NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,703 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue Owner Comments

problem #17

Jul 202009

Intrigue

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I received a letter in may stating that GM was recalling my car for possible engine fires (recall 09047). I called the number provided and was routed to one of the local dealers, who told me that they couldn't do anything with it until late July or August and to call back for an appointment then. Yesterday, 7/20/09, my car burned to a crisp. According to the firemen, it was an electrical fire that started under the hood somewhere and it burned so hot and so fast that they were unable to salvage it. The fire engines are kept literally a block away from where the fire occurred. They responded within minutes and still the entire engine contents fried right up. My car is a total loss. Today I have spent just over two hours on the phone with GM customer service, I have had to escalate the calls twice and call back to them twice and once to the local dealer and all anyone will say is they will contact me within 5 business days and to save the vehicle so they can investigate it. I have nowhere to store this car in it's current state. It is a major fire hazard-especially with our current warm weather/dry conditions and it's full tank of gas. GM informed me that if I make the decision to have it moved to a junk yard to take lots of pictures before that happens. I informed them that I cannot keep the vehicle here, due to it's fire hazard to the other residents on my block-their half a million dollar homes and their vehicles that are parked in the same area.

- Mukilteo, WA, USA

problem #16

Aug 292008

Intrigue

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. A few minutes after the vehicle was parked in the garage, it caught fire. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A report was filed and there were no injuries. The fire occurred in August of 2008. The contact called the manufacturer and they stated that they could not assist because the vehicle was too old. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- New City, NY, USA

problem #15

Feb 012009

Intrigue

  • 135,000 miles
I have received a recall notice in the mail for a car I owned(98 olds Intrigue). I bought the car O6..or 05...I really liked this car.but all at once it started chugging on my way home one night.. I got home and just left the car sit. Next morning I tried to start it but it would start... I was told to get a new battery...I did.. that wasn't it.... I was told to buy a new starter... still didn't work... finally had it towed to local shop.... when he tried to start it and backfire very loud and started on fire... I was told.. the engine was no good... I ended up selling the car for 600...that hurt.... being I had to find rides to work for about a month... I had to borrow money to get a much cheaper car that im not real happy with but had no choice... must get to work. I guess im just wondering if there is any thing that I would be entitled to because I now know it was to do with a plastic sparkplug wire when it was made? my dates are all approx.

- Trimont, MN, USA

problem #14

Apr 182009

Intrigue

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was out running errands and returned home in atl ga. I was in the house for about 10-15mins. And I heard like a small boom sound I proceed to the door where I notice white smoke coming from my car. I ran outside and proceed to open the hood where when I did the motor was fully on fire and ran and grab the water hose and put the fire out. I then went back inside and called olds. Dealership. Where the checked for recalls and I then explained what had happen. They informed me too called the fire dept. Who came out and made sure fire was fully extinguished.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #13

Mar 132009

Intrigue

  • 155,152 miles
My son was driving the car and he was at a friends house when they noticed smoke from under the hood. They opened the hood and the engine had caught on fire.. they were lucky enough to have a 2 liter bottle of soda nearby and managed to put out the fire. However not before extensive damage had been done. I was told by the mechanic who fixed it, that it looks like the oil caught on fire possibly by arcing of spark plugs?? I had over $300 in damages. I just heard today that these were recalled.. 04/14/09.. repaired parts were spark plug wires, oil dipstick, oil cover.. the engine cover is still melted and smoke damage is still apparent under the hood.

- Maroa, IL, USA

problem #12

Aug 062001

Intrigue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,363 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact stated that the service engine warning light was illuminated. The dealer stated that the upper and lower manifold gaskets needed to be replaced. The same failure previously occurred and that gasket was replaced. The current mileage is 106,000 and failure mileage was 52,363.

- Flint , MI, USA

problem #11

Nov 272005

Intrigue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,114 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While changing oil I noticed a coolant leak, I looked into the leak further and noticed it was leaking from the upper intake and throttle body area. I was informed by a GM tech that there is a problem with these plastic upper intake manifolds on the GM 3800 series II engines and GM came out with a better quality and reinforced egr port on the replacement manifolds. I had to get another upper intake replaced on my 1998 park ave at 50,000 miles. Now my 1998 olds Intrigue with 21,000 miles needs replaced. Besides the two that I own, the GM tech that informed me of this problem, also said he had to change the upper intakes on his own vehicles (2) of them. There is definitely a problem defect here and I should be reimbursed.

- Brookpark, OH, USA

problem #10

Nov 120200

Intrigue 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 65 mph check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Suddenly, the vehicle stalled. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, an D mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #9

Aug 192003

Intrigue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,732 miles
Catastrophic failure of oil pump without warning (I.e., oil pressure lamp did not remain illuminated after engine start) resulted in extensive engine damage that required replacement of engine.

- N. Huntingdon, PA, USA

problem #8

May 272003

(reported on)

Intrigue

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving the consumer heard a pop then the vehicle stalled and caught on fire.

- Fair Haven, MI, USA

problem #7

Feb 182003

Intrigue

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The engine cracked, which rendered the vehicle inoperative.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #6

Oct 022002

Intrigue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,596 miles
Dealer indicates vehicle has multiple oil leaks, which are premature for vehicle mileage, and are result of "failed gaskets." Dealer replaced valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gasket, resolving problem.

- Woburn, MA, USA

problem #5

Sep 252002

Intrigue

  • miles
All three problems (ABS failure/ windshield wipers/ oil leak) described by dealer as "very common" for 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigues.

- Woburn, MA, USA

problem #4

Apr 012002

Intrigue

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving heard something falling off, suddenly steering wheel locked up. Vehicle had to be towed. Mechanic stated that drive belt idler pulley fell off.

- Newport, RI, USA

problem #3

May 012001

(reported on)

Intrigue

  • miles
Engine bolts have fallen from rocker and have embeded in top of gaskets, rendering vehicle inoperable.

- Advance, NC, USA

problem #2

Dec 011998

Intrigue

  • miles
When driving through a very small puddle of water, the water splashed up into the hood, wetting different parts of the right side of engine, including the alternator. Owner noticed the mud after opening the hood on December 12th to check the engine compartment.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 011997

Intrigue

  • miles
Dealer states May 19, 1998 after harving car for 1 week that they could not get it to duplicate, however it has occurred many times while I was driving. Another problem is that the cruise control button and stereo become very hot.

- Washington, PA, USA

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