NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
23 reportsClear category filter39,600 miles · Feb 2, 2004
Electrical System
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES ALREADY BECAUSE IT WILL CUT OFF WILL DRIVING, PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATING USING CONSUMER AUTOMOBILE REVIEW SITES…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES ALREADY BECAUSE IT WILL CUT OFF WILL DRIVING, PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATING USING CONSUMER AUTOMOBILE REVIEW SITES ON THE WEB. I FIND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OR ONES VERY SIMILAR PRODUCED BY GM/OLDSMOBILE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39,700 MILES ON IT. I HAVE A 2 YEAR WARRANTY, THAT HAS YET TO BE HONORED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I AM SERIOUSLY WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF COVER UP OR INTENTIONAL IGNORING OF A COMMON MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THIS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10056325
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering
WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING, ALTERNATOR GOES OUT AND KILLS THE BATTERY. HAD 4 ALTERNATORS AND BATTERIES REPLACED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO INDICATED ENGINE WAS TOO BIG FOR ALTERNATOR ALSO CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL, ENGINE COOLING FAN REPLACED, POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE FAILED AND REPLACED, REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, CEILING FABRIC COM…
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WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING, ALTERNATOR GOES OUT AND KILLS THE BATTERY. HAD 4 ALTERNATORS AND BATTERIES REPLACED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO INDICATED ENGINE WAS TOO BIG FOR ALTERNATOR ALSO CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL, ENGINE COOLING FAN REPLACED, POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE FAILED AND REPLACED, REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, CEILING FABRIC COMING UNGLUED AND DASHBOARD VENT COVER COMING OFF. *AK *TT
NHTSA ODI #8007026
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT INTO PARK, IT WOULD START AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE JUNE OF THIS YEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUISNG THIS PROBLEM. *AK CLEANING THE FUEL SYSTEM AND REPLACING SPARK PLUGS DID …
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT INTO PARK, IT WOULD START AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE JUNE OF THIS YEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUISNG THIS PROBLEM. *AK CLEANING THE FUEL SYSTEM AND REPLACING SPARK PLUGS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.. *YH
NHTSA ODI #874708
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Electrical System
ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD FLICKERS OFF FOR MINUTES AT A TIME. THIS AFFECTS THE DISPLAY OF THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE AND MILEAGE. SMOKE COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN 2 YEARS AGO, AND I HAD THE SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAM SWITCH REPAIRED ALREADY.
NHTSA ODI #733902
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2000
Electrical System
OUR OLDS CUTLAS SUPREME HAS A DIGITAL ELECTRONIC DASH. THIS ENTIRE AREA HAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH GOING ON AND OFF WHEN IT IS OFF IT CAUSES AN UNSAFE AND UNDESIREABLE PROBLEM OF NOT KNOWING IF THERE IS ANY MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ENGINE,COOLING SYSTEM,AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT IS LEFT AND MOST IMPORTANT THE SPEED THAT YOU ARE TRAVELIN…
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OUR OLDS CUTLAS SUPREME HAS A DIGITAL ELECTRONIC DASH. THIS ENTIRE AREA HAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH GOING ON AND OFF WHEN IT IS OFF IT CAUSES AN UNSAFE AND UNDESIREABLE PROBLEM OF NOT KNOWING IF THERE IS ANY MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ENGINE,COOLING SYSTEM,AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT IS LEFT AND MOST IMPORTANT THE SPEED THAT YOU ARE TRAVELING.ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE EACH BY THEM SELVES A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND ANYONE FOLLOWING OR ARROUND THE EFFECTIVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #724116
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Electrical System
A POSSIBLE SHORTAGE IN THE MAIN COMPUTER MAY BE CAUSING VEHCILE TO STALL. *YC
NHTSA ODI #852550
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999
Electrical System
ANYTIME THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED, IT WIPES OUT THE COMPUTER MEMORY, CAUSING STALLING, ERADIC SHIFTING, ENGINE FAILURE, AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS NOT NOTICED UNTIL CAR IS DRIVEN, AND DIDN'T APPEAR UNTILL TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. DEALER SAID THIS IS PART OF HE VEHICLE DESIGN AND IT WILL COST $60.00 TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AN…
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ANYTIME THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED, IT WIPES OUT THE COMPUTER MEMORY, CAUSING STALLING, ERADIC SHIFTING, ENGINE FAILURE, AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS NOT NOTICED UNTIL CAR IS DRIVEN, AND DIDN'T APPEAR UNTILL TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. DEALER SAID THIS IS PART OF HE VEHICLE DESIGN AND IT WILL COST $60.00 TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER ANY TIME THAT THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED OR FAILS. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF THE CAR FAILS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING VERY STIFF STEERING AND BRAKING.
NHTSA ODI #712965
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1999
Electrical SystemFireInjury
THIS IS THE SECOND ELECTRICAL FIRE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS VEHICLE THIS YEAR. THE FIRST WAS THE CENTER CONSOLE, MELTING DOWN (WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOU ,AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE. TODAY, AS I WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF CHOKING ACRID SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT HAPPENED W…
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THIS IS THE SECOND ELECTRICAL FIRE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS VEHICLE THIS YEAR. THE FIRST WAS THE CENTER CONSOLE, MELTING DOWN (WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOU ,AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE. TODAY, AS I WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF CHOKING ACRID SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE UPHOLSTERY SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS BEEN BREAKING DOWN UNTIENG THE WIRE HARNESS WHICH SHORTED OUT THE POWER SEAT MOTOR, CATCHING THE DRIVERS SEAT ON FIRE. THANK GOD THERE WAS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER NEARBY AND A FRESH BATTERY IN MY CELLULAR PHONE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH , AND I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT THE TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS MUST BE NOTIFIED BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS.
NHTSA ODI #703558
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1999
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE HAS HAD LONG HISTORY OF UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO ELECTRICAL FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #543434
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1998
Electrical System
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #831347
Official recalls
6Jul 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.
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.
Sep 15, 1995
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
Sep 1, 1992
THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.
Remedy: REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.
Apr 1, 1992
MOISTURE CAN ENTER THE EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CAUSES WINDOW OPERATION WITHOUT OPERATOR CONTROL, AND LEAVES THE WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WILL FAIL FROM OVERHEATINGAND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL.
Remedy: REPLACE THE WINDOW EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
Jan 10, 1992
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
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
8RP01001 · Structure
Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
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
PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure
Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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
EA91049 · Jack Failure
Opened Nov 26, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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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