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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. WHENEVER VEHICLE IS AT A PARKED POSITION AND SITTING FOR A WHILE, THEN WHEN BACKING UP THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR SHOT OF AIR GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES A BACKWARD SURGE (ALMOST AS THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD LOCK UP) WITH NO BRAKE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASION SAND N…

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ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. WHENEVER VEHICLE IS AT A PARKED POSITION AND SITTING FOR A WHILE, THEN WHEN BACKING UP THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR SHOT OF AIR GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES A BACKWARD SURGE (ALMOST AS THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD LOCK UP) WITH NO BRAKE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASION SAND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842941

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL "FREEZES," CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842914

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE HAVING A BRAKE JOB IT WAS NOTED THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS HAD HOLES IN THE CASTING ON THE INSIDE FACE OF BOTH FRONT ROTORS.*ET

NHTSA ODI #781257

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE PADS FAILED AND RESURFACED ALL FOUR ROTORS.

NHTSA ODI #536038

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES ARE DRAGGING.

NHTSA ODI #535873

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE RIGHT HUB/ BEARINGS, AND ON 12-31 97 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED . OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND LOST BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821624

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1997
Power TrainSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

TRANSMISSION DROPS DOWN TO LOW GEAR WHEN GAS RELEASED CAUSING VIBRATION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #525522

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING WHEN IT'S WET AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THEN LET LOOSE. ALSO WHEN YOU DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND APPLYING FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WILL STILL MOVE FORWARD ABOUT 15 FEET BEFORE IT STOPS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817296

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809408

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CAR HAS ABS. THE ABS SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK AND THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AND THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND STOPPING THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806939

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.