Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue problems
Owners filed 518 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue with NHTSA between Jul 1997 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is steering (158).
Complaints
518
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
39
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering158
- Service brakes, hydraulic72
- Engine and engine cooling68
- Seat belts52
- Electrical system48
- Visibility34
- Suspension32
- Engine29
- Power train18
- Tires13
- Exterior lighting11
- Structure11
- Air bags10
- Fuel system, gasoline10
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 Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
44
75
72
50
23
48
55
25
8
11
6
20
8
11
5
0
17
7
26
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 44 |
| 1999 | 75 |
| 2000 | 72 |
| 2001 | 50 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 55 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 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
Steering
158 reports6 crashes3 related recalls
“VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I DON'T THINK RECALL 03052 WAS EVER DONE ON IT. CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE FOR ME AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
72 reports4 crashes
“I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. WHEN I START MY CAR THE ABS GOES TO SET ITSELF AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT. AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS ON THE CAR, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT HIS PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY COSTLY FIX DEALING WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SENSORS. MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE IS A VERY SOLID CAR, BUT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM ON THEM DUE TO THE HUB ASSEMBLIES. THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR SUCH A REPAIR THAT I HAVE SEEN IS $500- $1100. MANY DRIVERS OF THESE CARS ARE NOT GETTING THEM FIXED AS IT IS COSTLY. THUS THIS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF INTRIGUES AROUND WITH THE ABS TURNED OF INCREASING THE CHANCES OF BRAKE FAILURE. *JB”
Engine and engine cooling
68 reports25 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/08/16*LJ”
Seat belts
52 reports1 related recall
“I HAVE CALLED MULTIPLE GM DEALERSHIPS IN ORDER TO GET MY IGNITION RECALL, OIL LEAK FROM VALVE COVER RECALL, AND REAR SEATBELT RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF AND SO FAR NONE HAVE RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS REGARDING THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE APPOINTMENTS SET FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK ON ANY PARTS ARRIVING. THEY TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE AT BOTH DEALERS THAT IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK AND A HALF FOR PARTS TO ARRIVE AND THAT THEY WOULD RETURN MY CALL WHEN PARTS DID ARRIVE, BUT I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING.”
Electrical system
48 reports1 crash5 fires1 related recall
“The engine had a fire and the ignition switch is very hard Do turn, it would be available for inspection. The fire happen while driving down the highway. I have an appointment set with dealership. No prior inspections have been made and no indications of anything.”
Visibility
34 reports
“RECALL ID 75918- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING GMC OWNER CENTER, I OWN A 1998 OLDSMOBILE AND HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILING, SIGNAL LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL, COOLING SYSTEM AND COOLANT WARNING LIGHT SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE IN 2000. ENGINE AND GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, WATER TEMP HAS BLOWN AND AFTER COSTLY REPAIRS, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT STILL GOES OFF AND ON. DEALERSHIP ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE LIGHT ON TO DETECT ISSUES AND STILL NEVER DETECT ANYTHING. MY COOLANT AND LEVELS ARE ALWAYS CHECKED AND FILLED AND THE LIGHT STILL TRIGGERS ON AND OFF FOR AWHILE THEN RETURN ON AGAIN THROUGHOUT CAR HISTORY. IN 2008 MY COOLANT LIGHT WAS ACTING UP AND I HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND FLUIDS AT APPROPRIATE LEVEL. VEHICLE ENDED UP OVERHEATING ON INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP AND SOMETHING ELSE. LIGHT WENT OUT FOR AWHILE AND VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. IN 2009 LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE CHECKED AND ALL FLUID LEVELS CORRECT. LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND BLINKS AND GOES OFF FOR AWHILE. SMELLS LIKE OIL OR SOMETHING BURNING IN CAR. I WAS ON CONSUMER RECALL SITE AND SAW THIS ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING RECALL FROM 2009 REGARDING THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETENTION. I DON'T RECALL…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.