IllustrationWHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY WHICH WAS DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK
1994 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: 11 of 148 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
19 reportsDIFFICULTY ACCESSING HORN BUTTON IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE IS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ALTERNATOR FAILURE, CAUSING ABS LIGHT TO APPEAR/ LOSS OF POWER ASSIST/ STEERING/BRAKES AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FRONT END VIBRATES, FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE SHUTDOWN.*AK
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FAILS TO GO UP PERIODICALLY.
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AW
LOCATION OF HORN BUTTONS CAUSED DIFFICULTY ACCESSING BUTTONS DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *AW
CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING UP AND WANTS TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Official recalls
497V017000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring
Feb 11, 1997
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
95V061000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 22, 1995
THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.
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.
93V162000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Sep 27, 1993
THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL MAY NOT REDUCE ENGINE SPEEDTO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STOPPEDWITH THE SERVICE BRAKE, LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.