← New search

1992 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

Other model years Selected 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: 3 of 38 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 15 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 →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

38 reports
166,000 miles · Nov 13, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER P…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED. UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10208769

127,000 miles · Jun 29, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. WHILE DRIVING 45-60 MPH OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM SLOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FLIPS. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2006 AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY EVER SINCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. TH…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. WHILE DRIVING 45-60 MPH OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM SLOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FLIPS. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2006 AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY EVER SINCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10194954

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2004
Electrical System

92 OLDSMOBILE 98 ELECTRICAL FIRE WIRING HARNESS NO ACTUAL FLAMES POLICE OFFICER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058626

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *NLM *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10040192

105,970 miles · Feb 25, 2003
Power Train

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE TO WORK ON A COLD DAY MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN, EVENTUALLY IT GO TO WERE I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY DRIVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD ANY LONGER. I KEEP MY CAR IN PERFECT CONDITION IT ONLY 105,970 MILES. ONCE I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE I HAD IT TOWED WHI…

Read full complaint

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE TO WORK ON A COLD DAY MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN, EVENTUALLY IT GO TO WERE I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY DRIVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD ANY LONGER. I KEEP MY CAR IN PERFECT CONDITION IT ONLY 105,970 MILES. ONCE I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE I HAD IT TOWED WHICH COST ME OVER$100.00 TO AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER IN CHIEFLAND, IT WAS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT INFORMED ME THE NEXT WEEK THAT MY TRANSMISSION FLEW APART I THEN HAD TO FORK OUT $2417.39 TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE FROM GM. I FEEL THAT SINCE I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED MANY TIMES BY AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER, THAT SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG SINCE IT WAS JUST SERVICED AND ADJUSTED ONE WEEK PRIOR. AFTER I HAD BROUGHT IT IN FOR NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I FEEL THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD AT LEAST COVER 1/2 THE COST SINCE IT ONLY HAS 105,970 MILES. TRANSMISSIONS JUST DON'T FLY APART WITH THAT LITTLE MILES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN IT WAS CHECKED OUT THE LAST TIME WHEN IT FLEW APART I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH FLUID LEFT IN THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO LEAK, NOR WERE THERE STAINS IN MY GARAGE, THE PARKING LOT AT WORK OR ANYWHERE ELSE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION ANY FURTHER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY NEEDED TO RETURN THE CORE UNTOUCHED.

NHTSA ODI #10008094

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2003
Electrical System

THE INSIDE LIGHT OVERHEATED THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007391

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2001
Power Train

THERE IS RECALL 96V015002 FOR THIS CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM CONCERNING TRANSMISSION COOLING LEAK. THE CAMPAIGN I CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL FOR MY CAR. SAFETY DEFECT NOT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745149

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2001
Power Train

BEFORE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I WAS AWARE THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE UPPER TRANSAXLE COOLER HOSE/LINE. I CAREFULLY CHECKED THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND IT APPEARED TO BE INTACT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES A SLOW LEAK APPEARED WHICH PROGRESSED TO A MAJOR LEAK VERY QUIC…

Read full complaint

BEFORE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I WAS AWARE THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE UPPER TRANSAXLE COOLER HOSE/LINE. I CAREFULLY CHECKED THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND IT APPEARED TO BE INTACT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES A SLOW LEAK APPEARED WHICH PROGRESSED TO A MAJOR LEAK VERY QUICKLY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR, WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISED IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER. I MENTIONED THE POSSIBLE RECALL (RE: CAMPAIGN 96V015000 AND GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BUILLETIN 95C68). THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED GM AND REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT MY VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED IN THE VIN SPECIFIC LISTING AND THAT THE EXPENSE OF THIS REPAIR WAS MY OBLIGATION. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND WAS TOLD ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING. MY CAR FALLS IN THE PARAMETERS OF THE VINS ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY DELIVERED IN COLORADO. OBVIOUSLY, THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME BECAUSE THE PARTS USED WERE THOSE CALLED FOR IN THE TECH BULLETIN. IT IS MY FEELING THAT GM (OLDSMOBILE) IS AVOIDING THIS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED. I WISH TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR RELATED TO THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743585

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Exterior Lighting

AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND HEADLIGHT SWITCH BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #727570

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2000
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722964

Official recalls

1

96V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Jan 23, 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

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

1

EA93011 · Fuel Line Failure

Opened May 3, 1993 · Closed May 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available