1996 Oldsmobile 98 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 98 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 4th of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Oldsmobile 98. That ranks 4th out of 6 98 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (3 complaints, 30%), typically at around 230,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 10owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Oldsmobile 98 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 | 30% | 230,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 30% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Oldsmobile 98 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module
Problem: These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp may not work. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection" and fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." in addition, other chime reminder functions, interior lighting controls, and power door locking features are also affected.
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance; the driver may not be aware that the key was left in the ignition or that the safety belt was not buckled.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (RQ03001) — opened Jan 2, 2003, closed Sep 15, 2003.
- Engine compartment fires (EA02030) — opened Oct 22, 2002, closed Mar 9, 2004, led to recall 04V090000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1996 Oldsmobile 98. The contact stated while driving at 10-15 MPH, the driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was drivable; however, the contact's boyfriend pushed the vehicle…
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft controller as noted on other models is defective in this model but is not listed with gm for this vin. Their is no security warning chime when "key in the ignition" in the off position and door open. However, the seatbelt warning chime does work. *tr
Inappropriate airbag deployment. Auto moving at 5 to 10 miles per hour, no collision with anything and the airbags deployed. Upper body injuries, went to hospital. Auto totaled by insurance company. *tr
Upon starting the vehicle it iwas missing like a spark plug if iwas not firing. There was a recall on that very issue. However, consumer contacted gmc, and was told that was not included in the recall. *ak
Seat belts are too short for proper use.
Other Oldsmobile 98 years
See all Oldsmobile 98 problems by year, every Oldsmobile model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Oldsmobile models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Oldsmobile 98?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, seat belts problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Oldsmobile 98?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Oldsmobile 98 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 98 model years, the 1996 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.