IllustrationREAR CALIPER SLIDE PINS RUSTED, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. *SD
1990 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 103 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
51 reportsTHERE IS REAR BRAKE FAILURE SOMETIMES IT LOCKS UP WILL NOT RELEASE FULLY HAVE DISC BRAKE . TT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM, EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM WILL CLOSE ON THE ROTOR THEN NOT RELEASE FULLY, THE DRAG ON THE BRAKE ROTOR OF AN UNRELEASED CALIPER CAUSES OVERHEATING WHICH DESTROYS THE CALIPER AND B…
Read full complaint
THERE IS REAR BRAKE FAILURE SOMETIMES IT LOCKS UP WILL NOT RELEASE FULLY HAVE DISC BRAKE . TT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM, EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM WILL CLOSE ON THE ROTOR THEN NOT RELEASE FULLY, THE DRAG ON THE BRAKE ROTOR OF AN UNRELEASED CALIPER CAUSES OVERHEATING WHICH DESTROYS THE CALIPER AND BOILS THE GUIDE PIN LUBRICANT, THUS THE BRAKE CALIPER SEIZES. *SLC
DRIVER AND PASSGENER SEAT BELT AND REAR BACK SEAT DO NOT RETRACT. TT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED, LEFT DOOR LOCK SWITCH OVERHEATS. DEFECTIVE RADIO, CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE, REAR SPEAKERS HAVE POOR CLARITY. ALARM INOPERABLE. DIMMER SWITCH MISALIGNED, TAIL LENS MISALIGNED, HIGH BEAM LAMP INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL LAMP BROKEN, CEN…
Read full complaint
DRIVER AND PASSGENER SEAT BELT AND REAR BACK SEAT DO NOT RETRACT. TT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED, LEFT DOOR LOCK SWITCH OVERHEATS. DEFECTIVE RADIO, CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE, REAR SPEAKERS HAVE POOR CLARITY. ALARM INOPERABLE. DIMMER SWITCH MISALIGNED, TAIL LENS MISALIGNED, HIGH BEAM LAMP INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL LAMP BROKEN, CENTER BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL TRANSMITTERS INOPERABLE, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT BLINK. TIMING COVER SEAL LEAK, OIL FITER DEFECTIVE, ENGINE STALLS, OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES, WATER PUMP FAILED, HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART, COVER GASKET REPLACED. POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK, STEERING WHEEL NOISY WHILE MAKING TURNS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: DEFECTIVE ECU, DEFECTIVE IGNITION, BATTERY FAILED, AND ALTERNATOR FAILED. GLOVE COMPARTMENT LOCK STICKS, LEFT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE BROKE, BUTTON FELL OFF, HARNESS WOULD NOT RETRACT FOR LEFT OR RIGHT. DASH SEPARATED. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE SMOOTHLY. TRUNK LOCK DEFECTIVE. DRIVER DOOR MOLDING LOOSE, DOOR TRIM LOOSE, PULL STRAP NOT SECURE. EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET AND HANGER TOO CLOSE CAUSING NOISE. FUEL GAUGE READS LOW FUEL WHEN HALF TANK FULL. GRINDING BRAKES, POWER BRAKE BOOSTER BINDS, FRONT ROTOR REPLACED, BRAKE FLUID LEAK. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH AC AND HEATER. PARK BRAKE CAME APART. TIRE WEAR. SUNROOF INOPERABLE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS. WINDOW SWITCH DEFECTIVE. *SLC
THE ABS SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE CALIPERS KEEP FREEZING UP ON THE BACK DISC BRAKES. TT
FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT EVERY SIX WEEKS. *AW
HAS HAD TO REPLACE DISC BRAKE PAD EVERY SIX MONTHS THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT FASTER THAN BACK BRAKES AND MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. TT
LOST ALL BRAKE CAPACITY AT ONE TIME; SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BRAKES SMOKED; CERTAIN TIMES, SEEMS TO GRAB/PULL; CHANGED TWICE DUE TO RUST/CORROSION. TT
BRAKE PEDAL HAS CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR. *AK
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE W/INTERMITTENTLY SOFT PEDAL. GLAVIC OLDS., OHIO; POSSIBLE CAUSE THAT RESULTED IN A CHAIN OF EVENTS, RIGHT REAR CALIPER LOCKED UP. TT
Official recalls
697V058000 · Structure
Apr 8, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
95V115000 · Wheels
Jun 5, 1995
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
94V041000 · Wheels
Mar 28, 1995
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
91V005000 · Seat Belts
Oct 2, 1991
FRONT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY SEPARATE AT FRONT BELT UPPER GUIDE LOOPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A CONTROLLED ROTATION BRACKET ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS.
90V185000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Oct 16, 1990
BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH CAN RESULT IN RESUMPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.
90V054000 · Seat Belts
Mar 14, 1990
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.
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
4EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes
Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE90088 · Failure Stop Lamp Switch
Opened Jun 11, 1990 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available