1998 Oldsmobile CUTLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
60,537 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 119 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 31 | 26.1% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 17.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 5 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 7; Steering: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 5; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 78 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 | 33 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2000: 33; 2001: 18; 2002: 12; 2003: 14; 2004: 19; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10014097 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER 2002 THERE WAS NOISE FROM FRONT LEFT END OF VEHICLE....THERE IS ANOTHER NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR.....I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING...ALSO I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT THE SAME DAY FOR THE BRAKES...THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T BRAKE PROPERLY...THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT BRAKE PAD..I HAVEN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SINCE...THREE WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015636 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE FRONT DISC/REAR DRUMS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL FELT SPONGY AND CONTINUED TO GO TO THE FLOOR. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021496 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
STEERING FEELS STRANGE WHEEL HAS A TUG TO IT WHEN MAKING TURNS.. LEFT TURNS REQUIRE MORE STEERING EFFORT THAN RIGHT TURNS ALSO STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.. CAR HAS JUST 25,000 MILES ON IT, AFRAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RACK AND PINION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745967 · 2001-05-27 (May 27, 2001)
I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9, A MAJOR HIGHWAY HERE IN THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE AND I HAD MYWINDSHIELD WIPERS ON BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM STOPPED MOVING, CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER TO MOVE ACROSS IT FORMING AN 'X' ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER SYSTEM STALLED AND I COULDN'T SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T TOO MUCH TRAFFIC AT THE TIME AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING INTO ANYTHING. I HAD SEEN EARLIER IN THIS WEBSITE THAT THERE IS OR SUPPOSED TO BE A RECA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009369 · 2002-05-07 (May 7, 2002)
WHILE DIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLS. HAD REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576006 · 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)
HAVE HAD IGNITION SWITCH JUST SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN GM'S RECENT RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCHES ON NEWER CARS. LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR THE LAST 10 OR SO YEARS. WHEN IT HAPPENS I JUST QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A 1998 OLDS CUTLASS. IT IS APPARENT THAT GM'S PROBLEM WITH THEIR IGNITION SWITCH GOES BACK A LOT FARTHER THAN THEY CARE TO ADMIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 755405 · 2001-12-07 (December 7, 2001)
ENGINE(IGNITION) QUITS WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. ALL POWER SYSTEMS ARE LOST, MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. ENGINE RESTARTS WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO RESTART. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RESET WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071935 · 2004-04-30 (April 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A DOWN POUR, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK OUT OF SYNCH AND ENDED CROSSED UP ON THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO REPLACE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. NO RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135309 · 2005-09-04 (September 4, 2005)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MIN. OR SO, IF ONE STOPS THE VEHICLE SHIFT TO PARK THEN SHIFT TO DRIVE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE RIGHT AWAY. ONE CAN HEAR THE ENGINE ACCELERATE, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE SLOWLY UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES, SOMETIMES IN A ABRUPTLY MANNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN MY VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CONTACTED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURING …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742045 · 2001-03-07 (March 7, 2001)
PROBLEM WITH GAS TANK WHEN REFUELING . WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS WHICH IS OFTEN , THE CAR WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 1 OR 2 GALLONS OF GAS. CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FUEL GAUGE . DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY EQUAL AIR PRESSURE INSIDE TANK WITH OUTSIDE AIR PRESSURE .THIS EQUAL PRESSURE IS THE REASON WHY GAS CANNOT BE PUMPED INTO CAR . WHEN YOU CONTINUOUSLY PLAY WITH GAS NOZZLE EVENTUALLY YOU BREAK THE AIR PRESSURE SEAL. OFTEN TIMES YOU GET GASOLINE SPILLED ON YOUR HANDS AND CLOTHING AS WELL AS ON GROUND. I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742045 at NHTSA ↗