IllustrationBATTERY HAD A SHORT WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WAS ADDED TO VEHICLE.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ALL ROTORS, CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED. *YH
1993 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: 5 of 139 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
45 reportsWHEN DEPRESS BRAKES NOTICED BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ON, AND LOUD NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM REGARDING DEFECTIVE CALIPERS, CONSUMER FEELS REPAIRS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY MANUFACTURER. *SLC
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT TO BUY A CUTLASS WITH THE 3.4 DOHC THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR SUCKS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALMOST EVERYTHING MOTOR WISE IN THIS CAR. FROM A MAIN SEAL TO HEAD GASKET TO SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES WHICH TO FIX ANYTHING ON THIS CAR WITH 3.4 COST YOU YOUR LIFE!! BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACE 3 TIMES ALSO AND BACK ROTORS RUS…
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I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT TO BUY A CUTLASS WITH THE 3.4 DOHC THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR SUCKS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALMOST EVERYTHING MOTOR WISE IN THIS CAR. FROM A MAIN SEAL TO HEAD GASKET TO SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES WHICH TO FIX ANYTHING ON THIS CAR WITH 3.4 COST YOU YOUR LIFE!! BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACE 3 TIMES ALSO AND BACK ROTORS RUST EASY AND CAN'T BE FIXED ..SO THEY SAY!!!
WHY THE NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SLOW SPEED AND WHILE BACKING?
RECENTLY CHECKED THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR MY AUTO.10/16/95 RECEIVED NOTICE OF WEAK SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES. THIS PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE BRAKE LOSS DUE TO IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSE.
REAR BRAKES DON'T ADJUST PROPERLY. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML
BRAKES FAILED. NLM
RIGHT REAR CALIPER HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BRAKE FLUID LEAK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER FOUR TIMES. THE REPLACEMENT CALIPERS WERE PURCHASED AT PEP-BOYS. MY UNCLE OWNED A CHEVROLET LUMINA (1992 OR 1993) THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING POWER BRAKES AFTER FIRST STARTING T VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT STOP. THE BRAKES HAVE TO HAVE ADDED PRESSURE. POWER BRAKES KICK IN LATER. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. OWNER STATES THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE WHEELS BECOME VERY HOT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
495V173000 · 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.
94V211000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 26, 1994
THE BRAKE LINES CAN CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. THE LINES CAN WEAR THROUGH RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF ONE HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE LINE CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THE BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE INDENTATIONS WILL BE REPLACED.
93V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 21, 1993
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.
93V035000 · Seats
Mar 9, 1993
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINING MECHANISMS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE SEAT BACK MECHANISMS WILL NOT LATCH UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEATS MAY RECLINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, RESULTINGIN A HAZARD TO SEAT OCCUPANTS AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM WITH A MECHANISM THAT COMPLIES WITH FMVSS 207.
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
1PE94063 · 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