1997 Oldsmobile CUTLASS SUPREME: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 26 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 11 | 42.3% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 19.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 12 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 12 |
2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 8; 2004: 12
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10008426 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED ON OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 109,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038571 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAD DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040388 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT AT 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THE DEALER NEVER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT, IT FAILED AGAIN ONE MONTH LATER AND THE REPAIR SHOP REALIGNED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LINE. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 23,331 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041878 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION AND RIGHT AXLE.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE LOWER PINION BEARING DAMAGED, DUST CAP MISSING, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING, SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED AND THE RIGHT AXLE BOOT TORN, WHICH CAUSED AXLE NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, AXLE SEAL, REPLACED AND RESEALED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND FLUSHED THE BRAKE AND POWER STEERING FLUID. THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED A…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,744 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044073 · 2003-11-18 (November 18, 2003)
THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS TURN CORNERS.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 37,598 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044211 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASH. REQUEST INFORMATION ON VEHICLE AS FAR AS ACCURATE MILEAGE, LEMON CHECK AND RECALL CHECK.*MR DEALER REFUSED TO LET CONSUMER TRADE IN THE VEHICLE OR GIVE HER ANSWERS TO HER QUESTION. IN ADDITION, SHE REQUESTED INFORMATION ON ANY ACCIDENTS/RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. *PH THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044867 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046858 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
WHEN PULLING TO THE LEFT OUT OF A PARKING PLACE I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN. EVENTUALLY THE WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN EVEN WITH FORCE. WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL A "SQUOOSHING" NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE STEERING WHEEL DID TURN, BUT WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY, AND I IMMEDIATELY WENT STRAIGHT HOME (APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES). DURING THAT TIME I DID NOT MAKE ANY ABRUPT TURNS AND WAS VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVING ONLY 45 MPH AT THE MAXIMUM. UPON REACHING HOME I CONTACTED THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP …
Owner-reported narrative. 131,608 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046858 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.
03V527000 · Steering:Rack And Pinion
Reported: 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗