1993 Oldsmobile CUTLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
92 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 92 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 50.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 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 | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 87 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 | 28 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 28; 1996: 13; 2000: 19; 2001: 15; 2002: 6; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10036822 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR A TURNING CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEIZED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036894 · 2003-08-30 (August 30, 2003)
MY 1993 OLDS CUTLASS SL HAS HAD BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE IN A YEAR IN THE REAR WITH GM PARTS ONCE IN THE FRONT. ALL ROTORS REPLACED, TWICE IN THE FRONT. THE HOP I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE SAYS THE CUTLASS HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE COMPONENTS ON THIS CAR. I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. ANY INFORMATION ON THIS YOU COULD GIVE TO ME WOULD BE GREAT. I FEEL I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THE COST FROM GM. THE SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. THANKS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062756 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
MY DIG. DASH WORK HALF THE TIME AND NOT THE REST. I CAN NOT SEE MY SPEED, GAS OR MILEAGE. ALSO EVERY NOW AND THEN SMOKE COME OUT FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075271 · 2004-06-12 (June 12, 2004)
ON JUNE 10TH, TWO DAYS AGO, I TOTALED MY 93 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME ON I-93 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHILE MY YEAR (93) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, 88 -91 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR AS A RESULT OF CORROSION OF 2 BOLTS WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HIGH, INCLUDING IN MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE BEEN COMMUTING FROM BOSTON TO HANOVER NH TO TEACH FOR THE PAST 10 WEEKS. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I STARTED WORRYING ABOUT STEERING. HAD TWO REAR TIRES REPLACED LAST WEEK AND ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH A BALL JOINT…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558928 · 2001-01-11 (January 11, 2001)
CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS HIS RECALLED (00V-287) PONTIAC GRAND AM FOR THE STARTER WHICH RESULTED IN MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL REPAIRS (3 BATTERY, 6 ALTERNATORS AND A NEW STARTER), CONSUMER BELIEVES SAME RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 747673 · 2001-07-02 (July 2, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM RACINE, WE CROSSED THE RR TRACKS IN STURTEVANT AND THE CUTLASS JUST DIED. WE HAD LIGHTS BUT NO IGNITION. WE SUMMONED POLICE TO CALL A TOWTRUCK TO TOW IT TO FRANK GENTILE OLDSMOBILE. AFTER THREE DAYS THEY CALLED TO TELL US THE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR $84 WHICH DETERMINED MY STARTER SHORTED OUT AND BLEW A 60 AMP FUSE; I QUESTIONED WHY THE STARTER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT SINCE THE CAR WAS MOVING, BUT THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS THE STARTER THAT SHORTED THEREFORE BLOWING THE 60 AMP FUSE THAT SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION! THAT COS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159343 · 2006-06-08 (June 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED ALONG THE FITTINGS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 93V121000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES LINES, PIPING, AND FITTINGS. …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486313 · 1995-05-19 (May 19, 1995)
TRANSMISSION STICKS IN FIRST GEAR UPON ACCELERATION, ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN CHANGING LANES. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 865080 · 2000-07-10 (July 10, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW ROAD WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT BECAUSE THE BAFFLE IN THE GAS TANK BROKE LOOSE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN 13 WEEKS. GAS TANK REPLACED BY OWNER. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481282 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481282 at NHTSA ↗