1995 Oldsmobile CUTLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
104 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
100,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 104 complaints (13.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 27.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.9% |
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 | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 7 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 4 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Air Bags: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 7; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Cables: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 92 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 | 21 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 21; 1996: 15; 2000: 24; 2001: 17; 2002: 10; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 7; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10114440 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
MY MAIN COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE DISC BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPER ASSEMBLIES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE 1996 AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND MORE RECENTLY THE CALIPERS DUE TO THEM FREEZING UP. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO INSTANCES PROBABLY THREE WHERE I CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF UNEVEN WEAR. THE CALIPER WAS NOT PROPERLY RELEASING AND IT WAS CAUSING ONE PAD USUALLY THE INSIDE PAD (THE ONE WITHOUT) THE METAL STRIP TO WEAR DOWN. IN THE FIRST…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141973 · 2005-11-07 (November 7, 2005)
STARTED ENGINE NORMALLY, BEGAN FORWARD MOVEMENT WHEN BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXCEEDINGLY HARD, PUSHED TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, AND ENGINE REVOLUTIONS IMMEDIATELY WENT TO 4600 RPM. COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF ENGINE SPEED AND/OR BRAKE FUNCTION. THIS FAILURE MODE LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WHEN THIS 'FAIL DANGEROUS' MODE IS PERMITTED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 101,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018312 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING AND SOMETHING DROPPED UNDER MY HOOD CAUSING IT TO BE STUCK IN ONE GEAR. I BELIEVE MY TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP. IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE ONLY FORWARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122645 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN HOW REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION ON THE 1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERRA WAS HANDLED.*MR THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE FIRST TIME ONE OF THE SMALLER SHOPS WANTED THE CONSUMER TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR 5 DAYS AS COLLATERAL UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED AND PAY $1400.00 UP FRONT. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *BF THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087116 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER LEANED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVOQ WAS FILED BY TONNY JENNINGS 408 GRAND AVE SW, FORT PAYNE, AL 35967/[phone removed]. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140020 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL, HEADLIGHTS HIGH-BEAM STUCK ON, TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. REPEATEDLY MOVING HEADLIGHT DIMMER-LEVER SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT PROBLEM. NOW UNABLE TO GET ANY HIGH-BEAMS, SMOKE COMES AND GOES, TURN-SIGNALS COME AND GO, HORN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721258 · 2000-04-10 (April 10, 2000)
LOW MILEAGE, WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENSIVE CORROSION DAMAGE TO HOOD RELEASE CABLE AND AREA UNDER (AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO) BATTERY BOX. DAMAGE CAUSED BY LONG-TERM LEAKAGE OF ELECTROLYTE FROM "+" TERMINAL MOUNT BOLT HOLE OF MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733858 · 2000-10-09 (October 9, 2000)
CAN DRIVE VEHICLE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITHOUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN FOR ONE DAY (SUNDAY) THEN ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY WEEK - JUST INTERMITTINGLY. HAVE HAD IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOKING FOR ELECTRICAL SHORT, OLDSMOBILE DEALER IS AT A LOSS AS TO WHERE THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. HAVE CHECKED ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED. THERE ARESEVERAL OTHER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726740 · 2000-08-05 (August 5, 2000)
EACH YEAR SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS OLDSMOBILE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1989 OLDSMOBILE AND HAD TO DO THE SAME. THE HESITATING/STALLING PROBLEM IS WHAT ORIGINALLY PROMPTED ME TO GET RID OF MY 1989 AND PURCHASE A NEWER VERSION. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS AND AM JUST NOW EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED/CORRECTED IN THE 1989 CAR BUT HOPEFULLY, THE DEALER CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN MY CURRENT CAR. I DO AN AWFUL LOT OF DRIVING AND DO NOT WANT TO END UP ON …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 764194 · 2002-07-13 (July 13, 2002)
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUSES ARE CONTINUOSLY BLOWING, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE SHIFT COLUMN, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ALSO THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE RADIATOR AND TANK ARE FULL. HE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND THE MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. BRAKES ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND ALL SENSORS ARE GOOD. NOW I AM HAVING DI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572982 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)
IN SEPT. 2013, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND LINE WITH THE DRIVEWORKS BRAND FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. ON 3/2/14, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE SMELLED GAS. THE SNAP ON CONNECTION HAD POPPED LOOSE AT THE GAS TANK AND WAS SPEWING GASOLINE WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR. ON 3/6/14, THE LINE POPPED LOOSE AGAIN WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. I PUSHED IT BACK ON AND WENT ON MY WAY. LATER THAT DAY AS I WAS GOING TO RETURN HOME, THE LINE POPPED LOOSE AGAIN, AND AGAIN AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AGAIN AS I TRIED TO BACK UP TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD; A TOTAL OF 5 T…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 875563 · 2000-11-28 (November 28, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS GAS LEAKING FROM FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL LINE. *AK THE FUEL LEAK REQUIRED A COMPLETE FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY REPLACING. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 875563 at NHTSA ↗