1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Dec 5, 2017 · 256 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Intrigue years
Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 256 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue. That ranks 2nd out of 7 Intrigue model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (61 complaints, 24%), typically at around 79,150 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 14 fires, 15 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Oldsmobile Intrigue
Oldsmobile Intrigue photographed in College Park, Maryland , USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System61 · ~79,150 mi
Steering58 · ~81,750 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling51 · ~92,000 mi
Exterior Lighting29 · ~50,000 mi
Visibility22 · ~48,000 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic21 · ~54,500 mi
Engine16 · ~100,000 mi
Power Train16 · ~71,400 mi
Suspension15 · ~35,000 mi
Seat Belts10 · ~60,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System problems6124%79,150“ignition switch” (13%)—
Steering problems5823%81,750“rack pinion” (26%)—
Engine and Engine Cooling problems5120%92,000“please provide” (10%)—
Exterior Lighting2911%50,000——
Visibility229%48,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic218%54,500——
Engine166%100,000——
Power Train166%71,400——
Suspension156%35,000——
Seat Belts104%60,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline94%105,000——
Unknown or Other83%65,606——
Equipment73%51,850——
Structure73%65,606——
Tires62%3,589——
Vehicle Speed Control62%52,500——
Interior Lighting52%52,500——
Air Bags31%170,000——
Seats21%———
Electronic Stability Control (esc)10%247,967——
Fuel System, Other10%50,000——
Wheels10%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2000, with 42 complaints
1999: 111999112000: 42422001: 292001292002: 30302003: 272003272004: 37372005: 132005132006: 992007: 6200762008: 442009: 8200982010: 662011: 3201132012: 222013: 3201332014: 12122015: 5201552016: 882017: 120171

n = 256 complaints · Source: NHTSA

1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue recalls (6)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; engine and engine cooling:engineOct 26, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Electrical system:ignitionJul 3, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V400000 · 5,877,718 vehicles

Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Engine and engine coolingApr 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V116000 · 1,497,516 vehicles

Problem: General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.

Risk: If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.

Seat beltsFeb 16, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V044000 · 135,475 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles were built with rear seat shoulder belts that could twist, allowing the webbing to be jammed in the retractor. When the shoulder belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt becomes unusable.

Risk: This could prevent a person from using the seat belt system, and a risk of injury to an unbelted person in a crash would be increased.

Fix: Dealers will remove any twists from the rear shoulder belt(s) and install clips to the belt web guide to prevent twisting.

Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittingsOct 5, 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V241000 · 2,732 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 engine. Some of these vehicles were built without a heater hose clip which could allow the hose to sag and contact the oxygen sensor resulting in a coolant leak.

Risk: If a coolant leak were to occur, and leaking coolant contacted the hot exhaust manifold, an engine compartment fire could result.

Fix: Dealers will install a heater hose clip.

Exterior lighting:headlightsMay 15, 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V102000 · 149,342 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The owner manuals do not contain the requirement information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. This does not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Risk: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may not be able to properly aim the headlights.

Fix: Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.

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

  • Engine compartment fires (EA02030) — opened Oct 22, 2002, closed Mar 9, 2004, led to recall 04V090000.
  • Headlamps dim/flicker (PE02005) — opened Jan 18, 2002, closed Apr 15, 2002.
  • Rear shoulder belt malfunction (EA99019) — opened Jul 7, 1999, closed Feb 22, 2000, led to recall 00V044000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

We taken to have the car fixed the engine light want stay out it keep coming back on what is wrong with my car.when running and when idling for e check.it want pass inspection

Engine · received Dec 5, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11052452

Car will not start, not turn over or anything. Security light will come on while driving. Never know when the car will start. Have been towed to mechanic 3 times in 72 hrs. He has checked all connections and all are good. He can find nothing wrong. Will start a few times then nothing. Mechanic has…

Electrical System · received Oct 27, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10919700

MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE IS SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PRE-EXISTING ISSUES AS OTHER OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE'S. SUCH AS THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE LOOKED ON WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV AND CALLED 18004249393 AND MY OLDSMOBILE CONSULTANT [redacted]. AS THE…

Engine · received Sep 26, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10909708

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 oldsmobile intrigue. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise that progressed, which sounded like a knocking associated with the engine assembly rods. While driving an unknown rate of speed, the vehicle failed to move. A local mechanic diagnosed that a rod…

Engine · received Sep 6, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10903786

Speedometer, tempature gage on the opposite side. Car still over heats after extensive repairs. Cooling fans stays on while off. Potential fire because of oil compartment fire. Visible leak.

Electronic Stability Control (esc) · received Aug 21, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10897405

Other Oldsmobile Intrigue years

← 1998 Intrigue · 2000 Intrigue →

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue?

Owners most often report electrical system, steering, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 61 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Intrigue model years, the 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.