1988 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 56 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 48.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 4 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 4; Structure: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 53 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 | 32 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 32; 1996: 5; 2000: 8; 2001: 6; 2002: 1; 2004: 3; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10043188 · 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)
1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS- ENGINE CRADLE AND/OR FRONT SUSPENSIONS BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *LA THE CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE DECEASED CONSUMER. THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON ROADWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH AND BEGAN TO ROLL APPROX. THREE TIMES COMING TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE 20 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057815 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. *PH *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088977 · 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)
ENGINE SUPPORT FAILED (BROKE) WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IMPOSSIBLE STEERING CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROADWAY AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES, CAUSING MY DAUGHTER'S DEATH. ALSO, I REPORTED THIS DEVASTATING EVENT SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY RESPONSE FROM ANY AGENCY. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151667 · 2006-03-02 (March 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481995 · 1995-02-17 (February 17, 1995)
WIPER SWITCH OVERHEATS/MELTS IF ICE OR DEBRIS ACCUMULATES ON WIPERS, CAUSING WIPERS TO FAIL/POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482140 · 1995-03-12 (March 12, 1995)
ROTORS CORRODED/CALIPERS FRACTURED/ LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482506 · 1995-03-12 (March 12, 1995)
AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484040 · 1995-07-12 (July 12, 1995)
REAR STRUTS REPLACED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484040 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V175000 · Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable
Reported: 1988-11-04 (November 4, 1988)
THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER.
Consequence: PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE PROPERLY APPLIED AND VEHICLEWILL NOT MEET THE GRADE HOLDING REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105.
Remedy: INSTALL A RETAINER ON LEFT REAR CALIPER IF CABLE IS NOT ALREADY RETAINED WITH A COTTER PIN AND ADJUST PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.
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 ↗90V054000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1990-03-14 (March 14, 1990)
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
Consequence: SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V041000 · Wheels
Reported: 1995-03-28 (March 28, 1995)
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V115000 · Wheels
Reported: 1995-06-05 (June 5, 1995)
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V058000 · Structure
Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 8, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗