IllustrationTIRE SIDEWALL RUPTURED (MICHELIN).
1991 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: 2 of 47 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reportsBOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE CRACKED AROUND THE BOLTS OF THE SEATS. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE OPERATES AS IF IT IS ON ICE DUE TO THE REAR SENSORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SENSORS ON TWO OCCASIONS. *AK
SEVERAL ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURES.
EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE, SOMETIMES PEDAL FADES, REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER, FAILURE STILL OCCUR.
WHEN ENGINE VIBRATED TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE BRACKET CUT METAL COOLING LINE HOSE DUE TO ITS PLACEMENT.
ON THREE OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED.*AK CONSUMER STATES FIRST OCCURENCE WAS ONLY A PARTIAL FAILURE, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND THEY RECOVERED SHORTLY, SECONFD FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRKAE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLA…
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ON THREE OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED.*AK CONSUMER STATES FIRST OCCURENCE WAS ONLY A PARTIAL FAILURE, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND THEY RECOVERED SHORTLY, SECONFD FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRKAE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE LAST OCCURENCE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW FOR AN EXIT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.*JB
REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDERS FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH
ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
291V198000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Nov 14, 1991
THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARKPOSITION WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BEIN PARK, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ON AGRADE. ALSO, THE DRIVER CAN PLACE THE GEAR SELECTOR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITHOUTTURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THE TRANSAXLE MAY NOT BE IN THE POSITION INDICATED,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BOTH CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL TWO TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIPS.
91V167000 · Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical
Sep 23, 1991
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
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
1PE93007 · Fuel Line Failure
Opened Feb 10, 1993 · Closed May 3, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available