Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 98 | 27 | 0 |
| 1997 98 | 30 | 0 |
| 1996 98 | 10 | 2 |
| 1995 98 | 30 | 2 |
| 1994 98 | 16 | 1 |
| 1993 98 | 13 | 1 |
| 1992 98 | 38 | 1 |
| 1991 98 | 47 | 2 |
| 1990 | 17 | 0 |
| 1989 | 11 | 0 |
| 1988 | 10 | 0 |
| 1987 98 | 15 | 3 |
| 1986 98 | 13 | 2 |
| 1985 98 | 9 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes, hydraulic62
- Electrical system40
- Engine and engine cooling34
- Air bags29
- Seat belts28
- Power train24
- Steering22
- Visibility14
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
44 98 cars are on the New Zealand register; 77% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1960 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1959 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1956 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 1955 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1954 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
14 campaigns cover the 98; the latest 12 are below.
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULES WHICH CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT LEAKAGE DUE TO DAMAGED SURFACE MOUNTING CAPACITORS. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND PARKING LAMPS.
A SPRING IN THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE HEAD PARK LAMP SWITCH CAN FAIL PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE HEAD LAMP PORTION OF THE SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION.
THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BRACKET CAUSING LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.
THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP RETURN HOSE AND THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: HOSE COULD OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN A HOLE AND FLUID LEAK, AND A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA recalls