1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Rack and pinion
  68
• Steering wheel/handle bar
  23
• Hydraulic power assist system
  11
• Rack and pinion › Rack
  8
• Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
  5
• Gear box › Shaft sector
  4

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  23%
• 25k–50k
  1218%
• 50k–75k
  1928%
• 75k–100k
  1624%
• 100k–150k
  1421%
• 150k+
  57%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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. …

Father in law went into the hospital and asked us ( daughter and son in -law) to move his car to are house while he was gone. I drove it to our house and had a hard time turning left. I asked my father in-law how long this had been like this and he said about 3 years. I started asking friends and looking on the internet for some advice on why. I found several possible causes and someone suggested that I check for vehicle recalls. I found one that fit perfectly, I called the Oldsmobile 800 number and gave the lady the cars VIN # and she said that although the car was listed the VIN # wasn't included in the recall, but she said I could take it to a GM dealer and they could inspect it to see if it fit the recall and could be added I went to the dealer and they said that the recall didn't apply and there was nothing they could do. …

Rack & pinion failure under normal driving conditions. On 9/23/05 I had to have Firestone tire & service center replace the rack and pinion with a remanufactured one. Old part is no longer available. A couple of months later, I became aware that Oldsmobile had a recall for that same problem on over 750,000 of their 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue's. I contacted Oldsmobile toll free number regarding the recall. They checked my VIN number and stated that my VIN number was not under the recall. However, they could not tell me why only certain Intrigue's were recalled and other's were not. However, I feel that if they are aware of this problem on their 1998 Oldsmobile intrique's and issued a recall, it should cover all of the units affected. This cost over $700 to repair. It was a serious safety problem that could have LED to steering failure causing an accident or fatality. …

The rack and pinion steering in my 1998 olds Intrigue is making a clunking noise. The dealer I took it to says it needs to be replaced. I have researched this problem, and have learned of numerous rack and pinion failures on this model and other GM models. With so very many failures, why must I wait until we have an accident due to steering failure? The most recent recall extends only to build date before 10-97. Ours was built 1-98, but we have the same problem as earlier builds. It is apparent to me this is a total design flaw, not just a bearing related defect. This is a huge safety issue. Inability to steer results in extremely tragic consequences. The latest recall should include all intrigues, as there was no significant changes in the design of this rack and pinion on this car. With safety at issue, help us. …

A few months ago I was backing up and my steering was very hard to turn to the left. I brought my car to a service station and they told me the rivets that hold the arm inside the rack & pinion broke loose and this was the reason for the hard steering. Repair shop told me I needed a new rack and pinion which was very expensive. I did not have the money to repair at the time. Since then the steering has gotten worse. I did some investigation on GM's recalls and there was a recall for the steering rack & pinion 1. NHTSA campaign number: 03V527000 (steering) 2. GM's recall id #64476 :steering: rack and pinion please let me know if this recall is valid for my car and if the local dealership will honor this recall [redacted]

I bought my olds Intrigue new in June 1998. In jan., 1999 I complained about steering noise and the dealer (stohlman, alexandria va) says it tightened a plastic part. It continued, and, finally, in June 1999 they replaced the intermediate steering shaft assembly. That didn't cure the problem, and when I again brought it in March 15, 2000, they claimed they couldn't reproduce the problem. I have lived with it ever since, and the car has only 40,000 miles. I've always been concerned it's dangerous. I've recently discovered the forum discussions on the edmunds web site, and I find that this is a very common problem that GM denied for years but now apparently admits. It May be a faulty rack in the rack and pinion steering. There is no more olds. Can you help? Is this a recall item?

When making a left turn the steering became difficult. Consumer pulled off the road, and later learned that the rack and pinion failed. A recall was issued. However, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. The consumer believes the failure is exactly what happened to her vehicle and that the vehicle should have been included with the recall. The consumer feels that oldsmoblie should be responsible to pay for the part. Consumer wants to know what guidelines were used to determine to recall for specific VIN numbers. What type of quality check was performed on the parts outside of the VIN numbers selected.

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to maneuver while attempting a left turn. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The mechanic stated that the steering rack would have to be replaced. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number 03V527000 (steering:rack and pinion) that could have been related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 71,873.

Failure of power assisted steering of rack and pinion steering identical to description found in campaign number 03V527000 of December 11, 2003. When turning left steering becomes as difficult as if there is no power assist, especially at lower speeds. There was a recall and when I contacted Oldsmobile I was told that my vehicle's VIN number was not included and that my vehicle would have had the "correction" made at manufacturer. So, I ask, why does it still do exactly what is described in the recall? I feel that my vehicle should be recalled, inspected and repaired at Oldsmobile's expense. Please advise.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Steering complaints in other Intrigue years