NHTSA vehicle safety data

1995 Oldsmobile 98 Recalls & Complaints

The 1995 Oldsmobile 98 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 29 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Oldsmobile dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1995 Oldsmobile 98. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1995 Oldsmobile 98 owner complaints

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Oldsmobile 98, describing incidents dated March 2, 1995 to September 11, 2007.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 5 complaints
Engine 5 complaints
Service Brakes 4 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 4 complaints
Unknown or Other 3 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 29 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 29 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10215665 · Filed January 22, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, SPARKS APPEARED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE…
ODI #10197376 · Filed July 24, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98 ROYAL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE AIR BAG DOWN AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SORENESS IN HIS NECK AND RIBS. HE ALSO HAS AN…
ODI #10162094 · Filed July 11, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 06/20/06 WHILE THE IGNITION WAS ON BUT IN PARK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON 06/21/06. THE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE DURING BOTH INCIDENTS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED…

Read all 29 complaints

Exterior Lighting — Headlights

NHTSA #94V190000 · NHTSA notice

Reported October 4, 1994 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 1,997 vehicles

Owners notified October 20, 1994 · Vehicles built June 1, 1994 – July 1, 1994 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS CAN CAUSE REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE HEAD LAMPS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, OR THEY MAY TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE.

Notes

SYSTEM: LIGHTING; HEAD LIGHTS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TWILIGHT SENTINEL LIGHTS.NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT, PLEASE CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537. ALSO, CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Switch

NHTSA #94V138000 · NHTSA notice

Reported August 2, 1994 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 1,487 vehicles

Owners notified July 27, 1994 · Vehicles built June 1, 1994 – June 1, 1994 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE HEAD LAMPS WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT HEAD/PARK LAMP SWITCH BUILD DATE CODES AND REPLACE SWITCHES WITH SUSPECT DATE CODES.

Notes

SYSTEM: LIGHTING, SWITCH, BUTTON; RING; HEADLIGHTS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FREE OF CHARGE OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT, PLEASE CONTACT OLDSMOBILE SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-442-6537. ALSO, CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1995 Oldsmobile 98. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

29 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1995 Oldsmobile 98.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10215665

Fire

Incident: September 11, 2007 · Filed: January 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, SPARKS APPEARED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A GAS LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10197376

1 injury

Incident: July 18, 2007 · Filed: July 24, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE 98 ROYAL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE AIR BAG DOWN AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SORENESS IN HIS NECK AND RIBS. HE ALSO HAS AN ABRASION ON HIS ARM FROM THE FAILURE. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS CAUSED BY THE MOISTURE IN THE COMPONENT. THEY OFFERED HIM A SETTLEMENT TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE AIR BAGS OR GIVE HIM A NEW VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 184,716.

Air Bags

ODI #10162094

Incident: June 20, 2006 · Filed: July 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 06/20/06 WHILE THE IGNITION WAS ON BUT IN PARK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON 06/21/06. THE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE DURING BOTH INCIDENTS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FIRST INCIDENT HOWEVER THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED NOR LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON 06/22/06 WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 06/23/06 FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DUE TO THE COST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.

Air Bags

ODI #10068229

1 injury

Incident: April 15, 2004 · Filed: May 3, 2004

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO BREAK AND DUE TO COST TO REPAIR DASH AND AIRBAGS CAUSED CAR TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #9006559

Filed: July 11, 2002

COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON---A LARGE POOL OF COOLANT UNDER CAR AFTER STOPPING---INSPECTION OF CAR SHOWED RETAINING CLIPS WERE BROKEN, BUT SENSOR STILL IN PLACE

Structure

ODI #986395

Incident: July 1, 1996 · Filed: July 2, 1996

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. KEY WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. DOOR LOCKS ARE ELECTRICAL. DOOR LOCK AND DOOR ACTUATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

Visibility

ODI #985534

Incident: March 2, 1995 · Filed: June 12, 1996

DUE TO THE SUN GLAZING ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #970902

Incident: May 15, 1995 · Filed: August 21, 1995

ABS: WHILE TRAVELING DOWN ROAD, 65 MPH, VEHICLES IN FRONT STOPPED TO MAKE TURN; APPLIED BRAKES, NOTHING HAPPENED; CHANGED LANES TO AVOID HITTING CARS IN REAR.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #894342

Incident: July 30, 2001 · Filed: August 14, 2001

RETURNED FUEL LINE FOR THE 3.8L ENGINE WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL LINE IS ON BACK ORDER FOR 2-3 MONTHS. *AK

Steering; Suspension

ODI #893018

Incident: July 14, 2001 · Filed: July 17, 2001

WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER TO LEFT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACING. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES FRONT STRUTS WERE FAILING AND WAS REPLACED.*JB

Other Oldsmobile 98 model years

Check your 1995 Oldsmobile 98 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Oldsmobile 98 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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