1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass complaints

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKES TO VIBRATE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BROKEN WELD ON SUB FRAME CRADLE. *SLC

CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND NEAR COLLISION. *AK

AC BLOWER MOTOR FAILED CAUSING NOISE. *CJ

DEALER REPLACED LOWER INTAKE GASKET DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. *SLC

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A MONTH HAD APPLIED BRAKES AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. NOISE PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK. BRAKE PADS WERE CHANGED. A MONTH LATER , NEEDED A NEW SET OF BRAKES. PROBLEM HAPPENED EVERY TWO WEEKS. MECHANIC INDICATED NO KNOWLEDGE OF CAUSE OF PROBLEM. BRAKES KEPT MESSING UP & WERE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT BEING PROPERLY REPAIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WHEN THE WIPER BLADES CROSSED EACH OTHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, REPLACED WIPER TRANSMSISSION. *SLC

STEERING GEAR IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FUILD, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

3/18/99 COMPLAINED TO DEALER THAT TIRES WERE WORE OUT AT CENTER TREAD AS THOUGH TIRE WAS OVERINFLATED BUT THE PSI WAS 29 IN FRONT 26 IN BACK LIKE IT STATES ON THE DOOR. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED. I PAID FOR 2 G.M. PAID FOR 2. 12/22/99 AT 35,669 MILES 2 TIRES AGAIN WERE REPLACED BY G.M. AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO EITHER PAY FOR 2 MORE OR SEE IF I COULD GET A FIRESTONE DEALER TO REPLACE THEM. AT 38,660MILES FIRESTONE REPLACED THE OTHER 2 TIRES. AT 45,000 MILES THESE TIRES ARE SHOWING WEAR AND ESPECIALLY ONE THAT THE CENTER TREAD IS SMOOTH. I TOOK IT BACK TO FIRESTONE AND WAS TOLD I AM ON MY OWN AS THEY HAD ALREADY REPLACED 2 AND WOULD NOT DO ANY MORE. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT 4,300...9,625...14,133...20,449.....25,030.....31,264.....35,669......40,725....AND 45,300. THE ALINGMENT WAS DONE 9,625 MILES. WAS CHECKED AND RECHECKED BY SHARPNACK AND FIRESTONE. I AM TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THE TIRES ARE WEARING THEY WAY THEY ARE . HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FIRESTONE REP THAT THE TIRE IS THE WRONG SIZE FOR THE RIM, BUT THIS IS THE SIZE TIRE THAT CAME ON THE CAR ORIGINALLY. SHARPNACK SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL WEAR. I KNOW IT IS NOT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R15 )

ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS HAVE RUSTY PITTED SURFACES. THE RIGHT REAR IS ALMOST TOTALLY POCK MARKED WITH PITS AND CAUSES THE CAR TO PULSATE AND SHAKE SEVERELY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY THREE TIMES FOR FAULTY SENSORS OR WIRING. *AK

BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED 7 TIMES, THERE WAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES BTWEEN SETS OF BRAKES BEING REPAIRED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BINDING OF THE STEERING SYSTEM, POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE LOCK UP, FINAL REPAIR OF THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP. *MJS

SERVICE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES $1,200.00 FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR. MY QUESTIONS TO THIS ARE: 1. ARE THERE ANY HISTORIES OF SALVAGE, FLOOD DAMAGE, ODOMETER FRAUD, ETC., FOR THIS VEHICLE? 2. IS IT REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT A 3-YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES (TWO-THIRDS TO THREE-QUARTERS OF WHICH ARE HIGHWAY MILES) SHOULD DEVELOP MAJOR MECHANICAL (TRANSMISSION) PROBLEMS? 3. WHAT OTHER COURSE(S) OF ACTION DO I HAVE BEYOND FILING THIS REPORT? *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN VEHICLE RAN INTO A 4 FOOT CURVE AT ABOUT 10 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR DIDN'T COME TO A DEAD STOP BEFORE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS SENSORS. INSPECTOR SAID THERE WERE NO OUTSIDE SENSORS. *AK

BRAKES FAILED 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE MAY 1998. AFTER 4TH TIME, CALIPERS WERE FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS FIXED AT OTHER THAN DEALERSHIP AS DEALER DENIES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES.

BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT MORE FREQUENTLY WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. CURRENTLY ON 5TH PAIR OF BRAKE PADS. ALSO ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHILE MAKING SOME TURNS. *AK

DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEMS- DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW REPLACED AT DELIVERY DUE TO LARGE SCRATCH. TAIL LIGHT COVER REPLACED DUE TO MOISTURE BUILD UP. DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WINDOW MOTORS REPLACED DUE TO MALFUNCTION. BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 2000 MILES, CV JOINTS REPLACED AT 1000 MILES, CONTROL ARMS REPLACED ONCE AT 5800 MILES AND AGAIN AT 10000 MILES. STEERING RACK REPLACED AT 12400 MILES, BY THIS TIME THE COMPLETE FRONT END HAD BEEN REPLACED FROM THE FACTORY ORIGINAL. AND AT 19000 MILES IT IS MAKING NOISE AGAIN. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CRACKED. YH

THIS CAR HAS HAD ALL OF ITS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. DURING THE FIRST YEAR THAT I OWNED THE CAR, A) THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND THE CABLE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL POWER UNIT TO THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND B) THE CARPET STARTED BALDING IN AN AREA WHERE THERE NORMALLY ISN'T ANY CONTACT WITH MY FEET. DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, A) THE GENERATOR DIED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT A 24-LANE TOLL PLAZA ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, AND B) THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL PULLED OUT OF THE BATTERY, DRAINING THE BATTERY ACID AND LEAVING ME WITH A DEAD CAR AND A SHOPPING CART FULL OF GROCERIES.

FAILURE OF RACK & PINION GEAR CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL ON VEHICLE

IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING DURING HEAVY RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AS THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM FLIPPED OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR TO CHECK WHAT HAPPENED, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM WAS LOOSE. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LOOSE WIPER ARM EVIDENTLY HAD CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO CRACK AND IN THE PROCESS RENDERED BOTH WIPER ARMS INOPERABLE. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY FOR $350 PLUS LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. THE DEALER SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS SO MUCH OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSE.

REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO DEALER REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS/PADS AND ROTORS, COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON 4 TIMES, INDICATING SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES BECAUSE WATER BUILDS UP IN THE AIR PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR PUMP/ INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CLEANED INJECTORS. STILL HAS PROBLEMS. *AK

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING SQUEAKING NOISE. *YC

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE WHEEL SENSOR. MJS

BRAKES FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. *YC

BRAKE ROTORS WORN OUT. YH

TRUNK LID MALFUNCTIONED. YH

TRANSAXLE RANGE SWITCH FAILED. YH

NO SUMMARY.

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ROTORS FAILED.

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ANTI-BRAKE WHEEL SENSOR ALSO FAILED. VEHICLE BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ABS BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE SHUT DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

CONTROL ARMS REPLACED.

CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, ORIGINAL ONES WERE WEAK CAUSING NOISE.

WHEEL BROKE.

THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED TWICE; ONCE AT 2055 MILES AND ONCE AT 6000 MILES. THIS WAS DUE TO A NOISE THE DRIVER HEARD WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 13, 1997. *AK

OWNER'S MANUAL STATES "DO NOT USE CHAINS ON TIRES", HOWEVER WHEELS ON ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO USE CHAINS AND SOME STATES REQUIRE THE CHAINS TO BE USED.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING INJURIES TO CONSUMER.

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT ASHTRAY/LIGHTER LOCATION MAKES USE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT TAKING EYES OFF ROAD.

ENGINE STALLED ON FREEWAY.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION, IMPACT 20 MPH AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S BUCKET SEATBACKS BROKE TO THE RECLINING POSITION, PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

DRIVING 65 MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ON; VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING LEFT, OFF ROAD, PUT BRAKES ON, BUT TO NO AVAIL; VEHICLE SPUN AROUND & WENT RIGHT; HIT POST; AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY; VEHICLE WENT UP POST THEN LANDED ON ROOF. *AK

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND HEARD A "GRINDING NOISE" AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLING THE BRAKE. (SAME PROBLEM WITH A CUTLASS SUPREME 1996, DEALER TRADED IN FOR THIS 1997 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM). *AK