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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

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

11 reports
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 · Sep 22, 1999
Unknown Or Other

THE OCTOBER '99 ISSUE OF CONSUMER'S REPORT STATES THAT BULLETIN 331708 COVERS A HIDDEN WARRANTY ON 1988-1992 OLDSMOBILES IF THE BASE COAT CLEAR COAT CHALKS, DEGRADES, OR WHITES. OUR CAR HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR MANY YEAR AND WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE HIDDEN WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER TODAY, HE STATED THAT THIS BULLE…

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THE OCTOBER '99 ISSUE OF CONSUMER'S REPORT STATES THAT BULLETIN 331708 COVERS A HIDDEN WARRANTY ON 1988-1992 OLDSMOBILES IF THE BASE COAT CLEAR COAT CHALKS, DEGRADES, OR WHITES. OUR CAR HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR MANY YEAR AND WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE HIDDEN WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER TODAY, HE STATED THAT THIS BULLETIN EXPIRED SEVEN (7) YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS BUILT (1996). WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS COVERAGE OR WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION EARLIER.

NHTSA ODI #711817

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 · Aug 20, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY, SHORTING OUT FUEL PUMP, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #507694

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 1996
Electrical System

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985596

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, WENT INTO NEIGHBOR'S FENCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #979769

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 1996
Seats

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AWAY FROM THE WELD AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. IF VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #979285

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVER SHOULDER LAP BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL, DURING TOTALLED HEAD ON COLLISION. TT CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES.*JB

NHTSA ODI #975340

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.