IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *JB
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cutlass years →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: 0 of 23 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
1 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
23 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE BOLT, WHICH COULD HURT HER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT IN 1997. THIS WAS CORRECTED WITH THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE BOLT DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD THE VEHICL…
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CONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE BOLT, WHICH COULD HURT HER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT IN 1997. THIS WAS CORRECTED WITH THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE BOLT DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT JUST THE OTHER DAY HER DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS SITTING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET, FACING TRAFFIC. THE RECALL STATED THAT ONCE THE BOLT FALLS OUT CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF STEERING. IT SEEMED THAT NOTHING WILL HOLD ENGINE BOLT IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER KEPT HEARING NOISE FROM THE TIRE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS SPLITTING IN THE MIDDLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT (SUMITOMO 205X75X14-9SS). NLM
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC
WHEN ARE YOU TESTING 2001 CARS AND TRUCKS?MOST DEALERS ALLREADY HAVE ALL 2001 IN STOCK
PE-00-020; FIRESTONE, F360 TIRES PURCHASED FOR A 1986, OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS, TIRE SIZE P195/75R14, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SHREDDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND THE SHIMMY HAS GONE AWAY. *SL…
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PE-00-020; FIRESTONE, F360 TIRES PURCHASED FOR A 1986, OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS, TIRE SIZE P195/75R14, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SHREDDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND THE SHIMMY HAS GONE AWAY. *SLC
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL IS STICKING ALL THE TIME. CONTACTED DEALER, AND COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AG AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
Official recalls
389V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jun 16, 1989
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
86V093000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jul 14, 1986
LEFT HANDED DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR PLATE MAY BE UPSIDE DOWN IN LOCK PILLAR SO THAT THE UNTHREADED SLOT OF THE PLATE ALIGNED WITH THE HOLE IN THE LOCK PILLAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE ANCHOR BOLT BEING DRIVEN INTO THE SLOT INSTEAD OF THE THREADED HOLE OF THE ANCHOR PLATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN A VEHICLE CRASH, BELT ANCHOR BOLT MAY PULL LOOSE FROM ANCHOR PLATE, THUS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES, AND INCREASES LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL A BOLT ANCHOR PLATE REINFORCEMENT AND NEW BOLT, AS NECESSARY.
86V061000 · Electrical System:wiring: Rear Compartment/trunk
May 13, 1986
AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES THAT THIS STOP LAMP BE LIGHTED ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO, THE OPERA LAMPS MAY COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP PROVIDES ADDITIONAL WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. IF THIS LAMP MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A REAR END ACCIDENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: CORRECTLY INDEX WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS.
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
3PE89145 · Parking Brake Cable
Opened Jul 21, 1989 · Closed Sep 22, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
===
PE89104 · Jammed Steering Mechanism
Opened Mar 17, 1989 · Closed May 12, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===
C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available