IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
1987 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 98 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
Limited mileage data: 0 of 15 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reportsFAILURE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, DOOR CANNOT OPEN ON THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
IN COLD WEATHER THE STEERING IS HARD TURNING UNTIL IT GET WARM . TT
DRIVING ALONG IN THE SHOPPING CENTER TRIED TO STOP AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE GONE. TT
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT LATCH. TT
Official recalls
388V080000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
May 16, 1988
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.
87V135000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers
Sep 1, 1987
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
87V093000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jun 23, 1987
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE RED BRAKEWARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. IF THIS WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, ALOSS OF REAR BRAKES AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULDRESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. AN INOPERATIVE ABS ELECTRICAL RELAY COULD CAUSELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION, BUT NORMAL POWER ASSISTED BRAKING WOULD BE RETAINED.THE AMBER ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON.
Remedy: THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACED.
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
6EA89028 · Rear Brake Pin
Opened Jul 28, 1989 · Closed Jul 27, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===
PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes
Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA88031 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Apr 22, 1988 · Closed Oct 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===
EA88010 · Throttle Control
Opened Nov 30, 1987 · Closed Oct 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:UNDER PE87-041, GM PROVIDED THECOMPLAINT, ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND FATALITY DATA TABULATED ABOVE.ANALYSIS:DURING GM'S COMPILATION AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION REQUIREDTO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA'S REQUEST UNDER THE PE, INDICATIONS WERE GIVEN THATTHE NUMBERS OF CONSUMER AND OTHER COMPLAINTS CLEARLY SUGGESTED THE EXIST-OF A SAFETY PROBLEM AND THAT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WERE IN ORDER.GM'S FORMALLETTER RESPONSE, HOWEVER, RETREATED FROM THIS POSITION.NHTSA'S ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION IS ONGOING IN AN EFFORT TOIDENTIFY ONE OR MORE PRIMARY MODES OF COMPONENT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN ANY ONE OR COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING:A.SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH OR WITHOUT ATTENDANT BRAKE FAILUREB.SELF-ACTUATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMC.FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE UPON DRIVERCOMMANDD.FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGES/MECHANISMS TO RESPOND INMAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION TO DRIVER COMMANDE.ANY OTHER POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION THAT MAY BE IDENTIFIED.THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS, TOGETHER WITH RESULTANTACCIDENTS AND INJURIES, ARE SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO SUGGEST THAT A RIGOROUSEVALUATION OF THIS MATTER BY THE NHTSA IS IN ORDER.STATUS:NO SPECIFIC MALFUNCTION OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM CAPABLEOF CAUSING INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIEDTO DATE.HOWEVER, INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THREE CONDITIONS THAT COULDRESTRICT FREE MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE.H-BODY CARS POTENTIALLYAFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR CORRECTION.OTHERPHASES OF THE INVESTIGATION ARE CONTINUING.PHASES OF THE INVESTIGATION ARE CONTINUING.===
EA87022 · Stalling
Opened Aug 27, 1987 · Closed Nov 27, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===