1989 Oldsmobile 98 Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 117,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1989 Oldsmobile 98. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (45% of the total), followed by engine cooling (1) and fuel system (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 117,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system5 45%
- Engine cooling1 9.1%
- Fuel system1 9.1%
- Other or unknown1 9.1%
- Seat belts1 9.1%
- Seats1 9.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 9.1%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “Dt: consumer purchased a. Heater switch. Consumer installed the switch himself. There were no instructions/warning or cautions on the box. There were specs on the box on how many inches to keep it away from anything flammable. Consumer was driving the car with the installed switch and the car caught on fire 5 minutes later.”
NHTSA complaint #10124482, filed 2005-06, 117,000 milesOther or unknown: “The october '99 issue of consumer's report states that bulletin 331708 covers a hidden warranty on 1988-1992 oldsmobiles if the base coat clear coat chalks, degrades, or whites. Our car has been this way for many year and we were unaware of the hidden warranty. When I called the service manager today, he stated that this bulletin expired seven (7) years after the car was built (1996). We were not notified of this coverage or we would have taken action earlier.”
NHTSA complaint #711817, filed 1999-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 117,000 and 117,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Oldsmobile 98.
Other model years of the Oldsmobile 98
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 27 | 81,500 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 30 | 51,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 10 | 230,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 30 | 113,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 16 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 13 | 124,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 38 | 127,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 47 | 145,985 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 17 | 160,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 11 | 117,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 10 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 15 | — | 3 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 13 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 9 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Oldsmobile 98 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (45% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 1.
Has the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Oldsmobile 98 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 117,000 miles and the middle half falls between 117,000 and 117,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.