1996 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
115,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 77 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 13 | 16.9% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 15.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
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 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Air Bags: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Steering: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 58 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
1996: 1; 2000: 21; 2001: 11; 2002: 14; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 7; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10002541 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAGS, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015987 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ABS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANIMS DO NOT LOCK INTO POSITION AND CAN ALLOW FOR SEAT OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, WINDSHIELD DURING A CRASH. MJJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030569 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
FRONTAL AIRBAG RECALL-NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE/INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURE.FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FROM SEARCHING A WEBSITE.NO INCIDENT SO FAR!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034142 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE CUTS OFF ON HER AT WILL. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT THE CAUSE. CONSUMER GETS SCARED WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, BECAUSE SHE IS AFRAID THAT VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MAY RUN INTO HER. WHEN VEHICLE CUTS OFF THE RPMS GO DOWN TO ZERO, AND VEHICLE COASTS ALONG. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042249 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. *NLM THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WAS THE SAME AS RECALL #02V286000. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055871 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S DOOR AND WINDOW EQUIPMENT.*MR POWER WINDOWS BROKE/ WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE DOOR IS STICKING WHEN OPENED OR CLOSED. DOOR WAS ADJUSTED AND THE HINGES WERE SPRAYED.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057712 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT IT LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE PROBLEM HAD GOTTEN WORSE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059200 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED, BUT SINCE IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN SHE LEFT IT ALONE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059200 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.