1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Routine

Owners filed 139 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip10
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components8
000
Vehicle Speed Control6
400
Power Train › Automatic Transmission6
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper5
102
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner5
000
Unknown or Other4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum4
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner4
002
Seats4
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

Defect. CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage95V173000
Filed Sep 15, 19952,216,325 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings94V211000
Filed Oct 26, 199470,676 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE BRAKE LINES CAN CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. THE LINES CAN WEAR THROUGH RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM.

Risk. A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF ONE HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE LINE CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THE BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE INDENTATIONS WILL BE REPLACED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings93V121000
Filed Jul 21, 19932,848 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

Risk. THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.

Seats93V035000
Filed Mar 9, 19935,574 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINING MECHANISMS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE SEAT BACK MECHANISMS WILL NOT LATCH UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Risk. THE SEATS MAY RECLINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, RESULTINGIN A HAZARD TO SEAT OCCUPANTS AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy. REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM WITH A MECHANISM THAT COMPLIES WITH FMVSS 207.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jan 17, 2018UT

1993 CUTLASS CIERA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR CONDITIONER CONVERSION KIT UPGRADE AND POWER STEERING ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DECLINED ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE AND MILEAGE. ALSO, THE A/C CONVERSION KIT WAS NOT INSTALLED AT A GMC DEALER. *JS

Equipment › Other › Labels
Filed Mar 20, 2013206,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS A DECAL ON THE UNDERSIDE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. A FUSE IS IN THE BOX, WHERE IT INDICATED AN AIR BAG FUSE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER STATED GM FAILED TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS THAT SOME OF THE VEHICLES PRODUCED COULD HAVE AN ERRONEOUS DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DECAL STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. UPDATED 04/18/13

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 8, 200631,493 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED ALONG THE FITTINGS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 93V121000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES LINES, PIPING, AND FITTINGS. THE VEHICLES VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 6/23/2006 - THE VEHICLE'S OIL PAN, TRANSMISSION PAN AND GAS TANK ALSO RUSTED. . *NM

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Sep 10, 2004PA

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HIS FRIEND WAS DRIVING SHE HEARD A NOISE, GOT OUT, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. ALSO, ANOTHER CRACK STARTED ON THE A FRAME ON THE OTHER SIDE. *AK

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft SectorCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 12, 2004120,000 milesMA

ON JUNE 10TH, TWO DAYS AGO, I TOTALED MY 93 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME ON I-93 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHILE MY YEAR (93) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, 88 -91 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR AS A RESULT OF CORROSION OF 2 BOLTS WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HIGH, INCLUDING IN MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE BEEN COMMUTING FROM BOSTON TO HANOVER NH TO TEACH FOR THE PAST 10 WEEKS. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I STARTED WORRYING ABOUT STEERING. HAD TWO REAR TIRES REPLACED LAST WEEK AND ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH A BALL JOINT AND A TIE ROD REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT. BUT ON 93 SOUTH IN LONDONDERRY I STARTED TO MOVE INTO THE PASSING LANE, SAW A CAR THAT HAD BEEN IN MY BLIND SPOT SO SWERVED A BIT TO THE RIGHT. BUT I COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN MY CAR OUT - IT JUST KEPT GOING RIGHT, THEN IT SWERVED TO THE LEFT, I CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL, BOUNCED BACKWARDS AND STOPPED HORIZONTALLY TO THE TRAFFIC BLOCKING BOTH LINES OF TRAFFIC. AT FIRST I ASSUMED I WAS AT FAULT FOR LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. THEN ON THE WAY TO THE TOW LOT, THE DRIVER ASKED ME IF A TIE ROD HAD SNAPPED. I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW BUT HAD JUST HAD ONE REPLACED. AT THE TOW YARD, HE AND A CAR DEALER (BOTH INSPECTORS) CHECKED - THE WORK I HAD DONE LOOKED FINE BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL GEAR WHICH THEY SAID SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN - THEY SHOULD BE BOLTED TOGETHER. GIVEN MY DESCRIPTION OF LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE BIZARRE SKID MARKS, THEY ARE QUITE SURE THIS C

Electrical System
Filed Mar 21, 2004MI

MY DIG. DASH WORK HALF THE TIME AND NOT THE REST. I CAN NOT SEE MY SPEED, GAS OR MILEAGE. ALSO EVERY NOW AND THEN SMOKE COME OUT FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. *JB

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch1 injured
Filed Sep 10, 2003110,000 milesWV

DOOR HANDLES NO LONGER WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE. CHILDREN TRYING TO OPEN THEM AFTER THEY ARE BROKEN GET THEIR FINGERS PINCHED .*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 3, 2003DE

AIR BAG SPLIT 1 1/2 INCHES. *MR THE VINYL WHICH COVERED THE AIR BAG SPLIT. *SCC *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Aug 30, 2003IL

MY 1993 OLDS CUTLASS SL HAS HAD BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE IN A YEAR IN THE REAR WITH GM PARTS ONCE IN THE FRONT. ALL ROTORS REPLACED, TWICE IN THE FRONT. THE HOP I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE SAYS THE CUTLASS HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE COMPONENTS ON THIS CAR. I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. ANY INFORMATION ON THIS YOU COULD GIVE TO ME WOULD BE GREAT. I FEEL I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THE COST FROM GM. THE SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. THANKS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › CaliperCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 29, 2003IA

I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR A TURNING CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEIZED.*AK

Wheels
Filed Jul 29, 2003136,000 milesFL

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN REAR RIGHT AXLE BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALL THE LUG S:NUTS AND STUDS THAT GO INTO THE DRUM WERE STILL IN TACK.*AK

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Nov 18, 2002PR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN PUTTING ON THE SEAT BELT IT WOULD TIGHTEN UP ENOUGH FOR IT TO FIT THE CONSUMER PROPERLY. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED TS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Oct 31, 2002TX

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ENGINE AND ALSO STATED THAT HAS GONE TO A PRIVATE MECANIC AND HAD STATED THAT ARMONIC BALANCE HAD TO BE CHANGE BUT WAS NEVER DONE. ALSO STATED THAT VISITED A DEALER AND ALSO WAS TOLD THAT THE MODULE ON THE IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT IT WAS NEVER DONE. TS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 31, 2002NJ

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING AND BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER. RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE WAS LEAKING WHERE IT WAS NEXT TO THE CALIPER. RECOCKED CALIPER, AND BLED MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM.

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Mar 19, 2002NY

VEHICLE IS EMMITTING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, MIDAS DIAGNOSED IT AS BEING THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. HAVING THEM REPLACED, THE NOISE CONTINUES. *JG

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 12, 2002IL

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED SMOKE COMES FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Jan 17, 2002MD

BRAKE DRUM ON THE FOUR WHEELS IS RUSTING VERY BADLY. RUST SEEPS OUT FROM UNDER THE HUB CAP AND GOES ALL OVER THE WHEELS.

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Dec 20, 2001MN

DOOR HINGE TEARING AWAY FROM DOOR SKIN. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Oct 12, 2001WI

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DISC BRAKES EQUIPPED ON MY CUTLASS SUPREME. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM FOR THIS REASON. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD RESOLVE, PAY FOR AND REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THESE CARS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 27, 2001CA

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE, POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. *AK

20 of 139 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
199980120Routine
1998155300Routine
199796310Routine
1996123150Routine
1995156400Routine
1994148520Routine
1993 — this page139560Routine
1992136470Routine
1991193880Routine
1990103600Routine

Compare every Cutlass year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 12, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.