Most common 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue problems
Share of the 510 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Oldsmobile Intrigue complaints by model year
Best Intrigue years: 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue recalls (6)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles were built with rear seat shoulder belts that could twist, allowing the webbing to be jammed in the retractor. When the shoulder belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt becomes unusable.
Remedy: Dealers will remove any twists from the rear shoulder belt(s) and install clips to the belt web guide to prevent twisting.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The owner manuals do not contain the requirement information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. This does not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 9 possible defects involving the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue:
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 02V286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 Pontiac grand prix vehicles built between March 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, 1996-1998 Pontiac trans sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet venture, Oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet…
Windshield wiper
Incidents of wiper failure (owner reports and warranty) are very high, and many of the reports indicate that the failures are still occurring in 1999.
Rear safety belt malfunction
There is no summary currently available
Steering rack and pinion
Odi has received 200 complaints fromt consumers and 1,238 from GM alleging failure or lockup of the steering rack and pinion unit (r&p).this alleged condition can result in the loss of steering control of the vehicle and a crash can result.GM has reported six crashes in which eight people have sustained injuries ranging from bruises, airbag burn, seat belt abrasion, facial injury, neck and back pain.all crashes were…
Windshield wiper
By letter dated December 12, 1999, GM notified NHTSA of its plans to conduct a safety related defect campaign to remedy 155,149 of the subject vehicles.the vehicle population for the campaign includes the 1997 Buick regal/century and Pontiac gran prix models built during the period from the start of production through May 1, 1997.GM determined that the wipers installed prior to this date could stop working, usually…
Rear shoulder belt malfunction
The alleged defect concerns two major symptoms:failure to retract webbing and inability to extend the webbinng for use. The root cause of these symptoms is the design of the trim bezel through which the sebbing passes. Built into the rear package shelf, the bezel includes a vertical slot to facilitate vehicle assembly.the slot is positioned such that the shoulder belt webbing tends to slip into it.webbing ingestion…
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM's letter to NHTSA dated December 11, 2003, expands its original recall (NHTSA 02V286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 Chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 Pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 Buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.GM determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion…
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
Power rack and pinion steering failure
The lower pinion bearing in the rack and pinion steering assembly May fail.GM will recall 1997-98 grand prix built between 1-mar-96 and 31-oct-97; and 1996-98 u-vans/j-cars built between 1-jan-96 and 31-oct-97.see attached summary.
What 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue owners say
Steering all 160 →
1. Rack & pinion failure, 2. Serpentine belt tensioner failure (@approx 45000 mi) 3. L rr seatbelt installed twisted at factory- shoulder strap wouldn't lock for child safetyseat, dealer fixed. 4. Warped front rotors, 5. I have experienced the dash going haywire or completely out accompanied by the sensation of a slipping trans and sluggish/clunking steering (twice, once about 8 months ago and about a week before the r&p failure) 6. Two tires have had belt separation.
I have previously filed one complaint in regard to this issue with GM corp. I own a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue, not one that was recalled, however due to the unsafe, eratic, spontanious steering of this vehicle I feel that it should be further investigated. The problem with it is that when I turn my steering wheel to one side or the other all the way, at usually a low speed, it is almost impossible to get the steering system to "turn back", except sometimes, it lashes back around causing my vehicle to go the opposite direction, while turned the other way, the wheel just will not stay at that spot, it comes back around...and hard! If it does not exibit either of these two signs, then it makes a horrible sound and is very hard to turn. At normal speeds (on roadways, etc) it is okay, however at slow speeds mostly in parking lots etc. Is when the problems occur. …
Engine & cooling all 97 →
The engine had a fire and the ignition switch is very hard Do turn, it would be available for inspection. The fire happen while driving down the highway. I have an appointment set with dealership. No prior inspections have been made and no indications of anything.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle began to smoke from the under the front hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that flames were coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact pulled into a gas station and exited the vehicle. The vehicle became engulfed with flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact recently received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 04/14/16; updated 05/14/18
Brakes all 77 →
1. Rack & pinion failure, 2. Serpentine belt tensioner failure (@approx 45000 mi) 3. L rr seatbelt installed twisted at factory- shoulder strap wouldn't lock for child safetyseat, dealer fixed. 4. Warped front rotors, 5. I have experienced the dash going haywire or completely out accompanied by the sensation of a slipping trans and sluggish/clunking steering (twice, once about 8 months ago and about a week before the r&p failure) 6. Two tires have had belt separation.
The "antilock" and "brake" light came con while driving. I noticed some change in braking and immedixately went to ge it checke out. The mechanic said it was a computer component that controlled the rear braking system and that it was common for the Intrigue. I then went to my mechanic who maintains my vehicle on a regular basis and he ran a computer diagnostic on my car and also said it was the computer and the motor that operates the rear brakes. This problem is not a normal wear and tear problem for cars and has endangered me and alsois very costly. Both mechanics estamate to repalce the entire system would run about $1700 and there is no way around it. I am cuurently using only my front brakes and if I would have not known to get them checked shorly after replacing both my front rotors and pads the problem would still have gone undetected
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue a good car?
Based on 510 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Intrigue rates avoid: 3.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Intrigue at the same age. It is one of the Intrigue years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue?
The steering — 160 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rack and pinion. Next are the engine & cooling (97) and brakes (77).
How many recalls does the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue, the most recent from October 26, 2015 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Oldsmobile Intrigue?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998 and 1999. See the full Oldsmobile Intrigue years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 88,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.