The 1987 Oldsmobile 98 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 520,776 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence
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.
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC87V0930001987-06-236,004 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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. …
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.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1
EQUIPMENT
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
1
Total complaints25
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
“Nar 03-25-2003. *mr. Several parts on the vehicle failed such as 2 egr valves, idle passage switch, power antenna, transmission gasket, cv boot, automatic air condition control unit, radio speakers, cruise control, random stalling, cracked radiator, water pump, the right rear brake spring, wheel…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationC89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA87022 Opened 1987-08-27 · closed 1991-11-27
STALLING
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO…
InvestigationEA88010 Opened 1987-11-30 · closed 1989-10-31
THROTTLE CONTROL
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:UNDER PE87-041, GM PROVIDED THECOMPLAINT, ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND FATALITY DATA TABULATED ABOVE.ANALYSIS:DURING GM'S COMPILATION AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION REQUIREDTO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA'S REQUEST UNDER THE PE, INDICATIONS WERE GIVEN THATTHE NUMBERS OF CONSUMER AND OTHER…
InvestigationEA88031 Opened 1988-04-22 · closed 1989-10-23
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR…
InvestigationEA89028 Opened 1989-07-28 · closed 1990-07-27
REAR BRAKE PIN
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS…
InvestigationPE89098 Opened 1989-03-10 · closed 1989-05-17
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Oldsmobile 98 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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