAS MILEAGE AND A FEW OTHER CONCERNS. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER FOR THE OIL CHANGE THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE ENGINE AND ASKED THAT I LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT A DETECTED PROBLEM DURING THE PRESSURE TEST. THE REPAIRS DONE DURING THIS TIME INVOLVED THE GASKETS AGAIN, AND ALSO THE HEADS WHERE WARPED AND THEY REPAIRED THEM. AT 106,000 MILES THE DEALER REQUESTED THAT I REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TESTED THE ENGINE AGAIN TO DETERMINE AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK. NOW THE CAR HAS A LOSS OF WATER AND ALSO HAS STARTED TO BURN SOME OIL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE IS IN ALL OLDSMOBILE, BUICK, PONTIAC, AND CHEVROLET MADE VEHICLES. ALL THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES NEED SOME ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI #10072378

77,125 miles · Apr 25, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF THIS BUT THE RED AREA OF THE GAUGE THEN THE CHECK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED IT GOT IT COOLED DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED TO THE VERY NEXT RD TO GAS STATION FOR BETTER VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. GOT TO IT VERY QUICKLY AND THE TEMP WAS BACK UP. STOPPED LET IT COOL A…

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CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF THIS BUT THE RED AREA OF THE GAUGE THEN THE CHECK ENG LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED IT GOT IT COOLED DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED TO THE VERY NEXT RD TO GAS STATION FOR BETTER VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. GOT TO IT VERY QUICKLY AND THE TEMP WAS BACK UP. STOPPED LET IT COOL AND ADDED WATER TO THE NOW EMPTY RESOVAIR THAT WAS FULL WHEN WE STARTED THE TRIP. AND NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AND NO BOILING OVER, LET IT COOL. ADDED WATER. THEN TRIED TO CRANK IT UP, IT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER, THOUGHT ENG HAD LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD THEIR WAS A FEATURE TO THIS CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN THE ENG WHEN A LEAK LIKE THIS OCCURS. WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKEN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE ENG WAS GONE......AND IT WAS NOT. BUT IT SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE STARTER WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE CAR BEFORE WE LEFT ON THIS TRIP, HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND EVERYTHING. BUT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WHEN THE LEAK, AND RUNNING HOT OCCURED. NOT SURE HOW IT MESSED UP THE STARTER. BUT ALSO KNOW SINCE IT SHUTS THE ENG DOWN, LOCKS IT UP, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GET A NEW ENG CAUSE THEIR PERSON DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS FEATURE AS WELL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067797

79,000 miles · Mar 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1998 OLDS LSS WITH 79,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT MOST OF THE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE ENGINE THROUGH A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. STALL CONDITION WAS DUE TO COLLANT IN THE CYLINDERS. DEALER CITED THE PROBLEM AS STRESS CRACKING. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. A SECO…

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1998 OLDS LSS WITH 79,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT MOST OF THE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE ENGINE THROUGH A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. STALL CONDITION WAS DUE TO COLLANT IN THE CYLINDERS. DEALER CITED THE PROBLEM AS STRESS CRACKING. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. A SECOND, INTERMITTANT PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING. IT RESTARTS FINE. THIS HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY 1-2 TIMES PER WEEK AND STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE ARE NO DIAGNOSTICS CODES SET AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME FOR CERTAIN WHAT CAUSES THIS. I DID CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064033

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE DID NOT GAIN ANY SPEED, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LOSING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TECHNICIAN WHO THEN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064918

Official recalls

1

04V090000 · 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

1

EA02030 · 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.