IllustrationDEALER REPLACED CONSUMER CALIPERS WHICH HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM, AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED BOTH STARTED TO BURN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SMOKE. NLM
1992 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: 4 of 136 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 →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 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 reports7 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
136 reportsDRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION, SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK IN POSTION , AND DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN SEAT, CAUSING HEAD INJUIRES. *AK
THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *SLC
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. OWNER HAS BEEN SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK *ML
INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAD NO AIRBAGS WHILE REPAIRING HARNESS WIRING, LEADING INTO STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS WHICH WERE BEING REPLACED ONCE EVERY YEAR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ABS PREVENTS EMERGENCY STOPS; STOPS ARE CONTROLLED BUT REQUIRE EXCESSIVE DISTANCE; LIKE STEPPING ON A WALL FOR RESPONSE; HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SINCE CAR WAS NEW ; DEALER SAYS IS NATURE OF THIS KIND OF ABS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHIICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK UP. CALIPERS WERE BINDING. THEY REPLACED THE SLEEVES ON THE REAR BRAKES. BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE OPENED, WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEY WOULDN'T OPEN. AT 30,000 MILES DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE BRAKES. ALSO, REAR TIRE CAME OFF. *AK
SEAT BELTS DON'T CATCH,THEY KEEP ALLOWING YOU TO GO FORWARD,IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IT WILL STILL THROW YOU THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES, IT RESTARTED. THIS ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS CRASHES ON THREE OCCASIONS. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
CRUISE CONTROLE STICKS/ VEHICLE IDLES, AND WILL NOT STOP UNLESS CONSUMER SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL. *AK
Official recalls
395V173000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
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.
92V066000 · Electrical System:wiring
May 11, 1992
THE OPTIONAL REMOTE ENTRY MODULE MAY HAVE A FAULT WHICH CAUSES RANDOM ACTUATION OF INTERIOR LAMPS, DOOR LOCKS, AND/OR TAILGATE RELEASE. THIS ACTUATION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TAILGATE RELEASE ACTUATES, THE TAILGATE WILL OPEN.UNRESTRAINED PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT AREA COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLEWHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND RECEIVE SERIOUS INJURIES.
Remedy: REPLACE THE REMOTE ENTRY MODULE WITH A NEWLY REVISED MODULE TO PREVENT RANDOM ACTUATION.
91V214000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Dec 6, 1991
THE REVERSE SERVO APPLY PIN MAY BIND IN THE CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE REVERSE BAND DISTRESS (LOSS OR SLIPPING OF REVERSE), REVERSE BAND DRAG IN DRIVE RANGE (POOR PERFORMANCE -- POOR POWER), OR THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL GEAR POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFTINDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AND RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WHERE REQUIRED.
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
2PE94063 · 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