1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS A DECAL ON THE UNDERSIDE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. A FUSE IS IN THE BOX, WHERE IT INDICATED AN AIR BAG FUSE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER STATED GM FAILED TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS THAT SOME OF THE VEHICLES PRODUCED COULD HAVE AN ERRONEOUS DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DECAL STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. UPDATED 04/18/13

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED ALONG THE FITTINGS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 93V121000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES LINES, PIPING, AND FITTINGS. THE VEHICLES VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 6/23/2006 - THE VEHICLE'S OIL PAN, TRANSMISSION PAN AND GAS TANK ALSO RUSTED. . *NM

ON JUNE 10TH, TWO DAYS AGO, I TOTALED MY 93 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME ON I-93 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHILE MY YEAR (93) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, 88 -91 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR AS A RESULT OF CORROSION OF 2 BOLTS WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HIGH, INCLUDING IN MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE BEEN COMMUTING FROM BOSTON TO HANOVER NH TO TEACH FOR THE PAST 10 WEEKS. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I STARTED WORRYING ABOUT STEERING. HAD TWO REAR TIRES REPLACED LAST WEEK AND ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH A BALL JOINT AND A TIE ROD REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT. BUT ON 93 SOUTH IN LONDONDERRY I STARTED TO MOVE INTO THE PASSING LANE, SAW A CAR THAT HAD BEEN IN MY BLIND SPOT SO SWERVED A BIT TO THE RIGHT. BUT I COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN MY CAR OUT - IT JUST KEPT GOING RIGHT, THEN IT SWERVED TO THE LEFT, I CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL, BOUNCED BACKWARDS AND STOPPED HORIZONTALLY TO THE TRAFFIC BLOCKING BOTH LINES OF TRAFFIC. AT FIRST I ASSUMED I WAS AT FAULT FOR LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. THEN ON THE WAY TO THE TOW LOT, THE DRIVER ASKED ME IF A TIE ROD HAD SNAPPED. I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW BUT HAD JUST HAD ONE REPLACED. AT THE TOW YARD, HE AND A CAR DEALER (BOTH INSPECTORS) CHECKED - THE WORK I HAD DONE LOOKED FINE BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL GEAR WHICH THEY SAID SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN - THEY SHOULD BE BOLTED TOGETHER. GIVEN MY DESCRIPTION OF LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE BIZARRE SKID MARKS, THEY ARE QUITE SURE THIS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. AND NOW I'M THINKING THIS MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FIRST SKID-OUT BUT I TALKED MYSELF INTO THINKING IT WAS TIRES AND RAIN AND ALIGNMENT, NOT STEERING. ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TOW GUYS MENTIONED ABOVE, I LEFT A PHONE MESSAGE WITH NHTSA BUT HAVENT HEARD. THE TOW LOT OWNER NEEDS TO KNOW IF ANY PARTS SHOULD BE SAVED BEFORE CRUSHING IT. THIS WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE I WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE. *AK

MY 1993 OLDS CUTLASS SL HAS HAD BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE IN A YEAR IN THE REAR WITH GM PARTS ONCE IN THE FRONT. ALL ROTORS REPLACED, TWICE IN THE FRONT. THE HOP I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE SAYS THE CUTLASS HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE COMPONENTS ON THIS CAR. I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. ANY INFORMATION ON THIS YOU COULD GIVE TO ME WOULD BE GREAT. I FEEL I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THE COST FROM GM. THE SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. THANKS.*AK