Oldsmobile Intrigue Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Oldsmobile Intrigue model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1996 drew the fewest (1) and the 1998 the most (510).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Seat belts | — | — |
| 1997 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2002 Among the fewest complaints |
64 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 21 |
| 2001 | 108 | 3 | Exterior lighting | — | 20 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
200 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 20 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
256 | 6 | Electrical system | — | 19–21 |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
510 | 6 | Steering | — | 21 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Oldsmobile Intrigue years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue: 510 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 160 (31%); Service brakes 77 (15%); Engine and engine cooling 70 (14%).
Reports mention 19 crashes, 39 fires, 12 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 87,524 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue: 256 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 61 (24%); Steering 58 (23%); Engine and engine cooling 51 (20%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 14 fires, 15 injuries, 3 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 79,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue: 200 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 71 (36%); Exterior lighting 48 (24%); Steering 28 (14%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 65,257 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Oldsmobile Intrigue years with the fewest complaints
1997 Oldsmobile Intrigue: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue: 64 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 34 (53%); Steering 10 (16%); Engine and engine cooling 8 (13%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Oldsmobile Intrigue owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 64 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2001 | 108 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 62,000 |
| 2000 | 200 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 65,257 |
| 1999 | 256 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 3 | 79,000 |
| 1998 | 510 | 19 | 39 | 12 | 0 | 87,524 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Oldsmobile Intrigue recalls
- Ignition Switch may Turn Off (1998–2002 model years; 5,877,718 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2014; 14V400000)
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE (1998–1999 model years; 1,497,516 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2009; 09V116000)
- Engine Oil Dripping On Manifold may Cause Fire (1998–1999 model years; 1,003,556 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2015; 15V701000)
- GM/STEERING GEAR BEARINGS (1998 model year; 750,283 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2003; 03V527000)
- GM/FMVSS 209/TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLES (2000–2001 model years; 156,305 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2000; 00V228003)
All 11 Oldsmobile Intrigue recall campaigns · Oldsmobile Intrigue problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Oldsmobile Intrigue years FAQ
Which Oldsmobile Intrigue year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1996 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Oldsmobile Intrigue years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1998, 1999 and 2000 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the steering. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Oldsmobile Intrigue problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the steering (268 of 1,140 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile Intrigue have?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns covering the Oldsmobile Intrigue. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Oldsmobile Intrigue recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.