1984 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
31,179 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 15.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 11 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10051902 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
1984 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUFFERED VEHICLE FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE CAR WAS SMOKING, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070007 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WELL, I HAVE A 1984 CUTLASS CIERA "LS". SHE ONLY HAS 24,000 ORIGINAL MILES. HAS NO RUST, NO FADED PAINT, AND NO DAMAGED PARTS ON THE BODY, UNDER THE HOOD, BUT THE INTERIOR CEILING UNFORTUNATELY HAS STARTED TO FALL DOWN (THE CLOTH TOP). I HAD IT REPAIRED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND IT STARTED RECENTLY FALLING AGAIN. WITH ITS MILEAGE, IS IT STILL UNDER SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY? I AM TERRIBLY UPSET YOU GUYS AT GENERAL MOTORS QUIT MAKING THE CIERA, I OWN THE '84 PLUS 8 OTHER CIERAS IN MINT CONDITION WITH EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE. PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070007 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 ↗
Owner report 481029 · 1995-02-08 (February 8, 1995)
CRUISE CONTROL STICKS WHEN TURNED ON/WON'T SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE/LOSS OF CONTROL. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481029 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 505666 · 1996-06-26 (June 26, 1996)
BUCKET SEAT BACK LATCHES FAILED. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751118 · 2001-08-25 (August 25, 2001)
WINSHIELD WPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN TURNED ON OR EVEN USE OF THE MIST FEATURE RESULTS IN THE WIPERS TURNING ON LOW AND HAVE TOM PLAY WITH SWITCH TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8007347 · 2002-04-10 (April 10, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE MADE A POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE, INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED TORQUE CONVERTER AS THE CAUSE. *AK *YD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007347 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
84V011000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
Reported: 1984-02-06 (February 6, 1984)
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
Remedy: INSPECTION OF SEAT BACK LOCKS WILL BE PERFORMED. LOCKS THAT HAVE BENT, BROKEN OR MISSING HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1989-06-16 (June 16, 1989)
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗