Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 27 | typical | — | Engine | Average |
| 1997 | 30 | typical | — | Seat Belt | Average |
| 1996 | 10 | −69% | 2 | Airbag | Good |
| 1995 | 30 | typical | 2 | Engine | Average |
* Complaints compared with the median 98 year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Oldsmobile 98 problems
Latest Oldsmobile 98 recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp May not work. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
These vehicles were assembled with lighting control modules which can experience excessive current leakage due to damaged surface mounting capacitors. This can cause loss of head lamps and parking lamps.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp module.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
A spring in the head lamp portion of the head park lamp switch can fail preventing latching of the head lamp portion of the switch in the "on" position.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect head/park lamp switch build date codes and replace switches with suspect date codes.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Oldsmobile 98 should you avoid?
None of the Oldsmobile 98 years has an unusually high number of complaints compared with the others at the same age.
What is the best year for the Oldsmobile 98?
1996 has the fewest complaints compared with other 98 years at the same age. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Oldsmobile 98 problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the seat belts (19), engine & cooling (17) and air bags (12). Seat Belt complaints peak in the 1997 model year.
How many recalls has the Oldsmobile 98 had?
4 recalls across 1995–1998. The model year with the most is 1995. See all Oldsmobile 98 recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.