IllustrationVEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY LOOSING COOLANT, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER PUMP HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE LEAKAGE. *MJS
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGLULATOR VALVE FAILURE. YH
MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88LS HIT A DEER ON 11/05/1999 AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NOURSE DEALERSHIP BODY SHOP ON 11/07/1999 FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CANNOT EVEN SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE THEM BY JULY. MY CAR IS …
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MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88LS HIT A DEER ON 11/05/1999 AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NOURSE DEALERSHIP BODY SHOP ON 11/07/1999 FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CANNOT EVEN SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE THEM BY JULY. MY CAR IS JUST SITTING THERE! ISN'T THIS A VIOLATION OF US CODE: TITLE 49, SECTION 30127 ? HELP! I PAID OVER $20,000.00 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I AND MY WIFE NEED IT DESPERATELY BUT IT HAS BEEN NEARLY FIVE MONTHS ALREADY AND NO REAL HOPE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER FOUR MORE MONTHS. WE ARE ELDERLY RETIRED CITIZENS WHO WANT TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE BUT THE RENTAL VEHICLE GM FINALLY PROVIDED TODAY IS RESTRICTED AS TO MILES AND DISTANCE SO WE CANNOT GO SEE OUR SON IN WASHINGTON STATE. AIRBAGS ARE MANDATORY, SO SHOULDN'T AN INVENTORY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS ALSO BE MANDATED? PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. SIGNED RICHARD AND ROSEMARY GARRISON. *AK
WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER IT BLOWS OUT A FUNNY ODOR THAT SMELLS LIKE URINE. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BLOWER DIDN'T DRY PROPERLY AND HELD WATER, WHICH CAUSED MILDEW. *AK
PROBLEM IS IN COLD WEATHER THE HORN BLOWS BY ITS SELF. IT WILL START TO BLOW AND KEEP BLOWING TILL DISCONNECTED. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CALL THE GM TECH SUPPORT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THAT YEAR CAR. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE HORN AND AIR BAG ASSEMBLY FOR THE COST OF 680.00. I CONTACTED GM AB…
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PROBLEM IS IN COLD WEATHER THE HORN BLOWS BY ITS SELF. IT WILL START TO BLOW AND KEEP BLOWING TILL DISCONNECTED. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CALL THE GM TECH SUPPORT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THAT YEAR CAR. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE HORN AND AIR BAG ASSEMBLY FOR THE COST OF 680.00. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I DON'T BELIVE THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE ANYWAY. IS THERE ANY THING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS OR HAVE YOU RECEIVED AND OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE. ANY INFORMATION OR HELP ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPERCIATED. THANK YOU DAVID HOOLEY. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT FROM A NAIL PUNCTURE FOUND THAT ALL FOUR TIRE HAD SOME CLEARLY VISIBLE LITTLE BUMPS AROUND THE SIDEWALL. NLM
THE FRONT END WAS VIBRATING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCHANTS TIRE FOR ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. I WAS ADVISED THE TIRE WERE CHOPPED UP AND NEW TIRES WERE THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY WEAK SHOCKS OR STRUTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. PERSONAL THAT THE T…
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THE FRONT END WAS VIBRATING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCHANTS TIRE FOR ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. I WAS ADVISED THE TIRE WERE CHOPPED UP AND NEW TIRES WERE THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY WEAK SHOCKS OR STRUTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. PERSONAL THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO ROTATED EVERY TWO OIL CHANGES AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SHOCKS OR STRUTS. ALSO I WAS ADVISED THAT IF THEY WERE ROTATED THEY MIGHT WEAR SMOOTH AND THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
CONSUMER'S AUTOMOBILE HAD STOPPED AND RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DECENDING A STEEP GRADE THE TRANSMISSION (IN LOW GEAR) AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. NLM
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.