1998 Oldsmobile 88 Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · data through 07/14/2026

22Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints

13.4%Of all 164 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE22 · 13.4%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE15 · 9.1%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE15 · 9.1%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM14 · 8.5%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING14 · 8.5%

Share of the 164 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Oldsmobile 88 overview page.

What owners report

“IN FEBRUARY I WENT TO START MY ENGINE IN THE MORNING AND IT BLEW UP. I TURNED THE KEY, NO ENGINE TURNOVER BUT SMOKE COMING…”NHTSA complaint 10025571 — filed 07/07/2003

“ENGINE AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED ON APRIL 3RD 2002. VEHICLE TAKES 3-4 TRIES BEFORE STARTING. ALL COMMUNICATION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AFTER IT STARTED…”NHTSA complaint 8014172 — filed 07/17/2002

“CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED DEALER.”NHTSA complaint 8010728 — filed 05/30/2002

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Oldsmobile 88 have engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline problems?

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline is the most-reported problem area on the 1998 Oldsmobile 88: 22 of 164 complaints on file (13.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1998 Oldsmobile 88 have in total?

164 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.