← 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 →

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
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 …

Read full complaint

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

21,100 miles · Mar 4, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 1998 OLDS 88 BACKFIRED UPON STARTING AND BLEW UP THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE ENGINE COVER AND THE FUEL RAIL. THE ENGINE IS THE 3800 V6. THE VEHICLE HAS 21,000 MILES BUT WAS OLDER THAN 3YRS, THUS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. BECAUSE GM WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REP…

Read full complaint

MY 1998 OLDS 88 BACKFIRED UPON STARTING AND BLEW UP THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE ENGINE COVER AND THE FUEL RAIL. THE ENGINE IS THE 3800 V6. THE VEHICLE HAS 21,000 MILES BUT WAS OLDER THAN 3YRS, THUS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. BECAUSE GM WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR, I HAD IT REPAIRED MYSELF. THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY A LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR THAT VENTED BACK THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THRU A VACUUM LINE. THIS SITUATION LOOKS TO BE EXACTLY LIKE A RECALL ON VERY SIMILAR BUICK CARS. IT WAS NHTSA RECALL # 03V473000 ON NOV 12TH 2003. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER VEHICLES LIKE MINE.

NHTSA ODI #10060452

73,200 miles · Oct 5, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE MERGING INTO INTERSTATE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING ENGINE FAILED CAUSING LOST OF BRAKING AND STEERING EFFECTIVENESS. NO WARNING WAS RECEIVED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND UPPER INTAKE WAS FOUND CRACKED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER COMBUSTION CHAMBER. ONE WEEK AND $800.00 LATER CAR WAS "REPAIRED" VEHICLE CONTINUES TO…

Read full complaint

WHILE MERGING INTO INTERSTATE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING ENGINE FAILED CAUSING LOST OF BRAKING AND STEERING EFFECTIVENESS. NO WARNING WAS RECEIVED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND UPPER INTAKE WAS FOUND CRACKED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER COMBUSTION CHAMBER. ONE WEEK AND $800.00 LATER CAR WAS "REPAIRED" VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEMS. HARD STARTING, RANDOM STALLING. DEALER ADVISED ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3800 SERIES II ENGINE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR TYPE OF USE AND MAINTENANCE. CONSIDERING THE SUDDEN LOST OF ALL POWER THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS BRAKING AND STEERING EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED AS IS ELECTRICAL POWER FOR ACCESSORIES SUCH AS HEADLAMPS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041273

28,000 miles · May 18, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE SPLIT AND LEAKED FUEL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY MOTHER'S 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88. HAD SHE NOT SMELLED THE FUEL AND PARKED THE CAR, I'M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10018870

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLAIRED. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE DESIGN CHANGE, THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED TO BE MADE OF METAL AND NOW THEY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8012951

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN AWFULL SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. MECHANIC SAID PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE IN IT, AND WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE FROM RADIATOR. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHOLE IN THE PLENUM WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY EGR VALVE, PER MACHANI…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN AWFULL SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. MECHANIC SAID PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A HOLE IN IT, AND WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE FROM RADIATOR. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHOLE IN THE PLENUM WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY EGR VALVE, PER MACHANIC AND GM REP.(CAR WAS GOING TO BURST INTO FLAMES)-PLEASE SEE REVERSE SIDE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND LIFE THREATENING, AND IS GREATFUL FOR NOT BEING HARMED, BUT WANTS THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED SO THAT PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES, WONT BE IN DANGER. CONSUMER ALSO FEELS THAT, SHOULDN'T THERE BE METAL PLENUMS INSTEAD OF PLASTIC.*AK *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8011350

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.