1989 Oldsmobile CUTLASS SUPREME: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 12 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Structure: 3; Parking Brake:Conventional: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 1; Steering: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 1
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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 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). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
1996: 1; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014792 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THIS WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE CRADLE BOLTS ON 10/24/02. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS ROTTED AND CORRODED. *JB...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068961 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
PAINT FLAKING ON HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE. JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE. SPOKE WITH GM SERVICE MANAGER WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST GM CONCERNING DEFECTIVE PAINT ON THEIR VEHICLES.
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071360 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
SUB FRAME BOLTS RUSTED AWAY AND PULLED THE WASHERS AND RUBBER BUSHINGS THEN THE STEERING SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE STEERING BOX CAUSING NO STEERING. I PHONED GM IN ONTARIO JUST TO ADVISE THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS. THE LADY I WAS SPEAKING TO GOT REAL DEFENSIVE AND BELLIGERENT AND SAID IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN SAID GOODBYE AND HUNG UP. THEN I FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET BY ACCIDENT A WEB SITE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENT LISTING THE YEAR AND MODEL OF MY CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 05/03 A …
Owner-reported narrative. 145,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126494 · 2005-06-24 (June 24, 2005)
DT:CONSUMER WAS CLIMBING A HILL AT 5% GRADE FIVE MILES LONG ON FREEWAY WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN FROM OVERDRIVE TO SECOND GEAR AND LOCKED IN SECOND. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AFTER THIS HAPPENS IT WILL NOT GO TO FIRST GEAR, SO TRYING TO PULL OUT IN SECOND GEAR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. CONSUMER SAYS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LIKE THIS THREE TIMES. FIRST TWO TIMES ON AN UPWARD GRADE, THE THIRD TIME WAS ON A FLAT. THE FIRST TWO TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139894 · 2005-10-06 (October 6, 2005)
THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL OFF CONSUMER 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. *TS THE CRADLE FELL DROPPING THE ENGINE DUE TO CONDENSATION FORMING BETWEEN THE RUBBER MOUNTING SUPPORTS AND THE METAL FRAMEWORK. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722079 · 2000-04-29 (April 29, 2000)
I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN I HEARD A THUMP AND MY CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED AND THE DID NOT SO I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON AND AVOIDED A MAIL BOX AND ANY BODY DAMAGE TOTHE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AND MYSELF. THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE FRAME WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE BUSHINGS NEED REPLACED, THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRAME NEED REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS REPLACED AT THIS POINT. THE MECHANIC I HAVE WORKING ON IT SAID THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728765 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)
WHILE ACCELERATING FOM A STOP, BOTH FRONT CRADLE BOLTS SEPERATED FROM THE CHASSIS. CRADLE ASSEMBLY DROPPED ABOUT EIGHT INCHES. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALER. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES, ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED UNLESS JUMPED. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS "DEAD". OWNER SUSPECTS DAMAGED OR BROKEN WIRING (I.E. GROUND WIRE) AS A RESULT OF EITHER THE INCIDENT OR THE REPAIR. REPAIRS FOR THIS CONDITION HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AS OF THIS DATE .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785868 · 2002-01-08 (January 8, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALER PER SAFETY RECALL 00V189 FOR REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AND REAR CRADLE BOLT RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE QUARTER FRAME WAS ALSO DANGEROUSLY RUSTED AWAY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785868 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V189000 · Structure
Reported: 2000-07-11 (July 11, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.
Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗