IllustrationAIRBAG LIGHTS BLINKS INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
123 reportsSTEERING COLUMN TURN SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT COMPLETELY - TOTAL DARK - THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WILL CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION! ! IT IS ALSO HARD TO DISCOVER - THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T USE TURN SIGNALS - THEY WEAR OUT EARLY, AND COST A LOT! BRAKE LIGHTS ARE MAJOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT!!*AK
SEAT FAILED TO REMAIN UPRIGHT, BEDING BACKWARDS DURING REAR END COLLISION, THUS NOT PROTECTING BACK AND NECK FROM INJURY. *AK
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD BE MAKING NOISES. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. TWO-WEEKS LATER, ENGINE CHECK INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED. ENGINE SHUTDOWN, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, CONSUMERS DRIVER'S SIDE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT BECAME UNATTACHED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR DETAILS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A CAR TRAVELING 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED AND CAME OFF THE TRACK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ET
REAR CALIPERS ARE FROZEN AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, REAR BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS REAR CALIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITION, ROTORS WERE RUSTY AND REPLACED. *YH
PRIOR TO RECALL 00V171000 THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG MODULE REPLACEMENT PART REQUIRED 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALER. ONE TO ORDER THE PART AND THE SECOND ONE 2 WEEKS LATER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MODULE FOR 30 MINUTES. *ET
CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTICE FOR RECALL 00V171000, AND HAS BEEN INFORMED FOR ELEVEN (11) MONTHS THAT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ARRIVED FOR A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHM…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTICE FOR RECALL 00V171000, AND HAS BEEN INFORMED FOR ELEVEN (11) MONTHS THAT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ARRIVED FOR A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
THERE IS A VERY INTENSE GRINDING NOISE WHEN USING BRAKES AND, SOMETIMES BRAKES STICK.*AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.