1985 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
139,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
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:Gasoline | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 7 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 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10224846 · 2008-04-17 (April 17, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. A FEW YEARS EARLIER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO GARAGE FOR A DIAGNOSIS, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND ON APRIL 13, 2008, THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE OILER RACKER ARM ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING A HOLE FOR THE OIL TO FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEED AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURR…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560374 · 2001-03-09 (March 9, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE DIED, THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563740 · 2001-10-22 (October 22, 2001)
VEHICLE WAS DISABLED AND PARKED, DUE TO SUSPECTED ENGINE TROUBLE, THE ABANDONED VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*JB(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-485)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563740 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 873165 · 2000-10-17 (October 17, 2000)
BOTH PASSENGER'S SID EAND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CRUISE CONTROL SURGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 874001 · 2000-10-27 (October 27, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60-65MPH IN A 1985 STATION WAGON OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS CIERA. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE SEPARATED. CONSUMER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PULLED APART WITH A KNIFE. TIRE WERE PURCHASED 2-18-98 WITH 10-12,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.TIRE SIZE IS 195/75R14. THE MODEL TIRE IS A PREMIER 4.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958204 · 1995-01-04 (January 4, 1995)
REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958204 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
84V124000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 1984-10-10 (October 10, 1984)
THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.
Remedy: THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗84V154000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1984-11-27 (November 27, 1984)
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH MAY NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY DURING A COLLISION.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FREE OF CHARGE.
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 ↗