RecallMyCar

1979 Oldsmobile 98 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1979 Oldsmobile 98. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

3 safety recalls for the 1979 Oldsmobile 98

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 79V247000 Reported 1,326,404 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The heads may break off the front outboard seat belt anchor bolts during normal vehicle operation even under no load conditions. This is due to the combination of bolts used, high installation torque and arrangement of the body anchorage.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace all original equipment front outboard seat belt anchor bolts on the affected vehicles at no cost to owner.

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V121000 Reported 134 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 106, "brake hoses". These vehicles were manufactured with gasoline fuel hoses in place of the vacuum hose between the intake manifold and carbon canister in the power brake vacuum line. Should this hose rupture, it would result in a loss of power assist to…

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the incorrect hose with the correct vacuum hose.

  3. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 78V247000 Reported 67 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    A gasket was mistakenly placed between the brake master cylinder and the power boost which prevented the two parts from fitting together properly. Damage may have resulted to the mounting ears of the master cylinder and the hydro-boost. This condition could lead to brake failure.

    Remedy: The dealer will install a new brake master cylinder and hydro-boost unit, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1979 Oldsmobile 98. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Oldsmobile 98 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Oldsmobile 98 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Oldsmobile 9810
1968 Oldsmobile 9830
1971 Oldsmobile 9810
1972 Oldsmobile 9830
1974 Oldsmobile 9810
1975 Oldsmobile 9821
1977 Oldsmobile 9820
1979 Oldsmobile 9830
1980 Oldsmobile 9821
1981 Oldsmobile 9802
1982 Oldsmobile 9812
1983 Oldsmobile 9801
1984 Oldsmobile 9811
1985 Oldsmobile 9819
1986 Oldsmobile 98213
1987 Oldsmobile 98315
1988 Oldsmobile 98010
1989 Oldsmobile 98011
1990 Oldsmobile 98017
1991 Oldsmobile 98247
1992 Oldsmobile 98138
1993 Oldsmobile 98113
1994 Oldsmobile 98116
1995 Oldsmobile 98230
1996 Oldsmobile 98210
1997 Oldsmobile 98030
1998 Oldsmobile 98027
1999 Oldsmobile 9801

Checking a specific 1979 Oldsmobile 98

How do I know if my 1979 Oldsmobile 98 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1979 Oldsmobile 98; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Oldsmobile dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V247000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Oldsmobile models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.