Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Oldsmobile Aurora problems
Owners filed 57 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora with NHTSA between Mar 1998 and Jul 2014. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (10).
Complaints
57
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Electrical system8
- Steering6
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Power train4
- Suspension3
- Equipment3
- Fuel system, other2
- Seat belts2
- Exterior lighting2
- Wheels2
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Visibility1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
11
7
4
5
5
5
8
3
0
2
0
2
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME IN OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWENTY TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
10 reports
“BRAKES CONTINUE TO VIBRATE AND ROTORS WEAR PREMATURELY. REPLACED PADS, TURNED ROTOR THREE TIMES IN 75000 MILES, PROBLEM OF VIBRATION AND SHAKING REAPPEARED AFTER 15000 MILES EACH TIME BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *NM”
Electrical system
8 reports
“VEHICLE RUNNING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET, KEY SWITCH JUST SUDDENLY TURNED BACK AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. NO BRAKING, AND NO STEERING. HAD TO TRY AND STEER OFF TO A SAFE PLACE. ONGOING ISSUE AS THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STILL IN THIS CONDITION ENDANGERING MY LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIFE, AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS. *JS”
Steering
6 reports
“CONSUMER STATED: THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP WHILE THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT BUT NOT LEFT. *JB CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION, NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ON BUMPY ROADS, BOTTOM OF STEERING SHAFT LOOSE, VIBRATION COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED, TRANSACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT ABOUT 5MPH, CAR NOT KEEPING STRAIGHT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE INFORMATION BEFORE THIS CAME OFF THE INVOICES FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER. NHTSA HAD A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2003 ON THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. *SB”
Fuel system, gasoline
4 reports2 fires
“I WAS MOVING THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD,AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WE GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT IT OUT,I CHECK ONLINE FOR RECALL AND FOUND OUT THIS CAR HAD A RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS A RUPTURE IN THE FUEL INJECTION NYLON LINE THE YEAR PRIOR AFTER NOTIFYING GM OH THE PROBLEM I WAS MOVED FROM PERSON TOO PERSON FOR 4 WEEKS ONLY BE TOLD THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TOO TAKE CAR TOO A DEALER BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD IT,THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE AND NEED BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY THANK YOU. *TR”
Power train
4 reports
“TORQUE CONVERTER SWITCH INTERMIT MALFUNCTION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CANNOT GET EMISSION INSPECTION. DEALER WISHES TO REMOVE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, $1000, TO REPLACE $50.00 SENSOR. *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.