1996 Oldsmobile CUTLASS SUPREME problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
67,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 37 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 16.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 16.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Cables: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 27 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 | 12 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 7 |
2000: 12; 2001: 6; 2002: 6; 2003: 6; 2004: 7
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10056596 · 2004-02-05 (February 5, 2004)
THIS HAPPENED SOME TIME AGO BUT I RECENTLY READ OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT YOU HAVE UNDERTAKED AND DECIDED THAT THIS MAY BE RELEVANT. I ALSO HAVE SEEN SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY IN MORNING TRAFFIC. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE REGULAR LANE OF TRAFFIC AND THEN TO THE BERM BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND BEFORE I WAS REA…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 555697 · 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
CONSUMER OWNS A 1991, 1994, AND 1996 CUTLASS SUPREME, ALL OF WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, CALIPERS LOADED, AND BEARINGS WERE PACKED, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 555697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025366 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
WHEN MAKING TURNS AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A SLIGHT BUMP THE HEATER FAN WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF OR IF LISTENING TO THE RADIO THE STATION WILL CHANGE BY ITSELF. ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE AUTO DOOR LOCKS WILL SUDDENLY CLICK.THIS VEHICLE HAS TEMPERATURE AND RADIO CONTROLS INSTALLED ON STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO SERVICE THE RECALL IN REGARDS TO THE AIR BAG DEFECT I INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE PROBLEM THINKING IT MAY RELATE TO THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG WIRING BUT I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS AND WERE ONLY REQUIRED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039389 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
VEHICLE DID NOT GIVE ANY WARNING THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MA. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AS I EXITED THE ROAD. SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN 4 YEARS. NO ICONS CAME ON TO WARN ME. FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE CAR STALLED AT EXIT WITH TRUCKS EGRESSING THE ROAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,138 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039435 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
STEERING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN DURING LOW SPEED LEFT HAND TURNS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064092 · 2004-03-29 (March 29, 2004)
CAR PROBLEMS WITH 1996 CUTLASS KEEPS STALLING I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED INTAKE GASKET PUT NEW BATTERY IN AN HAD OTHER REPAIRS THIS CAR ONLY HAS 96000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719881 · 2000-03-09 (March 9, 2000)
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND ONE WEEK LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE FIXED, DOOR MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED, WINDSHIELD REPLACED 2 TIMES AND NOW THE COOLANT IS LEAKING ALONG WITH AN OIL VALVE AND THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. COST TO REPAIR THIS TIME IS ESTIMATED AT $1200
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719881 at NHTSA ↗