SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
164Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
117
199592
1996101
1997164
199877
19990
2000
Compare all 88 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
76Service Brakes, Hydraulic
18Fuel System, Gasoline
16Electrical System
15Power Train
10
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
9Vehicle Speed Control
7Air Bags
6Engine
6Structure
5Fuel System, Other
3Seat Belts
3Suspension
3Wheels
3Seats
2Steering
2Tires
2Visibility
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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
Clear category filter
49,002 miles · Jun 19, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS, ONE WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET, AND THE OTHER WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT IN WHICH GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED THE WARRANTY RATES OFFERED SO THE CONSUMER ENDED …

Read full complaint

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS, ONE WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET, AND THE OTHER WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT IN WHICH GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED THE WARRANTY RATES OFFERED SO THE CONSUMER ENDED UP PAYING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. WITH FRUSTRATION THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO MILLER BROTHERS AND IS NOW ASKING THAT THE TOTAL REPAIR COST BE REFUND FOR THE AMOUNT OF $2,946. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024447

49,095 miles · Jun 6, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

FAULTY HEAD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK AND DAMAGE TO ENGINE COSTING $2946. + CAR RENTAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10021165

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88, 1998 63000 MILES "COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING" LIGHT CAME UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO THE SERVICE AREA. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHITE SMOKE EXPELLED OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE, A SMOKE ODOR WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR. TURNED THE ENGINE ON 10 MINUTES LATER. THERE WAS COMPLETE SILENCE.…

Read full complaint

OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88, 1998 63000 MILES "COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING" LIGHT CAME UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO THE SERVICE AREA. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHITE SMOKE EXPELLED OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE, A SMOKE ODOR WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR. TURNED THE ENGINE ON 10 MINUTES LATER. THERE WAS COMPLETE SILENCE. THE ENGINE GOT LOCKED UP BECAUSE A COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE FROM THE UPPER PLASTIC INTAKE PLENUM. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1995-2000 GM 3800 VIN K ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI #10018578

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017439

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHITE SMOKE EXPELLED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SLEEVE WHICH SEALED THE EXHAUST GAS AS IT ENTERED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED. *MR...*AK

NHTSA ODI #10012373

50,000 miles · Mar 31, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY HAS AN INTERNAL LEAK OF RADIATOR FLUID. THERE HAS BEEN NO LEAKAGE UNDER THE CAR FROM ANY HOSES OR COMPONENTS. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS GONE ON NOW AND THE CAR IS SPUTTERING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR DOWN FOR REPAIR AND THEY STATE THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED CAUSING THE F…

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY HAS AN INTERNAL LEAK OF RADIATOR FLUID. THERE HAS BEEN NO LEAKAGE UNDER THE CAR FROM ANY HOSES OR COMPONENTS. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS GONE ON NOW AND THE CAR IS SPUTTERING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR DOWN FOR REPAIR AND THEY STATE THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED CAUSING THE FLUID TO BE SUCKED OUT OF THE RADIATOR SYSTEM AND EVAPORATED THROUGH THE ENGINE. MY CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT FIRE, BUT ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE, I SEE THAT MY CAR IS IN DANGER OF HAVING THAT HAPPEN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013729

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10011955

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE PROBLEM CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE, STARTER AND FLYWHEEL.*JB *TS

NHTSA ODI #10011260

53,500 miles · Jan 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED MAR. 1,2002. AT 51000MILES IBEGAN TO HAVE A LEAKING ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM (OF DEXCOOL) AND I HAD WATERPUMP REPLACED AND THEN COOLANT THERMOSTATABOUT AWEEK LATER FOR LEAKING..AT ABOUT 53500 MILES,PRESENTLY,ON ABOUT JAN. 10,2003.I QUIT RELIEING ON DRIVING THE 98 OLDS 88 AND NOW THIS VEHICLE IS AT WALLY MCCART…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED MAR. 1,2002. AT 51000MILES IBEGAN TO HAVE A LEAKING ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM (OF DEXCOOL) AND I HAD WATERPUMP REPLACED AND THEN COOLANT THERMOSTATABOUT AWEEK LATER FOR LEAKING..AT ABOUT 53500 MILES,PRESENTLY,ON ABOUT JAN. 10,2003.I QUIT RELIEING ON DRIVING THE 98 OLDS 88 AND NOW THIS VEHICLE IS AT WALLY MCCARTHY'S SERVICE

NHTSA ODI #10003438

90,748 miles · Dec 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEGRADED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONNECTING ROD BREAKING AND GOING THROUGH THE ENGINE WALL. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. TS SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #8023759

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.