The 1995 Oldsmobile 98 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,484 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULES WHICH CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT LEAKAGE DUE TO DAMAGED SURFACE MOUNTING CAPACITORS. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND PARKING LAMPS.
Consequence
SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS CAN CAUSE REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE HEAD LAMPS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, OR THEY MAY TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR.
A SPRING IN THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE HEAD PARK LAMP SWITCH CAN FAIL PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION.
Consequence
THE HEAD LAMPS WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT HEAD/PARK LAMP SWITCH BUILD DATE CODES AND REPLACE SWITCHES WITH SUSPECT DATE CODES.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
5
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes2injuries
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
4
PARKING BRAKE
3
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
Total complaints71
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 oldsmobile 98. While driving 65 mph, sparks appeared in the engine compartment and the engine shut off. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The contact pulled off the road and the engine compartment burst into flames. The fire was extinguished by the…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 oldsmobile 98 royal. While driving 45 mph, the driver side air bag suddenly deployed without warning. The contact had to hold the air bag down and pull over to the side of the road to prevent a crash. The contact suffered soreness in his neck and ribs. He also has an…”
“Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle's front driver side airbag deployed on 06/20/06 while the ignition was on but in park. The front passenger side airbag also deployed while driving 60 mph on 06/21/06. The was no impact to the vehicle during both incidents. The airbag light was not…”
“Airbags deployed without reason under normal driving conditions causing windshield to break and due to cost to repair dash and airbags caused car to be a total loss. *ak”
“Returned fuel line for the 3.8l engine was leaking fuel onto the engine. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer that the fuel line is on back order for 2-3 months. *ak”
“When driving and when attempting to make a left hand turn vehicle was very hard to steer to left. Consumer has taken vehicle to the dealer, who determined that rack and pinion steering needed replacing. *ak consumer also states front struts were failing and was replaced.*jb”
“When driving and when attempting to make a left hand turn vehicle was very hard to steer to left. Consumer has taken vehicle to the dealer, who determined that rack and pinion steering needed replacing. *ak consumer also states front struts were failing and was replaced.*jb”
“The driver's air bag is much bigger than the steering wheel, during an accident it violently deployed and blew the consumers hand off the wheel with such force that it broke her wrist (right) and resulted in 3rd degree burns to the left arm, the passenger side air bag did not deploy towards the…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 Oldsmobile 98 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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