Your vehicle report
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 510
- Received Jul 1997 to Feb 2024
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Seat belt fails to latch or retract40 complaints · 7.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Vehicle catches fire from wiring35 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning32 complaints · 6.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #15V701000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
- Recall #14V400000This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 19 crashes, 39 fires, 12 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 42 |
| 1999 | 73 |
| 2000 | 71 |
| 2001 | 50 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 47 |
| 2004 | 55 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 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 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 510 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 40 | 7.8% | – | NHTSA recall #00V044000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 35 | 6.9% | – | NHTSA recall #15V701000 |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 32 | 6.3% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 26 | 5.1% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 24 | 4.7% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 21 | 4.1% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 19 | 3.7% | – | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 17 | 3.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 16 | 3.1% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 13 | 2.5% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 11 | 2.2% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 11 | 2.2% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 9 | 1.8% | – | NHTSA recall #14V400000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 1.2% | – | |
| Turn signals work intermittently or fail | 6 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #15V701000October 26, 20151,003,556 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine; engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy
The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
NHTSA recall #14V400000July 3, 20145,877,718 vehicles affected
electrical system: ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
NHTSA recall #09V116000April 8, 20091,497,516 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8L V6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
NHTSA recall #03V527000December 11, 2003750,283 vehicles affected
steering: rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
If this occurs, the pinion shaft Can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver Can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080; Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA recall #00V044000February 16, 2000135,475 vehicles affected
seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles were built with rear seat shoulder belts that could twist, allowing the webbing to be jammed in the retractor. When the shoulder belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt becomes unusable.
This could prevent a person from using the seat belt system, and a risk of injury to an unbelted person in a crash would be increased.
Remedy
Dealers will remove any twists from the rear shoulder belt(s) and install clips to the belt web guide to prevent twisting.
NHTSA recall #98V103000May 18, 19989,600 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The owner manuals do not contain the requirement information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. This does not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may not be able to properly aim the headlights.
Remedy
Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN