1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe hard or lost power steering in left turns, electrical gremlins that leave the car unable to start, and engine cooling problems such as coolant leaks and overheating. Complaints come in across a wide mileage range, with many between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles and some reports of engine-compartment fires tied to oil on hot exhaust parts.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Car will not start, security light on

   • 58 complaints (23%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2016

   Owners describe intermittent no-starts where the engine cranks or does nothing for several minutes and then starts normally, sometimes with the security indicator lit. Complaints commonly point to the ignition switch or the anti-theft (Passlock) system, and several say the dealer replaced parts but the problem returned. A few mention the key being removable in any position or the engine continuing to run after the key is removed. Reported from very low mileage up to about 160,000 miles, with many cases in the 60,000-100,000 mile range.

   Recall 14V4000003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch has been replaced and whether any ignition-related recall work was completed; check that the key only comes out in the off position and note any security light on the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The ignition switch -- which was replaced in 2012 with a new GM dealer part -- turns by itself to the acc setting while driving (engine cuts out and power steering loses power). I suspect that this is related to the GM ignition switch recall problem, but since this model is not on the recall list, I am encountering a challenge to get it repaired. Please phone only -- not an e-mail user.”

   NHTSA complaint #10604263, filed 2014-06, 85,000 miles

   “Oldsmobile Intrigue 1999 randomly the security light will come on and sometimes the car will not start for exactly 10 minutes. It has become very annoying because it has caused me to be late for several engagements. I have taken the car to the local GM dealer multiple times while under warranty and each time they claim they replaced the broken part , but still after a couple of months it comes back and once again it won't start.”

   NHTSA complaint #10188188, filed 2007-04, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering cuts out or locks in turns

   • 52 complaints (20%)
   • median 81,750 mi at 5.4 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn, most often during a left turn, sometimes with the wheel feeling locked. Several owners say a shop diagnosed the rack and pinion as the cause and quoted a costly replacement; in other cases the power steering pump, lower steering shaft or tie rods were replaced without fully correcting the problem. Some reports ask why their car was not covered by a steering recall. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 95,000 miles, often on cars used for highway driving.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the steering through full left and right turns at low speed and listen for clunks or whining; ask for service records showing whether the rack, pump or steering shaft has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1999 olds Intrigue and that has had steering shaft problems. Almost every 25k miles I have had to replace the lower steering shaft at a cost of over $400. The first two incidents were covered by warranty but the last one I had to pay for. Additionally it appears that I am going to have to have the shaft replaced again, which would be the 4th shaft in 120k miles. Oldsmobile has refused to assist. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10064577, filed 2004-04, 119,000 miles

   “1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue - this car has been nothing but trouble since the first day I purchased it. The rack and pinion steering had to be replaced, this did not correct the problem with loose steering, along the car losing power steering and stalling. I have been driving on the interstate at 50-60 miles an hour, the car will cut off on you. I make a habit to drive in the right lane, so that I can pull over and stall out on the side of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10052903, filed 2004-01, 74,460 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine fires near exhaust manifold

   • 20 complaints (8%)
   • median 107,500 mi at 10.6 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2016

   Complaints describe smoke and fire in the engine compartment, in several cases after the car was parked, with owners reporting a strong oil smell and flames around the manifold and spark plug wires. Some owners connect the fires to oil dripping onto hot exhaust parts, and several reference recall notices they received or a VIN that was not included. Reported from roughly 53,000 to 160,000 miles, sometimes shortly after starting or shutting off the engine.

   Recall 15V701000Recall 09V116000

   What to check: Ask whether the exhaust manifold oil-leak recall work was completed and check for oil seepage or burning smells around the manifold and valve covers.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue would not start. I put the hood up and told my girlfriend to start the car. When she did it backfired into the intake and blew up in my face. I lost hearing in my left ear for about 4 days. Car got towed to chance's automotive in easton, maryland. Since I have full coverage on the car I got a rental vehicle through the insurance company. Weeks later the insurance company says that there is a recall on my car. However I was never notified by any manufacturer saying so. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10150157, filed 2006-02, 110,000 miles

   “On sat, may 9, I drove my vehicle to work and parked in the business parking lot, turned off the ignition, left the vehicle to go inside and check on my employees.. Approximately 10 minutes later a co-worker notified me that smoke was coming from my vehicle. Upon opening the hood I noticed a fire burning from the manifold into the engine cover and spark plug wires. Several attempts were made to extinguish the fire and get my dog out of the vehicle. The fire was eventually extinguished with a fire extinguisher. There was a strong oil smell. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10273454, filed 2009-06, 160,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks and overheating

   • 20 complaints (8%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2016

   Complaints describe coolant loss with the low-coolant light on, overheating, and in some cases failed head or intake manifold gaskets with warped pistons. Owners report thermostat and housing replacements, and several mention a heater hose recall that their car was not covered by because of the VIN. Some link the loss of coolant to later engine damage. Typically reported from about 65,000 miles upward, with several cases past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 98V2410003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue or staining around hoses, the water pump and the intake area; ask whether the heater hose recall was performed and whether the intake gaskets have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine lights coming on consistently. There has always been trouble with this since I bought the car. Dealer would say it was never the same code. After the second year of this, I purchased a good electronic diagnostic code reader and the service manual for the car. (the same 3 books that the dealer uses). Most codes were the same and almost always there were multiple codes at one time. In 2004 the car was in the dealer 17 times for the check engine light. Most of the time it had multiple codes, with the same numbers coming up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10214749, filed 2008-01, 50 miles

   “Was driving down interstate 55 at 55 m.p.h. On aug. 12 and the engine begin smoking and making loud metallic noises. Luckily was at off-ramp for rest area and managed to get out of traffic and off the road. Complete engine failure was the diagnosis at bloomington, il., chevrolet dealer, new engine was required.”

   NHTSA complaint #10321416, filed 2010-03, 92,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulators fail

   • 12 complaints (5%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2006

   Owners report windows that stop moving or move very slowly, often after a plastic clip in the regulator breaks and the cable winds into the motor. Complaints frequently describe several windows failing within a short period, with regulators and motors replaced at the owner's expense once warranty coverage ended. Mostly reported between about 23,000 and 70,000 miles, sometimes with multiple windows failing within weeks of each other.

   What to check: Operate every window from both the master switch and its own switch and listen for grinding or slow travel; ask which regulators or motors have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have had six windows fail on our 1999 olds Intrigue. Gm replaced three under warranty, but refuses to repair or pay for repairs to the windows that have failed since the car accumulated over the 36,000 mile warranty. We paid for one repair ourselves but refuse to pay for the two remaining non-functioning windows. We purchased the car new in dec of 1999. The only response that we've gotten from GM is that we should take it to a GM dealership and have it diagnosed at our expense. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10014292, filed 2003-04, 24,254 miles

   “Within 30 days, three of the four power windows have failed. Estimates on each window is between $370.00 and $400.00 dollars. I can see one window failing, but three within 30 days is a statistical impossibility. Am awaiting word from GM, Oldsmobile and the district service manager to see what, if anything, they are going to do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10069121, filed 2004-01, 92,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, check the steering feel through turns, confirm coolant and oil levels and any outstanding recall work, and test every power window and the starting sequence several times. Records showing ignition switch, cooling system and window regulator repairs are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.