IllustrationVEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP TO BE CHECKED FOR BRAKE PROBLEM, BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD SQEAKING NOISE. AT THAT TIME BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. PRESENTLY, BACK BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 35,000 MILES. *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 reportsWE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM SHORT SHOPPING TRIP, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, AND NOT MORE THAN 10 MINUTES LATER WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS, PLUS DAMAGE WAS ALSO DONE TO OUR CARPORT AND THE BACKSIDE OF OUR OTHER CAR. THE FIREMEN, POLICE, AND INSURANCE COMPANY FELT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECT…
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WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM SHORT SHOPPING TRIP, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, AND NOT MORE THAN 10 MINUTES LATER WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS, PLUS DAMAGE WAS ALSO DONE TO OUR CARPORT AND THE BACKSIDE OF OUR OTHER CAR. THE FIREMEN, POLICE, AND INSURANCE COMPANY FELT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS TOO SEVERE TO CONFIRM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE FR721 TIRE P195/75R14 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 23000 MILES, VEHICLE RECEIVED BODY DAMAGE DUE TO THE TIRE FAILURE. *SLC
CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH RECALL (00V-171), RECALL REPAIR MAY TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS FOR REMEDY TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. *MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
RECALL NOTICE NO.00V171OO WAS SENT THE THE CONSUMER REGARDING UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, HOWEVER THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED AND WOULD LIKE A DISCONNECTED AIR BAG DURING THE INTERUM PERIOD. *ETM *MJS
VEHCILE SHUTTERS WHEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.*AK
ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 52,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD REPAIRS DONE. CURRENTLY AT 107,000 MILES, TRANSMISSON FAILED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML
A SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 56,000 MILES. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED IN FEB. 1997, # 67-71-64. OLDSMOBILE DID NOT MAKE ANYONE AWARE OF PROBLEM. WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM BECAUSE OVER WARRANTY PERIOD, THOUGH THEY KNEW OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION EXISTED. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 150,000 MILES A…
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A SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 56,000 MILES. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED IN FEB. 1997, # 67-71-64. OLDSMOBILE DID NOT MAKE ANYONE AWARE OF PROBLEM. WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM BECAUSE OVER WARRANTY PERIOD, THOUGH THEY KNEW OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION EXISTED. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 150,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 52,000 TO 56,000 MILES. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM SO IT CAN BE FIXED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO FIX ANY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED, BEACUSE OF THERE SELF DIAGNOSED PROBLEMS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOWN. SIX HOURS LATER, VEHICLE'S DOOR WAS ON FIRE BEHIND THE PANEL. DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, WHICH USED A REMOTE CONTROL, CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION & VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF.*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.