1998 Oldsmobile 88 engine problems

Filed Oct 13, 2016 · Engine · 120,000 miles · KY

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.

Filed Oct 2, 2016 · Engine · 84,000 miles · NC

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.

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Engine · 36,000 miles · TX · fire

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.

Filed Sep 17, 2015 · Engine · ND · fire

Engine compartment fire shortly after shutdown. Incident 2015-00005013

Filed Sep 3, 2013 · Engine · 45,191 miles · TX

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

Filed Jun 6, 2012 · Engine · 93,000 miles · PA

Yesterday our car began overheating. We added a bottle of coolant yesterday and another two gallons today along with a bottle of stop leak and had it towed to our mechanic. Our mechanic told us it seems like the engine has seized completely and he is not equipped to fix it.

Filed Apr 20, 2012 · Engine · 44,000 miles · TX

Engine hydro locked when a crack in the plastic intake manifold allowed coolant to be sucked into the engine cylinders, causing the engine to lock up while my wife was driving it. Fortunately, no accident occurred, but this seems to be a very common problem due to what seems to be a design flaw by gm. We had to have the engine replaced, and the intake manifold, at a cost of $5,400.00. We heard that there was a class action lawsuit because of this problem, but people were just afforded a short time to act on it, and we were not even notified. Is there another suit that we can be a part of? We should not have had to replace an engine with just 44,000 miles on it.

Filed Apr 17, 2009 · Engine · UT

My car has the same problems described in the latest gm recall in cars with the 3.8 l motor in which oil leaks out onto the exhaust manifold and could cause a fire. I have contacted the number given but it showed my 1998 olds 88 is not covered even though it has the same motor and problem in the recall.

Filed Oct 28, 2007 · Engine · 114,284 miles · TN

Gradually you will see a depletion of the anti-freeze from the holding reservoir. This is could be a sign that the intake manifold is beginning to leak anti-freeze (just a little) into the engine. Sooner or later when the erosion is large enough then a plume of white smoke will come out of the exhaust and you have no choice but to pull over and call the tow truck. I have replaced the engine intake manifold twice on my 1998 olds 88 due to degrading of the interior wall where the anti-freeze flows back into the engine. Both times the total cost of the repair (including plugs, wires, new manifold, labor) was around $1,200. On the last manifold gm had established adding a piece of metal where the anti-freeze was eroding the "space age plastic" intake manifold. Based on this, gm knows this is an engineering problem, but they will not take ownership of it and or pay for it.

Filed May 1, 2007 · Engine · NV · 2 injuries

On numerous occasions while driving I'll hit brakes check engine light comes on brakes grind loudly and engine stalls. Also the engine will stall at any cruising speed over 40 MPH. Causing full power loss including brakes my daughter and I have received injuries from this in the past. Need help asap