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1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

22 reports
65,800 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH,THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AND HAD TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH,THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AND HAD TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,400.*AK THE CALIPERS WERE CORRODED. UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184457

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

PAINT PEELING IN SHEETES ON HOOD AND ROOF

NHTSA ODI #10070901

70,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

THE PAINT STARTED PEELING ON THE HOOD AFTER I WASHED MY CAR AND IT STARTED PEELING ON THE DRIVER DOOR FRAME. THE PAINT LIFTED AWAY FROM THE PRIMER COAT. TALKED TO DEALER AND THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT I TALKED TO SAID THAT THE CEN…

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THE PAINT STARTED PEELING ON THE HOOD AFTER I WASHED MY CAR AND IT STARTED PEELING ON THE DRIVER DOOR FRAME. THE PAINT LIFTED AWAY FROM THE PRIMER COAT. TALKED TO DEALER AND THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT I TALKED TO SAID THAT THE CENTER OF AUTO SAFETY AND YOUR INFORMATION ON THE PEELING PAINT WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GETTING THE CAR PAINTED. THE PAINT ON THE DOOR STARTED PEELING BEFORE AND WE TOUCHED IT UP WITH TOUCH UP PAINT. WE ALSO BOUGHT THE CAR USED.

NHTSA ODI #10070365

168,925 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Structure

I HAVE A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHICH IS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND THEY STATE THAT DUE TO VEHICLE AGE IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. YET I FOUND ON A GM WEBSITE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THIS INFORMATION. "THE HANDLE CASTINGS BREAK, FA…

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I HAVE A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHICH IS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND THEY STATE THAT DUE TO VEHICLE AGE IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. YET I FOUND ON A GM WEBSITE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THIS INFORMATION. "THE HANDLE CASTINGS BREAK, FAIL, FATIGUE AND STRETCH - NO CURE OR FIX EXCEPT TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY. IT IS THE CASTING (NOT THE HANDLE) THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM - THAT'S WHY YOU WON'T FIND USED ONES, THEY ARE ALL BROKE! " THIS AFFECTS ALL 1987-1996 GRAND PRIX'S, BERETTA'S AND CUTLASS SUPREME'S. SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES AND YET THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY. 1996 WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO. THEY EVEN KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND DO NOTHING. SEEMS LIKE A SCAM TO CHEAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY AS THEY COST $136 + TAX UNINSTALLED. IF THEY INSTALL IT IS $204+ TAX. TAKE THAT $204 TIMES MILLIONS OF CARS AND BAM SEVERAL MILLIONS DOLLARS ARE ROLLING IN. WHAT GOOD IS THE CAR IF YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DOORS AND NEARLY EVERYONE OF THESE MODELS HAS AT LEAST ONE BROKEN HANDLE. I AM UNABLE TO LEAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE DUE TO WEATHER. THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THE DEALERS SHOULD HAVE TO FIX. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10038761

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2003
SuspensionCrash

WHEN MAKING SUDDEN STOPS VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE PASSING LANE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN 1996. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10033702

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ODI #8022072

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2002
Structure

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO HAVE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REAR BOLTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THE ENGINE DROPPED AND CONSUMER LOST STEERING. CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE BUT IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES P…

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CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO HAVE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REAR BOLTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THE ENGINE DROPPED AND CONSUMER LOST STEERING. CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE BUT IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID BECAUSE THERE IS NOW A RECALL OUT ON THE ABOVE SAID DEFECT, HOWEVER THE RECALL IS FOR THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS.*JG

NHTSA ODI #566026

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
StructureCrash

IDENTICAL FAILURE AS DESCRIBED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V189000/ CRADLE BOLTS. HOWEVER, THIS CAMPAIGN IS LIMITED TO NORTHERN TIER OF STATES "WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY." MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY OF THOSE STATES. I CONTEND THE PROBLEM TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED. WHAT ABOUT COASTAL STATES WITH PLENTY …

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IDENTICAL FAILURE AS DESCRIBED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V189000/ CRADLE BOLTS. HOWEVER, THIS CAMPAIGN IS LIMITED TO NORTHERN TIER OF STATES "WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY." MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY OF THOSE STATES. I CONTEND THE PROBLEM TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED. WHAT ABOUT COASTAL STATES WITH PLENTY OF SALT AIR. WOULDN'T THEY BE SIMILARLY AFFECTED TOO? MANUFACTURER REFUSED SETTLEMENT BECAUSE TENNESSEE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF STATES FOR ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753666

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2001
Structure

THE CRABLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189 CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT THE MANUFACTURER ONLY CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OF THE CRADLE BOLTS AND THE LABOR, NOT THE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN THE BOLTS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560662

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
SuspensionCrashInjury

THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS "FELL OFF" THEREFOR CAUSING A FLIP OVER WHEN THE BACK RIGHT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE BLEW BECAUSE THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRES, THEREFOR, EXPOSING THE THREADS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P195/R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/R14 )

NHTSA ODI #743126

Official recalls

1

00V189000 · Structure

Jul 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

RP01001 · Structure

Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

EA92024 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA91055 · W-CAR Hinge Pin Failure

Opened Dec 5, 1991 · Closed Aug 17, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE91072 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened May 1, 1991 · Closed Jul 8, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available