IllustrationWHEN CAR STARTS UP, RACES FAST, RUFF SHIFTS INTO GEAR, CRUISE CONTROL WONT WORK, AND BLINKER IS DIM WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR
1995 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: 12 of 156 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
12 crash reports0 fire reports13 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
18 reportsINTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL, HEADLIGHTS HIGH-BEAM STUCK ON, TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. REPEATEDLY MOVING HEADLIGHT DIMMER-LEVER SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT PROBLEM. NOW UNABLE TO GET ANY HIGH-BEAMS, SMOKE COMES AND GOES, TURN-SIGNALS COME AND GO, HORN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. *JB
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUSES ARE CONTINUOSLY BLOWING, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE SHIFT COLUMN, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ALSO THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES I…
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I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUSES ARE CONTINUOSLY BLOWING, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE SHIFT COLUMN, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ALSO THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE RADIATOR AND TANK ARE FULL. HE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND THE MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. BRAKES ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND ALL SENSORS ARE GOOD. NOW I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING ON HOT DAYS, THE STARTER CLICKS BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WILL THEN START( ABOUT 5 TRIES), AND TODAY I SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP SIGN I LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT A TOP OF 2RPM'S AND COULD NOT GET OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE MECHANIC STILL NEED TO GIVE A DIAGNOSIS ON THIS LATEST PROBLEM BUT SIAD IT MAY BE A CIRCUIT PROBLEM SINCE TOUCHING THE UNDERHOOD DRIVER SIDE CIRCUIT BOX CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND RESTART.
REPORTING PROBLEM WITH FRONT ROTORS. CONSUMER NEEDS TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND PITTED. BATTERY FAILED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OVER BRAKES PROBLEMS. *YH
CAN DRIVE VEHICLE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITHOUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN FOR ONE DAY (SUNDAY) THEN ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY WEEK - JUST INTERMITTINGLY. HAVE HAD IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOKIN…
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CAN DRIVE VEHICLE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITHOUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN FOR ONE DAY (SUNDAY) THEN ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY WEEK - JUST INTERMITTINGLY. HAVE HAD IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOKING FOR ELECTRICAL SHORT, OLDSMOBILE DEALER IS AT A LOSS AS TO WHERE THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. HAVE CHECKED ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED. THERE ARESEVERAL OTHER CUTLASS CIERA'S IN OUR AREA THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - NO ONE IS ABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM..
EACH YEAR SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS OLDSMOBILE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1989 OLDSMOBILE AND HAD TO DO THE SAME. THE HESITATING/STALLING PROBLEM IS WHAT ORIGINALLY PROMPTED ME TO GET RID OF MY 1989 AND PURCHASE A NEWER VERSION. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS AND AM JUST NOW…
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EACH YEAR SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS OLDSMOBILE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1989 OLDSMOBILE AND HAD TO DO THE SAME. THE HESITATING/STALLING PROBLEM IS WHAT ORIGINALLY PROMPTED ME TO GET RID OF MY 1989 AND PURCHASE A NEWER VERSION. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS AND AM JUST NOW EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED/CORRECTED IN THE 1989 CAR BUT HOPEFULLY, THE DEALER CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN MY CURRENT CAR. I DO AN AWFUL LOT OF DRIVING AND DO NOT WANT TO END UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A DEAD CAR, NOR DO I WANT TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION AND HAVE MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME. I HOPE THIS IS CORRECTABLE! *AK
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE IS VISIBILE AT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE--CAUSES BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL. *AK *ML
LOW MILEAGE, WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENSIVE CORROSION DAMAGE TO HOOD RELEASE CABLE AND AREA UNDER (AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO) BATTERY BOX. DAMAGE CAUSED BY LONG-TERM LEAKAGE OF ELECTROLYTE FROM "+" TERMINAL MOUNT BOLT HOLE OF MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY.*AK
VEHICLE STALLING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL, STALLING CAUSED FROM RUSTED AND CORRODED IGNITION COIL WIRING. YH
ALTERNATOR FAILED. MJS
Official recalls
398V306000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 1, 1998
THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.
97V065000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Apr 18, 1997
THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.
97V017000 · 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.
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.