1995 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
104 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
100,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 104 complaints (13.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 27.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 7 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 4 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Air Bags: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 7; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Cables: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 92 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 | 21 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 21; 1996: 15; 2000: 24; 2001: 17; 2002: 10; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 7; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10009665 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018312 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING AND SOMETHING DROPPED UNDER MY HOOD CAUSING IT TO BE STUCK IN ONE GEAR. I BELIEVE MY TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP. IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE ONLY FORWARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087116 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER LEANED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVOQ WAS FILED BY TONNY JENNINGS 408 GRAND AVE SW, FORT PAYNE, AL 35967/[phone removed]. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114440 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
MY MAIN COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE DISC BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPER ASSEMBLIES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE 1996 AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND MORE RECENTLY THE CALIPERS DUE TO THEM FREEZING UP. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO INSTANCES PROBABLY THREE WHERE I CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF UNEVEN WEAR. THE CALIPER WAS NOT PROPERLY RELEASING AND IT WAS CAUSING ONE PAD USUALLY THE INSIDE PAD (THE ONE WITHOUT) THE METAL STRIP TO WEAR DOWN. IN THE FIRST…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122645 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN HOW REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION ON THE 1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERRA WAS HANDLED.*MR THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE FIRST TIME ONE OF THE SMALLER SHOPS WANTED THE CONSUMER TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR 5 DAYS AS COLLATERAL UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED AND PAY $1400.00 UP FRONT. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *BF THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127911 · 2005-06-22 (June 22, 2005)
THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION IN HIS 1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERRA. *NM *SB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129478 · 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
DT: THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. GRAND DAUGHTER HAD TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT DID NOT START VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 27,2005. CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER, AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL AND TO NOTIFY OLDSMOBILE. CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE, AND THEY SAID TO NOTIFIY GM, DID THAT, AND THEY SENT OUT A INVESTIGATOR LAST THURSDAY. THEN, RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM TO GIVE THE SAME INFORMATION THAT CONSUMER ALREADY GAVE 5 OR 6 TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140020 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL, HEADLIGHTS HIGH-BEAM STUCK ON, TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. REPEATEDLY MOVING HEADLIGHT DIMMER-LEVER SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT PROBLEM. NOW UNABLE TO GET ANY HIGH-BEAMS, SMOKE COMES AND GOES, TURN-SIGNALS COME AND GO, HORN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140020 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.
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 ↗97V065000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1997-04-18 (April 18, 1997)
THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V306000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1998-12-01 (December 1, 1998)
THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗