1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 Complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

ENGINE SPUTTERED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC. FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAUSE WAS COOLANT LEAKAGE THROUGH CRACK IN PLENUM WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $700. THIS IS VERY LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON YOUR SITE: ODI ID'S - 553119, 883623, 886028, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS THAT WERE UNEXPLAINED. I ONLY SEARCHED FOR OLDS 88, BUT THE SAME ENGINE IS USED IN PONTIACS, AND OTHER GM MAKES. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN LISTED BY THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ASSOC. OF ARIZONA REPAIR SHOPS - SEE THEIR WEBSITE AND AN ARTICLE UNDER THE TITLE "COOLANT LEAKAGE" WHICH EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM VERY CLEARLY. THE PLENUM IS PLASTIC, AND IS SIMPLY SUBJECTED TO MORE ENGINE HEAT THAN IT CAN SAFELY HANDLE OVER TIME, CAUSING THE CRACKS TO DEVELOP OVER TIME, HENCE THE CONTINUAL AND GRADUAL LOSS OF COOLANT UNTIL IT FINALLY GIVES WAY RESULTING IN TOO MUCH COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE TO ALLOW FOR COMBUSTION. AS STATED EARLIER, THIS ENGINE SHUTDOWN COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THEN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE INSURED THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#38-J636-778)

THE ISURED'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#24-5198-115)

CAR SOLD WITH 100,000 MILE COOLANT-- PART BACKORDERED-- CAN'T GET DUE TO SHORT SUPPLY. REQUESTED THAT DEALER CONTACT OLDS ZONE MANAGER FOR WARRANTY / COST OF FAILURE SUPPORT. NO RESPONSE AS OF THIS DATE.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 24-5198-115. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED VALVES IN THE EXHAUST, HOWEVER PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK *SLC

HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF, THEREFORE FOG DROPLETS ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE HIGHER POSITON ABOVE THE ROAD AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD

ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLLUMINATES WHILE TRAVELING. DEALER HAS REPLACED HUB ON EACH WHEEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK