Model year record

1987 OLDSMOBILE 98

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 25 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V080000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Component
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
35,057
Reported to NHTSA
1988-05-16
Owners notified
1988-05-20

Defect description

EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.

Safety risk

THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V135000

Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers

Component
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
479,715
Reported to NHTSA
1987-09-01
Owners notified
1987-09-16

Defect description

AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Safety risk

THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V093000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
6,004
Reported to NHTSA
1987-06-23
Owners notified
1987-07-10

Defect description

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.

Safety risk

LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE RED BRAKEWARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. IF THIS WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, ALOSS OF REAR BRAKES AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULDRESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. AN INOPERATIVE ABS ELECTRICAL RELAY COULD CAUSELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION, BUT NORMAL POWER ASSISTED BRAKING WOULD BE RETAINED.THE AMBER ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON.

Manufacturer remedy

THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACED.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip3
Electrical system: ignition2
Power train: automatic transmission2
Electrical system: horn1
Engine and engine cooling1
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1
Equipment1
Exterior lighting1
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Service brakes, hydraulic1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly1
Suspension1
Vehicle speed control1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1

The 1986 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 1988 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.