1998 Oldsmobile Aurora

Routine

Owners filed 49 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline3
020
Electrical System3
000
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs2
100
Suspension › Front2
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jul 6, 2014260,050 milesNC

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

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 28, 2012109,000 milesAZ

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.

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Jan 30, 2010120,000 milesNJ

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

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Jan 1, 2010130,000 milesNJ

FUEL RAIL SPLIT CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MOTOR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 30, 200813,600 milesMI

I HAVE A 1998 AURORA AS WHEEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OF CAR SHUTTING DOWN. FIRST I HAD THE MODULE REPLACED AND IT STILL DID IT. AND THEN I WAS TOLD TO GET MY FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED AND I KEPT INJECTOR CLEANER IN MY CAR WHEN I FILLED UP AND THE I FINALLY GOT A FULL TUNE UP AND AFTER THAT NO PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BAD SPARK PLUG WIRES WILL CAUSE THIS AS WELL. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 17, 2008104,800 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. WHEN SHE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SHE SHIFTED GEARS TO PARK AND THEN DRIVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THREE MECHANICS PERFORMED TEST TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND CORRECTING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,800. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Aug 18, 2006TX

LIGHTS COME ON AND FLICKER BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE IGNITION. ALSO, THERE IS THE SMELL OF BURNED RUBBER PRESENT SOME OF THE TIMES. *JB

Suspension › FrontCrash
Filed Mar 29, 200689,700 milesOH

I OWN A 1998 AURORA. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT LEFT TIRE ASSEMBLY (WHEEL, BRAKE SYSTEM, STRUTS, ETC) SEPARATED FROM THE CAR, CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AND DESTROYING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION IS UNKNOWN. THE CAR DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANY FOREIGN OBJECT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE WAS RECOVERED WITH THE STRUT? AND BRACKET ASSEMBLIES? STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIRE. I'M FILING A COMPLAINT TO DETERMINE IF ANY OTHER INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN HOPES OF PREVENTING ANY OTHER AURORA OWNERS FROM EXPERIENCING SUCH A LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY IN HOPES OF DETERMINING A CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Feb 10, 200686,000 milesFL

CAR STALLS ONCE A DAY, ALMOST EVERY DAY IN TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T QUITE STALL AND CATCHES ITSELF AND LEARCHES FORWARD A FEW FEET. NEITHER OLDSMOBILE OR INDIPENDENT MECHANICS CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. THA CODES ARE THERE IN MEMORY OF THE CAR BUT THE CODES DO NOT SAY WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. KNOW ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN GUESSING AND CHANGING EXPENSIVE PARTS. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 24, 200592,000 milesGA

FAULTY FUEL GAUGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, UNABLE TO GET EMISSIONS INSPECTION. DEALER WISHES TO CHARGE $500.00 TO REPLACE SENSOR IN GAS TANK. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Sep 24, 200598,000 milesGA

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

Fuel System, Other › Delivery
Filed Jul 12, 2005156,315 milesTN

I HAVE HEARD ALOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR ON THESE CARS HAVE A TENDENCY TO GO BAD I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO START IT JUST TURNS OVER AND OVER AND FINALLY WILL START THE O-RING STARTED LEAKING FUEL EVERYWHERE HERE RECENTLY AND HAD TO REPLACE THE PART

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jul 7, 200585,000 milesTN

1998 OLDSMOBILE AURORA FUEL RAIL SYSTEM LEAKING GAS OUT OF THE PLASTIC LINES ON TOP OF MOTOR AND CAN CATCH FIRE VERY EASILY IF NOT COUGHT IN TIME. IT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE 96 & ON THE FORUMS THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF 97 & 98S THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MINE CHANGED AND IT COST CLOSE TO $600 TO HAVE IT FIXED. PLEASE TAKE A REAL CLOSE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM DUE TO ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THESE CARS ARE OLDER OR LIKE ME HAVE 2 VERY SMALL CHILDREN STRAPED INTO CAR SEATS. THANKS

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail
Filed Mar 30, 2005130,000 milesTX

SPARK PLUGS WERE CHANGED, AND THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS AND SEE A LEAK. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL RAIL WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA'S THE FUEL RAIL RECALL 04V110100 . *AK *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 23, 2005PA

I PURCHASED A 1998 AURORA IN 2002 - FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SHUTS OFF WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY WARINING. IT HAS EVEN DONE SO JUST SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED THIS MONTH BECAUSE THE ENGINE DIED AS I WAS SIMPLY MAKING A TURN. LUCKILY THERE WAS ENOUGH BIRM SPACE TO VEER THE CAR OF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN SLOWING OR STOPPING WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE OTHER TAPPING THE GAS TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM DYING. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER WITH NO FINDINGS.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Sep 13, 200441,000 milesMA

1. THE LIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND STARTED FLICKERING. 2.THIS DRAINED THE BATTERY. 3. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE MULTI FUNCTION STALK SWITCH AND A MODULE UNDER THE DASH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AURORA'S, AND I FEEL THAT OLDSMOBILE NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS OR AT LEAST REIMBURSE ALL OF THE OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH ON GGOGLE.COM FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Mar 17, 200436,000 milesGA

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 19, 2004107,950 milesTN

VEHICLE TAKES A LONG WAY TO STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. BRAKES HAVE TO BE PUT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE IT WILL EVEN FEEL LIKE IT IS SLOWING DOWN.

Steering
Filed Feb 10, 2004AZ

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED POWER STEERING PROBLEMS AT LOW AND ZERO SPEEDS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED GRINDING, GROWLING AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN TURNING AT A LOW SPEED OR AT STOP. *LA THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE ENGINE THEREFORE THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED, AND ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE PUMP, O-RING, GEAR ASSEMBLY, SWITCH SHIELDS TIE ROD ENDS, AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WHEN THE VIBRATION OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS. *SC

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200446,000 milesWI

PAINT IS MINOR, EXCEPT DEALER DID PAINT CAR LEFT FRONT FENDER NEW AND SINCE THEN CLEAR COAT HAS RUBBED OFF. AIR IS ANOTHER. 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY UNTILL FAILURE AT 107,000. $1400 FOR NEW COMPRESSOR, HOSES AND TO MAKE UP FOR BAD DEAKLER WORK. CAR NOW HAS INTERMITTENT AIR FAILURE, SHUTTING OFF AND RE-START CAUSE COMPRESSOR TO COME BACK ON.

20 of 49 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20037200Routine
200225200Routine
2001119140Routine
20004000Routine
199933230Routine
1998 — this page49020Routine
19971251170Routine
1996100290Routine
19953212310High concern
19942000Routine
19931000Routine

Compare every Aurora year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.