IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 57MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*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 reportsTOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 55 MPH.TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC AT 55 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING.THERE WAS NO NOISES NO SLIPPING OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS.ONE MINUTE EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STOPS MOVING.IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR IN THE…
Read full complaint
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 55 MPH.TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC AT 55 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING.THERE WAS NO NOISES NO SLIPPING OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS.ONE MINUTE EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STOPS MOVING.IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND YOUR CAR SUDDENLY FAILS WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS WHAT SO EVER.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V171000 CONCERNING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO EMPHASIZED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO IMPACT WALL AT THE RATE OF SPEED 40-50 MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE *AK
WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR IT HAD TO BE PUT BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL, THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO A SHIFT ON THE DASHBOARD, WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD RACE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. *SLC
THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED. *SLC
WE HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES MORE THAN EIGHT TIMES AND HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE. WE HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER CUTLASS SUPREME OWNERS AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THEIR BRAKES JUST AS MUCH IF NOT MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN COSTLY REPAIRS. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS, THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO ALSO GET AN ON/OFF SWITCH BECAUSE OF HER HEIGHT AND HOW CLOSE SHE HAS TO SIT TO THE STEERING WHEEL. *SLC
VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHEN IT IS COLD. DEALER REPLACED A SOLENOID, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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.