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1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1999
Power Train

SHIFT INDICATOR NEVER FELECTED CORRECT SHIFT, NEUTRAL SHOWED REVERSE, D1 WAS IN OVERDRIVE AND VARIOUS OTHER COMBINATIONS. SHIFT INDICATOR MOVED UP AND DOWN REQUIRING REPEATED SHIFTING CHANGES TO CORRECT GEAR. WHEN CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND STOPPED HAD TO GO BACK TO PARK OR SWITCH TO ANOTHER DRIVE ON INDICATOR FOR CAR TO MOVE. I BR…

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SHIFT INDICATOR NEVER FELECTED CORRECT SHIFT, NEUTRAL SHOWED REVERSE, D1 WAS IN OVERDRIVE AND VARIOUS OTHER COMBINATIONS. SHIFT INDICATOR MOVED UP AND DOWN REQUIRING REPEATED SHIFTING CHANGES TO CORRECT GEAR. WHEN CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND STOPPED HAD TO GO BACK TO PARK OR SWITCH TO ANOTHER DRIVE ON INDICATOR FOR CAR TO MOVE. I BROUGHT TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT THE COST OF $1,200. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716306

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY/STALL INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853145

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS NOT IN A CRASH, IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN

NHTSA ODI #713366

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Suspension

DESIGN FLAW OF REAR AXLE SUPPORT BROKE WHILE CROSSING A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS. *YC

NHTSA ODI #548583

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicFire

REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846771

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM IS LEAKING, AND CAUSING AIR CONDITIONER TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER SAID THE TUBING IN THE AIR DUCTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840845

Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN VEHICLE STALLED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A COLLISION. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838022

Mileage unknown · May 15, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING, OPERATOR NOTED ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WENT OUT. OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, STOPPED VEHICLE. OPENED HOOD. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, MIDWAY BETWEEN DASH & LEFT FRONT TIREWELL. …

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WHILE DRIVING, OPERATOR NOTED ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WENT OUT. OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, STOPPED VEHICLE. OPENED HOOD. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, MIDWAY BETWEEN DASH & LEFT FRONT TIREWELL. FIRE MELTED WIRING, BATTERY, LIQUID CONTAINERS AND DAMAGED REMAINING COMPONENTS. NO PRIOR INDICATION NOR WARNING OF POTENTIAL PROBLEM OBSERVED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706523

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

AFTER STARTING CAR IN THE MORNING IT IDLES AT 2-3 TACHOMETER AND WILL REV UP TO 3.5 AND WILL NOT DROP TO 1 OR LESS. WHEN IT IS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE YOU MUST DROP TO NEUTRAL OR THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE MOVEMENT. AFTER GOING 2-5 MILES THE ENGINE WILL SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WORK BETTER. IT HAS BEEN IN …

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AFTER STARTING CAR IN THE MORNING IT IDLES AT 2-3 TACHOMETER AND WILL REV UP TO 3.5 AND WILL NOT DROP TO 1 OR LESS. WHEN IT IS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE YOU MUST DROP TO NEUTRAL OR THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE MOVEMENT. AFTER GOING 2-5 MILES THE ENGINE WILL SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WORK BETTER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. EVERY MORNING IT IS LIKE THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705700

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #544012

Official recalls

3

95V173000 · 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

2

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