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

What owners actually said

164 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2005
Electrical System

1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHTY HAS PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS LEAKAGE OF BATTERY FLUID FROM THE POSITIVE POLE OF THE BATTERY. *MR THE POSITIVE POLE HAD COME OUT OF THE BATTERY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THREE BATTERY'S HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE FIRST WAS STILL UNDER…

Read full complaint

1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHTY HAS PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS LEAKAGE OF BATTERY FLUID FROM THE POSITIVE POLE OF THE BATTERY. *MR THE POSITIVE POLE HAD COME OUT OF THE BATTERY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THREE BATTERY'S HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE FIRST WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. (AC DELCO BATTERY) *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10117436

93,769 miles · Mar 29, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 RECALL CONCERNING DEFECT ON THE 3.8 V6 ENGINE.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE SAME RECALL REPAIRED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER SOME OF HIS MONEY, BUT THE SECOND TIME THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. RECALL#04V090000 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10117454

91,300 miles · Mar 28, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE FUMES OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, LEAKING ON THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE EGR PIPING DEGRADED AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10111582

65,000 miles · Mar 24, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FUEL REGULATOR REPAIRED ON TWO VEHICLES, SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. A RECALL WAS RECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURE INVOLVING ONLY ONE OF THE VEHICLES, AND REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR THE ONE VEHICLE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE FUEL REGULATOR RECALL. THE CONSUMER'S SECOND VEHICLE WAS…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FUEL REGULATOR REPAIRED ON TWO VEHICLES, SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. A RECALL WAS RECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURE INVOLVING ONLY ONE OF THE VEHICLES, AND REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR THE ONE VEHICLE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE FUEL REGULATOR RECALL. THE CONSUMER'S SECOND VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FUEL REGULATOR NHTSA RECALL 04V09000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10115782

130,000 miles · Feb 23, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY OLDSMOBILE 88 WAS LOOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, SO I TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR AND HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THEY SAID MY INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE TO THE CAR. THE INTAKE MANIFOL…

Read full complaint

MY OLDSMOBILE 88 WAS LOOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, SO I TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR AND HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THEY SAID MY INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE TO THE CAR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES.APPARENTLY THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD IS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE HEAT. MY CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I HAVE 133,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS MANIFOLD TWICE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10112037

63,381 miles · Feb 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

LTR TO GM REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR ON RECALL DEFECT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1998 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT. *BF THE VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE IT BACKFIRED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10113011

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH LED TO FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. *NM RECALL# 04V090000. *SC THE CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER THE UPPER INTAKE CAUSING ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. *TC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109609

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT A LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DID NOT GO TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKING POWER WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRA…

Read full complaint

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT A LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DID NOT GO TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKING POWER WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ER *JB

NHTSA ODI #10099430

74,386 miles · Feb 3, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I WENT TO START MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND SMELLED GAS AND ANTIFREEZE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE MOTOR, ABOVE THE HEADS AND BELOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD RUPTURED, SPILLING FUEL AND ANT…

Read full complaint

I WENT TO START MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND SMELLED GAS AND ANTIFREEZE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE MOTOR, ABOVE THE HEADS AND BELOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD RUPTURED, SPILLING FUEL AND ANTIFREEZE OUT OF THE MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109812

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING,\ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. NOTICED THAT COOLANT LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHAN…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING,\ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. NOTICED THAT COOLANT LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE ,AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10108987

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.