Owners filed 148 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 5 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
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.
Filed Feb 11, 1997349,331 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings95V061000
Filed Mar 22, 1995199,572 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.
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.
Defect. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.
Risk. LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL MAY NOT REDUCE ENGINE SPEEDTO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STOPPEDWITH THE SERVICE BRAKE, LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy. REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Feb 1, 2020GA
WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK. SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK WHEN LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT IS ON
Electrical System › Horn
Filed Jun 14, 2018MS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE HORN AND, AS A RESULT, THE FUSE WENT OUT. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FAILURE WOULD AFFECT THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Nov 24, 2014180,000 milesTX
MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAVE AN OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME 1994 THE OTHER DAY WE GOT IN THE CAR TO DRIVE AND THE WIPERS WASN'T WORKING UNLESS WE TURNED ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WE NEED A RECALL REPLACEMENT. ALSO WE HAVE AN EXCEPTION DUE BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. *TR
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 12, 201375,000 milesNV
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH/MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH THAT ALSO CONTROLS THE CRUISE CONTROL, WIPERS, AND WINDSHIELD WASHER. 1. I CAN'T PUT THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHEN SIGNALING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE SIGNALS WON'T WORK. I HAVE TO APPLY JUST ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE LEVER TO MAKE THE SIGNALS BLINK. 2. MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS WON'T WORK AT ALL AND I HAD TO REMOVE THE UPPER PART OF THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY BUMP IT THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T WORK. 3. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK ON LOW UNLESS I TURN ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN THE LEFT SIGNAL IS BLINKING THE WIPERS WORK PERFECT ON LOW. WHEN I TURN THE WIPERS ON FAST THEY WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ON AND THEN THEY GO UP THREE INCHES AND DOWN THREE INCHES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY FALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V017000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: SWITCH/WIRING). THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER HONORING THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS INITIATED IN 1997. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Jun 16, 2008127,000 milesKS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER NOSE FROM THE DEPLOYMENT. SHE HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE, AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 127,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. HE WOULD HAVE TO JIGGLE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPAIRED ON AUGUST 17, 2004. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL 97V017000 DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLES AGE AND MILEAGE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. *AK
Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Oct 27, 2006OH
ENTERED MY CAR AFTER BEING INSIDE STORE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START CAR WHEN THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL WENT OFF. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK FROM THE FRONT OR REAR AT THE TIME OF MY ENTRY, I BECAME DIZZY FROM THE POWDER. THE HORN BECAME ACTIVATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE TO GET THE HORN TO STOP. *NM
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections
Filed Jun 7, 200697,000 milesOH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE FOLLOWED BY STEAM POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, THE STRONG ODOR OF OIL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING HOSE RUBBED INTO A MOUNTING BOLT WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND FLUID.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 25, 200562,217 milesKS
I HAVE A 94 CUTLASS OLDS WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SURGES FORWARD AND THEN STOPS. TODAY I ALMOST HIT KID CROSSING THE STREET. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I JUST HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED ALL THE WAY AROUND AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I HAD THEM REPLACED ON 8-16-05. THIS DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME SO THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. I CHECKED YOUR SITE AND THERE ARE 16 COMPLAINTS ON THE BRAKES. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE TO MAKE GM DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THE CAR IS A 94 BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF US ON THE STREETS. I AM THINKING ABOUT CALLING THE NEWS STATION HOTLINE SO THIS PROBLEM WILL REALLY BE MADE PUBLIC AND SEE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE COMPLAIN.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 6, 200559,800 milesOH
THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THESE 3.1 LITER ENGINES HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS. *AK *SC *JB
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 31, 200515,000 milesAZ
BOTH OF THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. CONSUMER CAN TRY USING THE REMOTE OR TRY TO PULL THE LOCKS UP MANUALLY, THEY WILL NOT OPEN. NO RECALLS FOUND.*AK
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Nov 9, 2004100,000 milesWV
WHILE DRIVING. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY MADE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL NUMBER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER. *JB INFORMATION. *TC
Tires
Filed May 11, 2004FL
BRIDGESTONE TIRE TRED SEPARATION CAUSING $2000 IN RIGHT FRONT FENDER DAMAGE PLUS RADIO ANTENNA DAMAGE, ABS SENSER DAMAGE, ETC. SENT TIRE AND COPIES OF PAPER WORK TO FIRESTONE, BUT THEY DENIED THE CLAIN. THE TIRE WAS STILL IN WARENTEE. I AM HAVING THE TIRE RETURNED FROM FIRESTONE. NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN FIXED YET. THANK GOODNESS, THE CAR IS DRIVABLE.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 3, 2003115,430 milesNY
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CRUISER MAKE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP ON AN ICY ROAD. AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, 15 MPH OR LESS ONCE THE ANTILOCK BREAKS KICK IN THE CAR TAKES OFF AND SLIDES RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THIS BEHAVIOR IS UNPREDICTABLE, SCARY AND QUITE DANGEROUS. THE TIRES AND BRAKES ARE NEW AND IN GOOD CONDITION. DISABLING THE ANTILOCK BREAKS MAKES THE CAR VERY EASY TO STOP UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS EVEN IF A WHEEL SKIDS A LITTLE BIT. THIS ISN'T AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE AS MUCH AS IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN CONCEPT. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES MAY BE FINE FOR A 65 MPH STOP ON A RAINY CALIFORNIA EXPRESSWAY, BUT THEY ARE TERRIBLE ON AN ICY OR SNOWY NEW YORK ROAD AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 15 MPH, IN A SLOW SPEED STOP ONCE ONE WHEEL SLIPS. THE WHEELS GO INTO ANTILOCK AND SINCE ALL THE WHEELS ARE ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE THE ANTILOCK ACTION CONTINUES EFFECTIVELY SHUTTING THE BREAKS OFF MAKING THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. THE ANTILOCK ACTION IS VERY VIOLENT AND ACTUALLY CAUSES THE WHEELS TO SKID RESULTING IN MORE ANTILOCK ACTION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FEATHER THE BRAKES TO BRING THE CAR TO A PREDICTABLE STOP ON AN ICY ROAD. I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL GM VEHICLES AND THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WILL AVOID PURCHASING ANTILOCK BREAKS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY THE DESIGNERS NEVER WENT THROUGH A NEW YORK WINTER WITH THESE BRAKES. *NLM
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist
Filed May 15, 2003PA
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. *NLM
Structure › Body › Door
Filed Nov 8, 2002PA
CONSUMER STATES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#94V159000. POWER DOOR LOCK FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Oct 25, 2002PA
CONSUMER STATES, A MELTED FUSE BOX AT THE POWER DOOR LOCK CIRCUIT BRAKER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jun 2, 2002CA
SAME DEFECT AS NHTSA RECALL #98T002000 BUT IN DIFFERENT TIRE SIZE. MASSIVE SIDEWALL CRACKING DEVELOPED ON TIRES WITH 15000 MILES WITH LIKE NEW TREAD LEFT. ONE TIRE HAS 3 INCH, DEEP CRACK AND ON INSPECTION, ANOTHER TIRE IS DEVELPING THE EXACT SAME CRACK.*AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Jan 17, 2002MD
BRAKE DRUM ON ALL FOUR WHEELS IS RUSTING VERY BADLY, RUST SEEPS OUT FROM UNDER THE HUB CAP AND GOES ALL OVER THE WHEELS
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.