Ignition is messed up the previous owner said there is a recall but never show me papers and I was want to make sure there is one
The worst 1998 Oldsmobile 88 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine82
- Brakes20
- Fuel system20
- Electrical15
- Transmission10
- Acceleration7
- Airbags6
- Body5
- Seat belts3
- Suspension3
- Wheels3
- Seats2
- Steering2
- Tires2
- Visibility2
- Lights1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Oldsmobile 88
Overheating 17Stalling 16Check engine light 11Engine failure 11Fire or smoke 11Loss of power 7ABS 5Brake failure 5
Recalls 1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3800 v6 (l36) engines and certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, the regulators have a much higher than usual rate of fuel leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line. If the engine does not start when cranked, the fuel from the leaking regulator and a mistimed spark can cause a backfire.
- Risk
- The backfire can rupture the intake manifold. The rupture of the intake manifold can displace a fuel line, pulling an injector out of place, and causing a fuel leak and possible fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install new fuel pressure regulators with improved diaphragms. The recall will be conducted in phased mailings. Phase 1 began on june 30, 2004, and phase 2 began on september 30, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537, or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668.
Recall number 04V090000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1998 Oldsmobile 88
Defect investigations
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 source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
EA02030
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Oldsmobile 88 29
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco...
- Vehicle Recalls
- This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85...
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- Engine coolant consumption or coolant leak (inspect for material degradation/replace intake manifolds) tt...
- Intermittent chuggle or fishbite on light acceleration or a highway speeds with no diagnostic trouble...
- Some owners may comment on a transmission oil leak
- New upper intake manifold and gasket kits
- New rear main seal and special tool for installation
- Upcoming product safety recall fuel pressure regulator
What 1998 Oldsmobile 88 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile 88. When the vehicle was started, smoke appeared without warning. The contact observed oil on the manifold. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine using coolant but no evident leak. After a week of adding a little coolant to reservoir engine ran hot and hydro-locked due to cylinders flooded with coolant. Discovered plastic intake manifold had hole in it where the egr tube entered plastic manifold allowing coolant to flood intake. This engine had 84k miles. Also discovered intake gaskets were replaced at 45k miles by dealer. Definitely an engineering defect.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile 88. The contact stated that when turning on the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact proceeded to check the coolant in the vehicle finding that there was no coolant in the reservoir. When attempting to turn on the vehicle, the exhaust pipe in the rear of the vehicle released large amounts of white smoke. The contact stated that the when having the vehicle diagnosed by the dealer, the vehicle stalled. The dealer diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine compartment fire shortly after shutdown. Incident 2015-00005013
Brakes failed upon exiting on ramp from rte. 95..depressed brake pedal, but went right down to the floor board..no brakes...downshift/ parking brake into the breakdown lane..just lucky no car collision occurred ...was frightening !...I think gm vehicles should not be so badly faulty..I'm just lucky I wasn't hurt or killed in an accident !
Traveling south on hwy 67 in mississippi. Cruise control set at 65. Vehicle speed suddenly started to increase. Applied brakes lightly to turn off cruise control. No effect. Turned off cruise control on steering column. No effect. Repeatedly tried brakes and off switch to no avail. Finally turned off ignition and coasted for about 15 seconds. Restarted engine and could resume speed normally with accelerator. Did not use cruise control until headed back north on 67 later in the day. Set cruise control to 65 again and after a few minutes vehicle speed began to increase. I tried brakes and off switch again to no avail. Turned vehicle ignition off and restarted engine. Did not use cruise control again. After arriving home disconnect battery overnight. Apparently corrected whatever "glitch" had occurred since I have used cruise control since with no problems.
Was driving down a toll road, dear jumped in front of car hit the driver side front, car hit median, flipped, and rolled 3 times. Car is totaled. Air bags never deployed.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile 88. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while driving 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection. The failure was located at the engine plemun, which was fractured and caused fluid to penetrate the engine. The engine was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,191 and the current mileage was 48,000. ..updated 10/30/13 *bf updated 10/31/2013
I just bought this used car on jan 1, 2013. I noticed a smell from the car but wasn't sure what is was and bought the car anyways. Well a couple weeks later my boyfriend was checking my fluids on the car and noticed a fuel leak under the hood, so we went to auto zone and bought a fuel line that cost around $30, he put it on, still leaking, well we figured since the fuel line that we bought wasn't precrimped it wasn't going to work, so we went to the junk yard and got the exact same part off another 1998 oldsmobile 88, figured since it was precrimped it would work, not the case, fuel still leaking under the hood, so we went to the chevy dealership in nashville and bought the very last fuel line in the state around $120, which the difference between this one and the other two is that it is 6 ft. Long, so we put the new 6ft fuel line on, well it stopped leaking under the hood, and discovered 1 week later that my vehicle was leaking fuel under the car by the back passenger wheel, so we put a fuel pressure sensor on the vehicle figuring that would control the fuel, because we heard that if that goes out it will cause fuel to leak from weak spots, well almost 4 mo. Later my vehicle is still leaking gas from under the car by the passenger back wheel.this is my daily driver back and forth to work. I found a recall on this and would like my issue to be addressed.
Compare the 1998 Oldsmobile 88
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Questions about the 1998 Oldsmobile 88
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile 88 reliable?
Owners have filed 164 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile 88, 2.1 times a typical 88 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Oldsmobile 88?
Engine and cooling, with 82 complaints, typically around 73,200 miles. Next is brakes (20).
How many recalls does the 1998 Oldsmobile 88 have?
1 recall, covering fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the Oldsmobile 88 have bad engine?
The Oldsmobile 88 model years with the most engine complaints are 1998 (82 complaints), 1999 (33 complaints) and 1997 (27 complaints).
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