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1996 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 →
123Owner complaints

Model-year median: 17

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
139
1993148
1994156
1995123
199696
1997155
199880
1999
Compare all Cutlass years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
22Service Brakes, Hydraulic
20Electrical System
15Engine And Engine Cooling
15Power Train
13
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
9Steering
8Seat Belts
7Structure
7Fuel System, Gasoline
6Seats
6Exterior Lighting
5Suspension
5Unknown Or Other
5Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
2Engine
1Visibility
1

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: 19 of 123 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 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 reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

LTR FM (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE BATTERY HAD A LOW CHARGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND OIL. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INDICATOR FOR THE FUEL NEVER GAVE AN ACTUAL READING OF THE FUEL IN THE TANK, IT FLUCTUATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS A…

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LTR FM (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE BATTERY HAD A LOW CHARGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND OIL. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INDICATOR FOR THE FUEL NEVER GAVE AN ACTUAL READING OF THE FUEL IN THE TANK, IT FLUCTUATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IT WAS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. THE CONSUMER HAD A WATER PUMP INSTALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146491

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

LTR FM CONSUMER (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS SIX MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR A WHILE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMIN…

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LTR FM CONSUMER (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS SIX MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR A WHILE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED ANOTHER SENSOR. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER 100,000 MILES . THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER GAVE THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK READING. THE FUEL NEEDLE WOULD FLUCTUATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEED. MANY BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BATTERY INDICATOR NEVER ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146422

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineSuspension

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, THE FRONT LEFT STRUT WAS REPLACED BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #784476

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

AT ABOUT 20000 MILES THE ENGINE LOST POWER , HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND THEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED TWO INJECTORS. ABOUT 1000 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE DID THE SAME THING AND THE SES LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE OTHER FOUR INJECTORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708169

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK. WHILE DRIVING FUEL LEAKS FROM FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, SMELLS FUMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831419

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE BLOCKED CRACKED.

NHTSA ODI #511997

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.