Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have called multiple GM dealerships in order to get my ignition recall, oil leak from valve cover recall, and rear seatbelt recalls taken care of and so far none have returned my phone calls regarding the issues. I have had the appointments set for at least 6 months at 2 different dealerships and have yet to hear back on any parts arriving. They told me over the phone at both dealers that it would take a week and a half for parts to arrive and that they would return my call when parts did arrive, but I have yet to hear anything.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact stated that all the rear seat belts failed to latch. The failure recurred multiple times. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 00V044000 (seat belts) however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 09V116000 and had the vehicle repaired accordingly. The rear seat belts were recalled and repaired as well. After the repair, the seat belts began to malfunction again. The contact called the manufacturer to see if there was an issue with the repair work and was informed that the vehicle needed to be inspected by the dealer. The clips that were applied May be preventing the seat belts from releasing from the retractor. The dealer added a cover piece to the retractor, but it did not remedy the issue. The contact feels that this is a safety issue because the rear seat belt cannot be used. The current mileage was 144,000 and failure mileage was 143,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact stated that the seat belt in her vehicle did not function properly. The seat belt would not pull out from the harness on the rear driver's side. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 170,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact stated that the rear seatbelts did not lock. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000. The current mileage was approximately 132,000.
We have had ongoing issues where the passenger and driver seat belts (5 total) do not extend or retract properly. The dealer continues to blame the user although they did replace one mechanism as it would no longer retract or extend. We have taken it in several times as well as called the olds customer service to file a complaint. They refuse to do anything more. They also tell me to learn how to use them! How can guests as well as my family members all have the same issue? Many times we are unable to use the seat belts as we can not get them to move in or out to put them on. The dealer and customer service line stated that the seat belt issue was common amoung olds and cadilacs. I don't feel that the manufacturer is solving this issue by letting be a common issue! Seat belts should function. …
I received notice of the defect and contacted my dealer immediately. The rear seat belts are defective in my car. Due to the the seat belt webbing becoming jammed in the retactor, the dealer states they will have to do extra work in order to make the repair. They stated they will charge me $75.00 an hour for the repair. I strongly disagree with being charged an amount of money to correct a problem that occurred due to the manufacturers defect. Please let me know your thoughts regarding the fee I am to be charged, (my car will be at the dealer 10-11-00) & if you feel charging the consumer a fee to repair their defect is reasonable. Please let me know how tp proceed. Sincerely, ann kerley
Rear seat belts lock up in partially extended state, so passengers cannot use them. Problem is a vertical slot in the belt retractor guide, which is wide enough for the horizontally retracting belt to slide into, resulting in a twisted belt that locks up. Olds customer service says they 'operate as designed'. How can anyone in 1998 'design' a seat belt that renders itself useless in normal service????????? New cars on the showroom floor also have this problem and sooner or later someone will be killed because they couldn't use their seat belt.
The left rear seat belt retractor has been replaced 3 times and the right rear seat belt retractor is going to be replaced the second time as soon as the parts come in. I am worried about the safety of our two children in the back seat and am tired of making trips to the dealership. We have owned the car less than a year and have been to the dealership the following dates to either have seat belts ordered or installed- 7/20/99 - 8/10/99 - 8/30/99 - 9/3/99 - 12/30/99 - 1/14/2000
The day we picked the car up one of the belts failed. Then again several weeks later. The dealer eventually replaced the right rear belt assembly. Now the left rear has jammed for the second time. This is a serious safety issue (I have four step children) and I am aware that you are investigating. You need to speed this up before a child is injured or killed. There must be a recall right away! Doesn't the manufacturer have to replace safety equipment without charge?
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
Rear safety belt malfunction
There is no summary currently available
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…
Seat Belt complaints in other Intrigue years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 10% of the model year's 510 complaints. The component named most often is front › retractor (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-044 (seat belts, Feb 16, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 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.