Oldsmobile CUTLASS CIERA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
113,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 1990 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10057563 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT A MODERATE SPEED AND MAKING A TURN IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN VEHICLE WAS HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN,IT VEERED, AND LANDED IN THE NEXT LANE. ALSO, THIS WAS THE SECOND ENGINE INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109195 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)
STEERING WHEEL MOVED WHILE BEING LOCKED IN POSITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS DUE TO LOOSE BOLTS. *AK WHEN NEGOTIATING A CORNER, THE ENGINE IGNITION SWITCH INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN DISCONNECTED, THE ENGINE STOPPED, THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066296 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)
ENGINE PROBLEM : FOR THE PAST 3YRS.THE IGNITION MODULE CONTINUES TO GO BAD AND PREVENTS THE FUEL PUMP AND THE SPARK PLUGS TO WORK CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL OUT AND LAEVING ME STRANDED.WE REPLACED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES AND EVEN REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WE EVEN REPLACED THE COMPUTER JUST IN CASE IT WHAS GOING BAD.(5TIMES) OVER HEATED REPLACED FAN THERMO SWICTH 2 TIMES AND STARTED AGAIN SO WE HAD IT BYPASS SO THE FAN CAN STAY ON WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON.(3TIMES) TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE WOULD TURN ON EVEN ON D GE…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744016 · 2001-04-13 (April 13, 2001)
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DISENGAGE CAUSING CAR TO STALL IN TRAFFIC, WHEN STOPPING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206237 · 2007-10-18 (October 18, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN SPRAYED QUICK START INTO THE CARBURETOR AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP (BRAND NAME UNAVAILABLE) APPROXIMATELY NINE DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. SHE FELT THAT THE AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OCTOBER 18, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 187,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206237 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 0