1987 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 30.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 10 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 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 478284 · 1995-01-02 (January 2, 1995)
STEERING RACK BINDS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480223 · 1995-01-20 (January 20, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 870787 · 2000-09-18 (September 18, 2000)
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL HAS SLIPPED OUT, CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO GET STUCK. CONSUMER HAD TO QUICKLY SHUT OFF VEHICLE, BUT ENDED UP HITTING GUARDRAIL. *AK THE ROD SLIPPED OUT OF SERVO BAIL AND LODGED ON INTAKE MANIFOLD. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 870787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 894199 · 2001-08-13 (August 13, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO REAR AXLE DISCONNECTING FROM VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHTMENTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959636 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)
AT 30,000 MILES VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. TT CONSUMER STATES STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967204 · 1995-06-19 (June 19, 1995)
STEERING WHEEL BOLTS ARE LOOSENING AND COMING OUT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973877 · 1995-10-25 (October 25, 1995)
FEMALE BUCKLE BASE SEPARATED THEREBY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK MALE PORTION OF SHOULDER LAP BELT INTO FEMALE BUCKLE BASE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 977025 · 1995-12-27 (December 27, 1995)
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RETARCTORS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977025 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.
87V168000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
Reported: 1987-10-26 (October 26, 1987)
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
Consequence: THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRECTION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
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 ↗