1992 Oldsmobile CUTLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
90 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
118,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 90 complaints (8.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 36.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 86 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 | 35 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 35; 1996: 16; 2000: 8; 2001: 13; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10065766 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE PER YEAR. CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO OR THREE TIMES. VEHICLE WILL NOT DO AN EMERGENCY STOP. IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP NORMALLY. THE ABS DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MECHANICS SAY THIS IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 468584 · 1995-09-05 (September 5, 1995)
SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE PADS DEVELOP HEAT, WARPING ROTORS. (2ND VEHICLE ON 483707) *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 468584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042081 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH FENDER SCRATCHES ON BODY, DAMAGE AXLE BOOT, MOTOR DAMAGE, SPARK PLUGS, EXHAUST, ETC...*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REPAIR SHOP DAMAGED THE VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THEIR CARE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE BATTERY EXPLODED. *PH THE RPM'S ON THE VEHICLE RACED EXTREMELY HIGH, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, ALSO THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WERE CAUSED BY THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053279 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
STARTER AND ALTERNATOR GOING BAD AND JUST REPLACED BATTERY IM TRYING TO FIND IF STARTERS OR ALTERNATORS HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON AN 1992 OLDS. CUTLASS SUPREME SL. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059517 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING. DEALER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070116 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE CONTROL PANEL FLASHES ON AND OFF AND THE BRIGHTNESS CHANGES WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THE DIMMER CONTROL HAS NO AFFECT AND THE PANEL FLASHES BRIGHTLY AT NIGHT. THE GAS TANK RELEASES FUMES WHEN IT'S FILLED AND A SUCTION PRESSURE BUILDS UP IN THE TANK, CAUSING AIR SQUEAKS AT THE GAS TANK CAP. THE RIMS LEAK AND THE TIRES (WHICH ARE BRAND NEW) HAVE TO BE FILLED CONSTANTLY. THE HEATER BARELY BLOWS HARD ENOUGH AND THE AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. AN AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HIS 92 CUTLASS SUPREME HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. I DIDN'T …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080523 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR OCCURANCE. WOULD NOT RE-START. AFTER 6-8 DANGEROUS MINUTES STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR STARTED AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE AND WAS REPAIRED. A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I SHUDDER TO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF A SUDDEN POWER FAILURE AND STALLED CAR IN THE MIDST OF FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. WHILE I REALIZE THAT 12-YEAR-OLD PARTS WILL FAIL DUE TO AGE, I WONDER IF A BACK-UP POWER SOUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887158 · 2001-04-30 (April 30, 2001)
WHILE TRAVELING 10-15 MPH AND AFTER COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. SOON AFTER VEHICLE RESTARTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149309 · 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR WILL SHOW NEUTRAL BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE IN REVERSE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 91V214000, REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 95V173000, REGARDING THE FRONT SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL AND THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VIN DOES NOT MATCH THIS VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149309 at NHTSA ↗