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U.S. public vehicle records

Oldsmobile CUTLASS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,115 owner complaints analyzed

58 distinct recall campaigns

76,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 167 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 77 of 1,115 complaints (6.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior34430.9%
Steering behavior13812.4%
Electrical and battery issues504.5%
Transmission and shifting423.8%
Engine operation373.3%
Fuel system concerns161.4%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
77
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
68
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
62
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
56
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
49
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
49
Air Bags:Frontal
45
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
42
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc77
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip68
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components62
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor56
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine49
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper49
Air Bags:Frontal45
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline42

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 77; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 68; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 62; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 56; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 49; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 49; Air Bags:Frontal: 45; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 42

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
25
50,000 to 74,999
40
75,000 to 99,999
25
100,000 to 149,999
43
150,000 and above
18
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99925
50,000 to 74,99940
75,000 to 99,99925
100,000 to 149,99943
150,000 and above18

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 43; 150,000 and above: 18

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 948 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.

1995
303
1996
106
2000
203
2001
160
2002
92
2003
54
2004
73
2005
42
2006
14
2007
13
2008
9
2009
5
2010
8
2011
3
2012
3
2013
4
2014
14
2015
3
2016
2
2018
2
2020
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995303
1996106
2000203
2001160
200292
200354
200473
200542
200614
200713
20089
20095
20108
20113
20123
20134
201414
20153
20162
20182
20202

1995: 303; 1996: 106; 2000: 203; 2001: 160; 2002: 92; 2003: 54; 2004: 73; 2005: 42; 2006: 14; 2007: 13; 2008: 9; 2009: 5; 2010: 8; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 14; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2018: 2; 2020: 2

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 344 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 138 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 50 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 962205 · 1995-03-20 (March 20, 1995)

EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS LOOSE. CAUSING IT TO RUB ON FRAME CHASSIS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962205 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483356 · 1995-08-18 (August 18, 1995)

REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483356 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483132 · 1995-08-15 (August 15, 1995)

LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT ROD IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIP INTO DRIVE FROM NEUTRAL AND LUNGE FORWARD/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483132 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 873143 · 2000-10-17 (October 17, 2000)

STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THREE PLACES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873143 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970223 · 1995-08-11 (August 11, 1995)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970223 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480318 · 1995-01-25 (January 25, 1995)

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480318 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489709 · 1995-04-25 (April 25, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489709 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483708 · 1995-09-02 (September 2, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483708 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8003055 · 2002-01-29 (January 29, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, VEHICLE STALLED. TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003055 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089299 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089299 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970819 · 1995-08-18 (August 18, 1995)

FUEL TANK LEAKS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970819 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10875827 · 2016-06-22 (June 22, 2016)

FUEL TANK REPLACED WITH SPECTRA PREMIUM SERVICE REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK PART NUMBER 308A FILLER NECK IS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CAUSING LICENSE PLATE LAMP TO BE NON FUNCTIONAL. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK. VEHICLE NOW VIOLATES FEDERAL AND STATE SAFETY LAWS.

Owner-reported narrative. 38,358 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875827 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1983
2
1984
2
1985
3
1986
3
1987
2
1988
6
1989
6
1990
6
1991
6
1992
3
1993
4
1994
4
1995
3
1996
0
1997
2
1998
2
1999
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19832
19842
19853
19863
19872
19886
19896
19906
19916
19923
19934
19944
19953
19960
19972
19982
19990

1983: 2; 1984: 2; 1985: 3; 1986: 3; 1987: 2; 1988: 6; 1989: 6; 1990: 6; 1991: 6; 1992: 3; 1993: 4; 1994: 4; 1995: 3; 1996: 0; 1997: 2; 1998: 2; 1999: 0

Year-by-year records

Oldsmobile CUTLASS model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196701Not available
197302Not available
197403+1
1975030
197611-2
197732+1
197805+3
197927+2
198014-3
198132-2
1982020
1983420
19841320
198583+1
19861930
1987102-1
1988566+4
19897460
19907360
199112660
1992903-3
1993924+1
19949940
19951043-1
1996770-3
1997642+2
199811920
1999770-2