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1989 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 →
11Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
13
198615
198710
198811
198917
199047
199138
1992
Compare all 98 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
5Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 1 of 11 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 5 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 →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. 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.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
117,000 miles · Jun 7, 2005
Electrical SystemFireInjury

DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED A. HEATER SWITCH. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THERE WERE NO INSTRUCTIONS/WARNING OR CAUTIONS ON THE BOX. THERE WERE SPECS ON THE BOX ON HOW MANY INCHES TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM ANYTHING FLAMMABLE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE INSTALLED SWITCH AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE 5 MINUTES LATER. …

Read full complaint

DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED A. HEATER SWITCH. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THERE WERE NO INSTRUCTIONS/WARNING OR CAUTIONS ON THE BOX. THERE WERE SPECS ON THE BOX ON HOW MANY INCHES TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM ANYTHING FLAMMABLE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE INSTALLED SWITCH AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE 5 MINUTES LATER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10124482

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Electrical System

THE HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTANTLY BECAUSE THE RACKETS THAT THE HORN PAD CONNECTS TO ARE BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI #543223

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1997
Electrical System

HORN SWITCH FAILED CPMPLETELY WHICH LEAVES HORN ACTIVATED CONTINUOUSLY. HORN HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523912

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1997
Electrical System

HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER SUGGESTED GOING TO A JUNK YARD TO REPLACE HORN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815962

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 1996
Electrical System

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985596

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.