1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Routine

Owners filed 123 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip12
000
Air Bags › Frontal11
503
Power Train › Automatic Transmission9
000
Air Bags7
203
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline6
000
Vehicle Speed Control5
003
Structure › Body › Door4
010
Steering4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine4
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash3
010

1 safety recall

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed May 10, 201596,000 milesCA

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AT A GREEN LIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THE AIR BAGS LIGHT HAS BEEN STAYING ON SINCE 2009.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 17, 2015145,925 milesMI

HI, I FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH YOU ON THE PHONE IN JANUARY. ANYWAY, I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, MY SECURITY LIGHT STAYED ON AND I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO BERGER CHEVROLET AT 2525 28TH STREET S.E. GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512 (616)949-5200. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR 4102. MY VEHICLE WAS WITH BERGER CHEVY FROM JANUARY 02 TO JANUARY 05,2015. MY INVOICE STATES MY IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND TWO KEYS WERE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR $723.56. PLEASE HELP

Structure
Filed Aug 5, 20145,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE SIERRA SL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME BLACK AND HOT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 6, 2014166,000 milesCA

COULD NOT TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF. NEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE CABLE TO THE POWER COIL TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS, HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AT A COST OF $147.15. GM HAS A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SEVERAL LATER MODEL CARS. REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COSTS. *TR

Engine
Filed Apr 9, 2014NC

CADILLAC & 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BOTH VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OFTEN, THE ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP RANDOMLY WHILE IDLING OR IN PARK, AS THOUGH HE WERE TRAVELING 50 MPH. SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN. *JB

Steering
Filed Feb 7, 201154,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THE SOUND WAS HEARD ANYTIME A TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

Suspension › Front
Filed Jul 19, 2010200,000 milesIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH SHE HEARD A RUBBING AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE WAS MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE STRUT HOUSING WAS PUSHING UP AGAINST THE HOOD. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 23, 2009120,000 milesWV

1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, THE REAR STRUT MOUNT BRACKETS ARE BAD, EVERYONE WE HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD THEM BREAK EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THERE VEHICLES NEW HAVE SAID THE BRACKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. IF THE BRACKET BREAKS IT CAN LEAD THE DRIVER TO WRECK OR EVEN THE STRUT BEING PROPELLED THROUGH THE BACK SEAT. THE BOLTS HOLDING THE BRACKETS IN PLACE SHEERED OFF. WE DO HAVE THE ORIGINAL BRACKET. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Sep 18, 2007100,000 milesWA

I WAS ACCELERATING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY (GOING ABOUT 60-63 MPH) IN HEAVY TRAFFIC (55-58 MPH) AND WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I TRIED FEATHERING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GOT VERY LITTLE SLOW DOWN SO BEGAN TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET BUT WITH LITTLE EFFECT. CAR WAS VIBRATING AND I HAD TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL TO TRY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND ALSO GET MAXIMUM LEVERAGE ON FLOOR BRAKE. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO AN OFF RAMP, DROVE OVER THE ON-OFF RAMP DIVIDER INTO A FIELD. AT THIS POINT I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR BEGAN FISHTAILING AND ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. I HEADED TOWARDS A GRASSY INCLINE AND THIS FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR AT WHICH POINT I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I OBSERVED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIMP ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. A PERSON DRIVING BEHIND ME STOPPED TO CALL STATE PATROL AND CONFIRM THAT HE WITNESSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON BUT ONLY THE LEFT REAR TIRE BRAKING. THE STATE TROOPER CONFIRMED THIS BY OBSERVING A SINGLE TIRE SKID MARK ON THE OFF-RAMP. ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CABLE REPLACED. *TR

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 29, 200798,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND A NEW TIRE WAS NEEDED. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIRE THAT SEPARATED. THE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND TIRE PRESSURE WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE BRAND IS COOPER, COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II, SIZE,P215/60R16. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 27, 200670,000 milesIL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 5 MONTHS LATER WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, BUT NEVER RETURNED A CALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, AND COULD A POSE SERIOUS RISK IF THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire1 injured
Filed Mar 13, 2006194,000 milesLA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE SMELL OF SMOKE COULD BE DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE SMOKE WENT AWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK, AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THE OCCUPANT CLIMBED TO THE BACK SEAT AND TRIED TO KICK THE WINDOWS OUT. SOMEONE SAW THE VEHICLE ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 29, 2005FL

LTR FM (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE BATTERY HAD A LOW CHARGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND OIL. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INDICATOR FOR THE FUEL NEVER GAVE AN ACTUAL READING OF THE FUEL IN THE TANK, IT FLUCTUATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IT WAS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. THE CONSUMER HAD A WATER PUMP INSTALLED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 19, 2005FL

LTR FM CONSUMER (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS SIX MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR A WHILE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED ANOTHER SENSOR. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER 100,000 MILES . THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER GAVE THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK READING. THE FUEL NEEDLE WOULD FLUCTUATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEED. MANY BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BATTERY INDICATOR NEVER ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *NM

Steering
Filed Oct 15, 2005120,000 milesMI

POWER STEERING FAILED. MY WIFE NEARLY HIT A TREE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 19, 2005TX

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. SHE STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND SOME TYPE OF CODE COMES ON. THE CODE MEANS A SLIP IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAS DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THIS CODE IS KNOWN TO COME ON IN A LOT OF GM MODELS. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 30, 2005125,000 milesMI

THE ABS CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, WHICH THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND A WIRE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Feb 28, 2005135,500 milesLA

I WAS DRIVING ACROSS TOWN WHEN I NOTICED MY ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. I WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MY MECHANIC, SO I STOPPED THERE. WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY COOLANT EMPTIED OUT ONTO THE GROUND AS A I WATCHED. MY COOLANT INTAKE GASKETHAD GIVEN OUT. THE REPAIR GUY TOLD ME AFTER HE FIXED IT THAT IT HAD VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARED AT SOME PLACES. HE ALSO CALLED ME AT SOME POINT TO INFORM ME THAT MY FUEL LINE HAD GIVEN OUT AND WAS LEAKING. THANKFULLY THE SHOP WAS ABLE TO FIX EVERYTHING QUICKLY, AS I USE MY CAR FOR COMMUTING TO COLLEGE AND WORK.

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Feb 11, 2005OH

THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT TURNS. WHEN TURNING LEFT THE STEERING GETS HARD AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 28, 2004130,000 milesMI

WAS DRIVING THE CAR NOTICED IT WAS NOT WARMING UP CHECKED ANTI FREEZE AND NOTICED IT WAS LOW IN RADIATOR AND IN OVERFLOW CONTAINER. ADDED ANTI FREEZE LOOKED TO SEE IF HAD BEEN LEAKING AT HOSES OR WAS AFTER ADDING ANTI FREEZE AND IT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN LEAKING AT ANY HOSES OR FROM RADIATOR. STARTED CAR DID NOT RUN RIGHT SHUT ENGINE OFF PULLED DIPSTICK AND FOUND OIL TO BE DISCOLORED. CALLED AROUND AND FOUND THAT THIS YEAR ENGINE MADE BY GENERAL MOTORS IS KNOWN TO BLOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND THAT THIS EXACT CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO. OLD ENGINE IS AVAILABLE. HAVE ESTIMATED MILEAGE UNTIL IT IS TOWED BACK HOME. THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY MY AUNT AND UNCLE WAS SOLD TO MY MOM JOAN ROODBERGEN SHE NEVER DROVE IT AND I PURCHASED IT FROM THEM IN OCTOBER OF 2002. I KNEW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD ALREADY FAILED ONCE AND WAS REPAIRED BY MULLINS AUTO SERVICE. *JB

20 of 123 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
199980120Routine
1998155300Routine
199796310Routine
1996 — this page123150Routine
1995156400Routine
1994148520Routine
1993139560Routine
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.