1994 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
99 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 99 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 22.2% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Tires: 4; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 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). 88 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 | 30 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
1995: 30; 1996: 11; 2000: 18; 2001: 19; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10019957 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049138 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CRUISER MAKE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP ON AN ICY ROAD. AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, 15 MPH OR LESS ONCE THE ANTILOCK BREAKS KICK IN THE CAR TAKES OFF AND SLIDES RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THIS BEHAVIOR IS UNPREDICTABLE, SCARY AND QUITE DANGEROUS. THE TIRES AND BRAKES ARE NEW AND IN GOOD CONDITION. DISABLING THE ANTILOCK BREAKS MAKES THE CAR VERY EASY TO STOP UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS EVEN IF A WHEEL SKIDS A LITTLE BIT. THIS ISN'T AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE AS MUCH AS IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN CONCEPT. …
Owner-reported narrative. 115,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072405 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
BRIDGESTONE TIRE TRED SEPARATION CAUSING $2000 IN RIGHT FRONT FENDER DAMAGE PLUS RADIO ANTENNA DAMAGE, ABS SENSER DAMAGE, ETC. SENT TIRE AND COPIES OF PAPER WORK TO FIRESTONE, BUT THEY DENIED THE CLAIN. THE TIRE WAS STILL IN WARENTEE. I AM HAVING THE TIRE RETURNED FROM FIRESTONE. NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN FIXED YET. THANK GOODNESS, THE CAR IS DRIVABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096742 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY MADE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL NUMBER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER. *JB INFORMATION. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115244 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THESE 3.1 LITER ENGINES HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 59,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117182 · 2005-03-31 (March 31, 2005)
BOTH OF THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. CONSUMER CAN TRY USING THE REMOTE OR TRY TO PULL THE LOCKS UP MANUALLY, THEY WILL NOT OPEN. NO RECALLS FOUND.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134183 · 2005-08-25 (August 25, 2005)
I HAVE A 94 CUTLASS OLDS WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SURGES FORWARD AND THEN STOPS. TODAY I ALMOST HIT KID CROSSING THE STREET. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I JUST HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED ALL THE WAY AROUND AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I HAD THEM REPLACED ON 8-16-05. THIS DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME SO THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. I CHECKED YOUR SITE AND THERE ARE 16 COMPLAINTS ON THE BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,217 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159191 · 2006-06-07 (June 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE FOLLOWED BY STEAM POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, THE STRONG ODOR OF OIL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING HOSE RUBBED INTO A MOUNTING BOLT WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND FLUID.
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159191 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.
93V162000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1993-09-27 (September 27, 1993)
THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.
Consequence: LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL MAY NOT REDUCE ENGINE SPEEDTO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STOPPEDWITH THE SERVICE BRAKE, LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.
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 ↗95V061000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1995-03-22 (March 22, 1995)
THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V017000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring
Reported: 1997-02-11 (February 11, 1997)
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗