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
What owners actually said
103 reports
Mileage unknown · May 29, 1998
Exterior Lighting
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FUNCTIONING SPORADICALLY. AT FIRST THEY WOULD STAY ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. CONSUMER LIFTED THE BRAKE UP FOR A WHILE, AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR A WHILE. THEN COMPLETELY STAYED ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME. OTHER V…
Read full complaint
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FUNCTIONING SPORADICALLY. AT FIRST THEY WOULD STAY ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. CONSUMER LIFTED THE BRAKE UP FOR A WHILE, AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR A WHILE. THEN COMPLETELY STAYED ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME. OTHER VEHICLES CANNOT DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING OR NOT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #823776
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ODI #530593
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1998
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATED AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE RACED AND IT WOULDN'T BRAKE, IT STOPPED WHEN IT HIT ANOTHER CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #820593
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1998
Seat Belts
SEAT BELTS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #530254
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTERMITTENT STALLING. ONCE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THEN AFTER IT SEATS FOR 5 T0 10 MINUTES, VEHICLE RESTARTS AND HAS NO PROBLEMS FOR MANY DAYS AND WEEKS. *AK
BRAKE PAD LINING SEPARATED FROM BACKING DUE TO BEING WORN OUT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #518856
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1997
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #519220
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1997
Suspension
RECALL#97V058. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 6-14, MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 6-19. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS, AND IT WILL BE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THEY WILL GET THE PARTS IN. *AK.
NHTSA ODI #813451
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE POWER MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
4
EA00011 · 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
1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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