Check a VIN

Oldsmobile 88 fuel leak problems

11 of the 800 owner complaints about the Oldsmobile 88 describe fuel leak, most of them for the 1998 model year.

owner complaints
11
worst model year
1998
typical mileage
28,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 1999
    1
  • 1998
    4
  • 1997
    1
  • 1996
    2
  • 1993
    1
  • 1990
    2

What owners say

Filed Oct 10, 2017 · Fuel system · 189,000 miles · KY · fire

Fuel pressure regulator leaked fuel causing fire,when it started up,I was parked in a parking lot that had a fire extinguisher

Filed Apr 15, 2017 · Fuel system · 60,000 miles · OH

I contacted gm bc the technical service bulletin for the fuel pressure regulator says the fuel rail also needs replaced if it is a delphi fuel rail. The regulator on this car has been changed but still has the same delphi fuel rail. The car currently has a gas leak. When I search the VIN it doesn't show any recalls currently but based on the tsb. The rail should've been replaced with a bosch. I am a service tech at a private shop. If I weren't a tech I wouldn't have known the rail wasn't replaced and I may not have noticed the leak until I burnt to death in a firey crash. Gm has no answer except to take it to a dealership where they want to charge me a ridiculous diagnostics fee which I refuse to pay, especially for a recall repair that wasn't done properly the first time.

Filed Mar 27, 2013 · Fuel system · 190 miles · TN

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.

Filed Mar 4, 2004 · Fuel system · 21,100 miles · PA

My 1998 olds 88 backfired upon starting and blew up the plastic intake manifold. The force of the explosion destroyed the engine cover and the fuel rail. The engine is the 3800 v6. The vehicle has 21,000 miles but was older than 3yrs, thus it was out of warranty. Because gm would not offer any financial assistance for the repair, I had it repaired myself. The explosion was caused by a leaking fuel pressure regulator that vented back the intake manifold thru a vacuum line. This situation looks to be exactly like a recall on very similar buick cars. It was the federal safety agency recall # 03v473000 on nov 12th 2003. I believe the recall should be extended to cover vehicles like mine.

Filed May 18, 2003 · Fuel system · 28,000 miles · OH

The plastic fuel line split and leaked fuel into the engine compartment of my mother's 1998 oldsmobile 88. Had she not smelled the fuel and parked the car, I'm sure there would have been a fire.

Filed Feb 20, 2002 · Brakes, Engine · IN

Consumer stated the fuel sending unit was leaking fuel, vehicle was taken to auto tech where they verified the problem (pinpoint holes in sending unit), and repaired it, upon inspection consumer was made aware of the front brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced the engine was leaking oil, the power steering pump and pressure line was leaking and the transmission pan had a minor leak.*ak

Filed Jul 10, 2001 · Fuel system · PA

Fuel pump modular was rusted and leaking fuel; dealer was notified.*ak

Filed Mar 29, 2000 · Engine, Fuel system · MN

The vehicle stalls while driving due to leaking fuel pressure reglulator valve failure. Yh

Filed Oct 14, 1999 · Engine · FL · fire

While driving 65 MPH vehicle all of a sudden came to a stop. Owner did notice smoke coming from the vehicle. Fire department stated that the engine manifold leaked fuel onto the enigne, which started a fire. Fire was put out by the fire department. Vehicle has been totalled. *ak referenced in ea02-030

Filed Aug 26, 1998 · Fuel system · AZ · fire

Due to a fuel leak in the fuel injection system the vehicle caught on fire when starting the vehicle.

Related recalls

Fuel system, gasoline: deliveryReported February 24, 2004 · 910,873 vehicles affected
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

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection systemReported July 1, 1996 · 275,811 vehicles affected
What is wrong
A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Risk
This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.

Recall number 96V116000 · Recall details

Questions about the Oldsmobile 88 fuel leak

Which Oldsmobile 88 years have fuel leak problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1998 (4 complaints), 1990 (2 complaints) and 1996 (2 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Oldsmobile 88?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history