1990 Oldsmobile CUTLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
73 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 73 complaints (24.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 39 | 53.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 3; Structure:Frame And Members: 3
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 73 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 43 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 43; 1996: 10; 2000: 6; 2001: 9; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 487846 · 1995-12-01 (December 1, 1995)
REAR CALIPER SLIDE PINS RUSTED, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506157 · 1996-07-10 (July 10, 1996)
FRONT BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006042 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
NAR 1/29/2003. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2003 REGARDING THE FRONT FRAME /CRADLE BOLT RETAINERS. AS PER THE RECALL LETTER THEY WERE REPLACED. ON DEC 12, 2002 BEFORE REACHING A STOP, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONSUMER FELT A THUMP. WHEN THE CONSUMER INVESTIGATED, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO STEERING CAPABILITIES. UPON GENERAL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE REAR FRAME/ CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS HAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP AND THE STEERING SHAFT TO SE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 750994 · 2001-08-23 (August 23, 2001)
I TAKE GOOD CARD OF MY CAR. IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD 4 OIL CHANGES, NEW TIRES AND RIMS, AN ALIGNMENT, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. ON 04/20/2001 I HAD A OIL CHANGE AND ASKED PENSKE AUTO TO LOOK AT MY STRUTS AND SUSPENSION BECAUSE MY CAR FELT AND LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN USUALLY, AND AGAIN ABOUT 06/05/2001. THIS TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO LOOK AND HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON 06/15/2001 I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR AND HAD A FEW MORE MILES TO GO BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DECIDED TO PULL OF ON A EXIT TO CHECK A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 755024 · 2001-11-28 (November 28, 2001)
LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS TO RELEASE AND STALLS ENGINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 970394 · 1995-08-14 (August 14, 1995)
WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTANTLY ACCELERATED REARWARD. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490541 · 1995-12-04 (December 4, 1995)
EXHAUST/STALLING PROBLEMS. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089093 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DASHBOARD COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SHE COULD NOT TELL HOW MUCH FUEL THERE WAS OR HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING/DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING DEFECT. MECHANIC TRIED TO PUT A BRAND NEW PART IN THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUME RHAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974568 · 1995-11-06 (November 6, 1995)
DRIVER AND PASSGENER SEAT BELT AND REAR BACK SEAT DO NOT RETRACT. TT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED, LEFT DOOR LOCK SWITCH OVERHEATS. DEFECTIVE RADIO, CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE, REAR SPEAKERS HAVE POOR CLARITY. ALARM INOPERABLE. DIMMER SWITCH MISALIGNED, TAIL LENS MISALIGNED, HIGH BEAM LAMP INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL LAMP BROKEN, CENTER BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL TRANSMITTERS INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT BLINK. TIMING COVER SEAL LEAK, OIL FITER DEFECTIVE, ENGINE STALLS, OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES, WATER PUMP FAILED, HARMONIC BALANCER CAME …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974568 at NHTSA ↗