1993 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
92 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 92 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 50.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
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 | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 87 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 | 28 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 28; 1996: 13; 2000: 19; 2001: 15; 2002: 6; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10031359 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN REAR RIGHT AXLE BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALL THE LUG S:NUTS AND STUDS THAT GO INTO THE DRUM WERE STILL IN TACK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036822 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR A TURNING CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEIZED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036894 · 2003-08-30 (August 30, 2003)
MY 1993 OLDS CUTLASS SL HAS HAD BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE IN A YEAR IN THE REAR WITH GM PARTS ONCE IN THE FRONT. ALL ROTORS REPLACED, TWICE IN THE FRONT. THE HOP I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE SAYS THE CUTLASS HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE COMPONENTS ON THIS CAR. I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. ANY INFORMATION ON THIS YOU COULD GIVE TO ME WOULD BE GREAT. I FEEL I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THE COST FROM GM. THE SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. THANKS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038630 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
AIR BAG SPLIT 1 1/2 INCHES. *MR THE VINYL WHICH COVERED THE AIR BAG SPLIT. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038652 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
DOOR HANDLES NO LONGER WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE. CHILDREN TRYING TO OPEN THEM AFTER THEY ARE BROKEN GET THEIR FINGERS PINCHED .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062756 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
MY DIG. DASH WORK HALF THE TIME AND NOT THE REST. I CAN NOT SEE MY SPEED, GAS OR MILEAGE. ALSO EVERY NOW AND THEN SMOKE COME OUT FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075271 · 2004-06-12 (June 12, 2004)
ON JUNE 10TH, TWO DAYS AGO, I TOTALED MY 93 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME ON I-93 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHILE MY YEAR (93) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, 88 -91 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR AS A RESULT OF CORROSION OF 2 BOLTS WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HIGH, INCLUDING IN MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE BEEN COMMUTING FROM BOSTON TO HANOVER NH TO TEACH FOR THE PAST 10 WEEKS. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I STARTED WORRYING ABOUT STEERING. HAD TWO REAR TIRES REPLACED LAST WEEK AND ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH A BALL JOINT…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091852 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HIS FRIEND WAS DRIVING SHE HEARD A NOISE, GOT OUT, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. ALSO, ANOTHER CRACK STARTED ON THE A FRAME ON THE OTHER SIDE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091852 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V035000 · Seats
Reported: 1993-03-09 (March 9, 1993)
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINING MECHANISMS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE SEAT BACK MECHANISMS WILL NOT LATCH UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Consequence: THE SEATS MAY RECLINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, RESULTINGIN A HAZARD TO SEAT OCCUPANTS AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM WITH A MECHANISM THAT COMPLIES WITH FMVSS 207.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1993-07-21 (July 21, 1993)
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V211000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1994-10-26 (October 26, 1994)
THE BRAKE LINES CAN CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. THE LINES CAN WEAR THROUGH RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM.
Consequence: A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF ONE HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE LINE CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THE BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE INDENTATIONS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V173000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1995-09-15 (September 15, 1995)
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗