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1981 Oldsmobile 98

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19791
19802
19812
19821
19831
1984
Compare all 98 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Tires
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

2 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000
Tires

FIRESTONE TIRE WAS 2 YEARS OLD, BUT UNUSED (SPARE TIRE). PUT ON RIGHT FRONT OF CAR BEFORE TRIP. DRIVEN 200 MILES AT 70MPH (ON I 75 SOUTH NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL) IN 95 DEGREE TEMPERATURE WHEN TREAD CAME OFF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TIRE WAS STILL FULLY PRESSURIZED, JUST HAD NO TREAD. TREAD COMING OFF CAR LEFT BLACK RUBBER MARKS ACROS…

Read full complaint

FIRESTONE TIRE WAS 2 YEARS OLD, BUT UNUSED (SPARE TIRE). PUT ON RIGHT FRONT OF CAR BEFORE TRIP. DRIVEN 200 MILES AT 70MPH (ON I 75 SOUTH NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL) IN 95 DEGREE TEMPERATURE WHEN TREAD CAME OFF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TIRE WAS STILL FULLY PRESSURIZED, JUST HAD NO TREAD. TREAD COMING OFF CAR LEFT BLACK RUBBER MARKS ACROSS PAINT ON FRONT FENDER AND TORE OFF PIECE OF CHROME (NEITHER CURRENTLY REPAIRED). FHP STOPPED AND INDICATED A NEARBY EXIT. DROVE VERY SLOWLY TO EXIT AND CHANGED TIRE. RETURNED HOME AND REPLACED TIRE. DID NOT REQUEST REFUND AS DAMAGED TIRE HAD NO TREAD REMAINING.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P21575R15 )

NHTSA ODI #727306

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #507644

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.