1993 OLDSMOBILE 98 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK *NM

WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD "CLUNK" AND ALL CONTROL WAS LOST AS I ENTERED THE HIGH SPEED LANE. THE ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED FREELY AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE REAR FRAME BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE FAILED AND FRAME AND ENGINE FELL DOWN, DISCONNECTIONS THE STEERING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT AS OTHERS STOPPED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR IS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION, NO VISIBLE RUST, NO FLUID LEAKS AND HAS ONLY 140,000 MILES. IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN MECHANISM TO MAKE THE ENGINE DROP IN A CRASH(TO PROTECT THE DRIVER) FAILED (RUSTED) WAY BEFORE IT SHOULD HAVE. THE OLDSMOBILE HOTLINE SAID THE CAR WAS PAST THE 100,000 RUST WARRANTY, WHAT DID I EXPECT? I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER OLDSMOBILES AND PUT OVER 250,000 MILES ON EACH ONE AND CERTAINLY EXPECTED SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THIS ONE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT AND HAVE THE ENGINE FALL OUT BEFORE ANY OF THE NORMAL HIGH MILEAGE FAILURES SUCH AS TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, RADIATOR OR EVEN THE FAILURE OF THE BATTERY IN THE REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. I BELIEVE THAT OLDSMOBILE SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF SOME OR ALL THE CHARGES TO REPAIR THIS. HAD IT HAPPENED 5 MINUTES LATER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. IF THERE IS A GENERAL DEFECT, ALL OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBJECT NOR DID IT HIT ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60 NEAR DUDLEY, MO @ 65 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE NEARBY EXIT AND STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. FILLED GAS TANK, EVERYTHING SEEMD TO BE WORKING FINE, SO I PULLED BACK ONTO ROAD, SOON AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND HORN STARTED HONKING. I STOPPED, DISCONNECTED HORN, CUT AWAY BAG AND DROVE HOME. NOTIFIED COMPANY, AND PER THEIR REQUEST HAD DIAGNOSTICS TEST RUN AT BLACKWELL-BALDWIN OLDS IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO; NO CODES FOUND, MECHANIC SAID A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. MECHANIC SAID COLUMN WAS TIGHT, AND NO SIGN IT HAD EVER BEEN OPENED, BUT A WIRE WAS STRETCHED. HE SAID APPARENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL SNAGGED THE WIRE. OLDSMOBILE WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THIS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE ON CAR, AND SAY I MUST BEAR ENTIRE COST OF TEST, REPLACEMENT, AND RESULTING EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IF I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR FINDINGS. SINCE WHEN DID AIRBAGS COME WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.*AK

TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, REVEALING 23 INCH LENGTH OF TIRE LOST, SEPARATION AT EDGES, AND TORN WIRE MESH( DOT NUMBER: A3MOFFA163 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )