1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass complaints

MY ALARM DEFAULT ALONE-THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKS AND MY AUTO WILL NOT START UNTIL IT STOP BLINKING WHICH IS 10 MIN LONG. *JB

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR WATER LEAK IN TRUNK, MISSING ABSORBER IN REAR DOOR, SUSPENSION NOISE, 4 NEW TIRES REPLACED, NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, AND COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKAGE. *CB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES ON THE CONSUMERS THREE VEHICLES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THIS VEHICLE(1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS) WAS REPLACED, THEN ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS ON A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND A 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. SCC *JB *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE FRONT DISC/REAR DRUMS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL FELT SPONGY AND CONTINUED TO GO TO THE FLOOR. *TT

A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER 2002 THERE WAS NOISE FROM FRONT LEFT END OF VEHICLE....THERE IS ANOTHER NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR.....I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING...ALSO I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT THE SAME DAY FOR THE BRAKES...THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T BRAKE PROPERLY...THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT BRAKE PAD..I HAVEN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SINCE...THREE WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING NOISES AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE COSTLY FOR THE LABOR TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY...THEY SAID SINCE IT'S ONLY MINOR AND IS NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL SOMETHING WENT WRONG TO WHERE THEY WOULD KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM....A COUPLE MONTHS LATER..IN MARCH 2003, THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON CONTINUOUSLY AND THE CAR WAS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT....AFTER CHECKING THE CAR OUT, I HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED....IT HAS BEEN A WEEK NOW SINCE I'VE HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT HASN'T CAME BACK ON AND THE ENGINE COOLANT HASN'T LEAKED OUT YET..BUT NOW, WHEN I TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IT, IT GOES OUT BY ITSELF AND COMES BACK ON A COUPLE MINUTES LATER...I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT FOR THAT YET BUT THIS CAR IS ADDING UP TO A HEADACHE AND I HAVEN'T HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS YET..RIGHT

THE HEAD GASKET CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT. *JB TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS AS THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE APPROACHES 50K MILES, AND MAY DEFECTIVE. SCC

ENGINE ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY OR ASSEMBLED USING DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. GASKET FAILURE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWS WATER TO MIX WITH OIL AND/OR FUEL, IF LEFT UNCORRECTED THIS WILL DESTROY THE ENGINE. SYMPTOMS SEEN BEFORE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 40,000 MILES, WHILE THE CAR WAS 4 YEARS OLD.

LOW COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND HAD TO KEEP ADDING COOLANT. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE INTAKE GASKET AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACE. MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THAT HIS SON WAS A MECHANIC FOR A GM DEALERSHIP AND THAT HE HAD SEEN NUMEROUS CUTLASS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

COOLANT LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON, DEALER DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *YH

ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER MUST PULL OVER, SHUT VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF, AND RESTART TO GET IT TO GO OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKE PEDAL FEELS NORMAL WHEN BRAKING, AND BRAKING DISTANCE IS NORMAL. DEALER STATED MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

POSTIVE BATTERY CABLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. EVERYTHING SHUTDOWN AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *YH

WHILE DIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLS. HAD REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, ABS LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT LIGHT; HOWEVER, HAS REPLACED BRAKE SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT GAS FUMES AND SMOKE FUMES WERE BEING EMITTED FROM ENGINE. *YD

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE IS RELEASING STRONG FUMES THROUGHT VENTS OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

THE FUEL INJECTORS IN MY CAR HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS SINCE 12/14/01, 1/28/02 THEN AGAIN 3/28/02. THE MILEAGE BETWEEN 12/14/01 & 1/28/02 WAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES & THE NEXT TIME WAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IS COST $179.00 AND THE SECOND TIME $175.00. THE THIRD TIME $25.00 & I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE & BASCIALLY HE TOLD ME I WAS USING BAD GAS OR POOR QUALITY OF GAS. THE ONLY GAS I GET IS FROM SHELL, EXXON OR TEXACO. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. HAS NOT HELP IN THE PROBLEM IN ANYWAY. MY MECHANIC SAID THE INJECTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED & THAT WOULD COST $1500.00 OR MORE. THE MERCHANIC GOT A SERVICE BULLECTIN #99-06-04-005A ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN POORLY WITH NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE, & CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. HE ALSO SAID HE HAS A LOT OF THESE ENGINES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. I JUST WANT OLDSMOBILE RECALL THIS & HAVE IT FIXED.*AK

INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT. VEHICLE SMOKED, AND HAD TO CONTANTLY KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT INTAKE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

HOOD FLFEW UP WHILE DRIVING.

THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY CAR SAID THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS MAKE & YEAR CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

ENGINE(IGNITION) QUITS WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. ALL POWER SYSTEMS ARE LOST, MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. ENGINE RESTARTS WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO RESTART. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RESET WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AT A CORRECT SPEED. WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

A/C HAS A BAD CONTROL HEAD AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO GMC. CAUSES A/C TO CUT IN AND OUT. LEATHER SEATS HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY/ DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKEN. *AK

FOUR TIMES SINCE BUYING VEHICLE HAD BRAKES AND BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED. BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS LOSING ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED GASKET. ABOUT 25,000 MILES LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR INOPERATIVE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER, DEALERSHIP REPLACED WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLIES AND ADJUSTED LEFT AND RIGHT WIPER ARMS, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, 01014S, AFTER REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, BUT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

POWER FAILURE- DRIVING APPROX. 20MPH- CAR HESITATES- TRAVELS 3-5MPH-NEED TO STOP THE CAR TO PICK UP SPEED. HAD IT TO THE DEALER 10 TIMES- REPLACED PCM, FUEL REGULATER/PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER -POWER LOSS PROBLEM STILL REMAINS.

VEHICLE WONDERS OFF IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN BACKING UP. BUT , BRAKES DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

I HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES. MY CONCERN WAS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT (ABS) KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. FINALLY, THE END OF AUGUST THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS IF I PAID TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS. THIS WAS DONE. THE NEXT WEEK, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP THE CELL PHONE AND CALLED THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A COMPUTER GLITCH AND TO BRING IT IN AT MY CONVENIENCE. I SCHEDULED IT TO GO IN ON FRIDAY, THREE DAYS LATER. ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING, CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND HAD NO BRAKES. A TREE STOPPED ME! THE DEALERSHIP AND OLDSMOBILE WOULD ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY, SO I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. TODAY, AFTER I HAVE HAD IT ON THE ROAD AGAIN FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR. AM I SAFE IN THIS CAR???? DO I FEEL SAFE? NO HELP. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN ENGINE STALLED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE SETFOR AWHILE AND IT RESTARTED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND LOW PITCH NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT END. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9, A MAJOR HIGHWAY HERE IN THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE AND I HAD MYWINDSHIELD WIPERS ON BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM STOPPED MOVING, CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER TO MOVE ACROSS IT FORMING AN 'X' ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER SYSTEM STALLED AND I COULDN'T SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T TOO MUCH TRAFFIC AT THE TIME AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING INTO ANYTHING. I HAD SEEN EARLIER IN THIS WEBSITE THAT THERE IS OR SUPPOSED TO BE A RECALL ON THE 98 CUTLASSES FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE WIPER SYSTEMS AND I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL NOTE BUT I HAVEN'T RECIEVED ONE YET. MY QUESTION IS, IS MY DEALER REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT FOR FREE OR AM I REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE? *AK

PROBLEM WITH GAS TANK WHEN REFUELING . WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS WHICH IS OFTEN , THE CAR WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 1 OR 2 GALLONS OF GAS. CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FUEL GAUGE . DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY EQUAL AIR PRESSURE INSIDE TANK WITH OUTSIDE AIR PRESSURE .THIS EQUAL PRESSURE IS THE REASON WHY GAS CANNOT BE PUMPED INTO CAR . WHEN YOU CONTINUOUSLY PLAY WITH GAS NOZZLE EVENTUALLY YOU BREAK THE AIR PRESSURE SEAL. OFTEN TIMES YOU GET GASOLINE SPILLED ON YOUR HANDS AND CLOTHING AS WELL AS ON GROUND. IT IS VERY EASY FOR A PERSON TO THINK THAT THEIR GAS GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE AND DRIVE ON EVENTUALLY TO RUN OUT OF GAS.*AK

EVERY 6000-9000 MILES ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, IF THEY WERE NOT, VEHICLE WOULD ALMOST GO OUT OF CONTROL WHILE TRYING TO STOP. *AK

THE TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY ON THE SIDES, SPLITTING IN SOME SPOTS AND IN SOME SPOTS YOU CAN SEE THE STEEL (FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING T2 P215/60R15 93T M+S). NLM

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED WITHIN A TWO-DAY PERIOD. CHECKED WITH MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE IS VERY COMMON ON OLDS CUTLASS & CHEVY MALIBU FOR 1997/1998 -- NEARLY ALWAYS HAPPENING WITHIN 4000 MILES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION. BE ADVISED, THIS WAS MY MOTHER'S CAR AND IS CURRENTLY A PART OF HER ESTATE. WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SELL THE CAR WHEN THE FAILURES OCCURRED. *AK

WHEN START USING DEFROSTER FOR WINDOWS SOME TYPE OF FIBER IS BLOWING FROM VENTS, CAUSING CONSUMER TO OPEN WINDOWS IN COLD INORDER NOT TO INHALE VAPOR. *AK

TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED OVER 1 YEAR AGO DUE TO BEING WARPED. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NOT TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED AGAIN DUE TO USE OF POOR MATERIALS CONTRUCTING THE ROTORS. THIS WOULD CAUSE ROTORS TO BECOME THIN & USELESS. CURRENTLY, EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IT WOULD CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. *AK *SLC

ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, HAD TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED AT 19K MILES(WARPED ROTORS) AND AGAIN AT 32K (REFACE ROTORS, NEW BRAKE PADS), SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WHEN A LESS THAN 3 YR. OLD CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD SET OF BRAKES. THE ABS HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED TOO. DEALER SAID BRAKES NOT UNDER WARRANTEE, BUT SEEMS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM FROM THE COMMENTS I READ ON THE INTERNET.

DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED 6 TIMES, EVERY 21,000 MILES. BRAKES OPERATED POORLY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

A/C TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS COME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT, TRYING TO PUSH BUTTONS TO TURN IT BACK ON. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE. CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM, PULLED OVER ,AND IT WAS GUSHING COOLANT OUT. TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY SAID WATER PUMP WENT OUT, AND THERMOSTAT FAILED. CONSUMER FELT LUCKY THIS DIDN'T CAUSE A FIRE. ALSO, ABS FLASHED ON AND OFF SOMETIMES.*AK

ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED 5 TIMES. WHEN DO I HAVE ABS BRAKES & WHEN DO I HAVE REGULAR BRAKES. HOW DO I PROCEED IN EMERGENCY STOP?*AK

STEERING PULSATES WHEN BRAKE ARE APPLIED. ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED TWICE, AND REPLACED ONCE. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

THIS WAS SECOND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES. ONE AT DRIVER SIDE REAR, THIS ONE AT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. SIDEWALL TORN AWAY FROM TREAD . FIRESTONE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. 2 BLOWOUTS ON THIS CAR SEEM EXCESSIVE FOR THE USE IT HAS HAD. (TIRESIZE: 15260R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15260R15 )

WHEN BRAKING, THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE, DEALER HAS CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC

FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES (P215 60 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

BRAKES SERVICED 6 TIMES. ROTORS TURNED THREE TIMES, REPLACED TWICE, PADS ONCE. PULSATIONS RETURNED AGAIN.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND DIDN'T HERE A NOISE. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE A FRAME COLLAPSED. WHEEL WAS STILL INTACK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

TIRE BLOWOUT SIMILAR TO THE ONES I HEARD IN THE NEWS -- OUTERMOST ROW OF TREADS RIPPED OFF -- I HAD 1" OF RUBBER HOLDING THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE TO THE OUTSIDE. I CHECKED THE WEEK BEFORE -- TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21560R15 )

DURING VISIT TO GARAGE ON AUGUST 11, 2000, FOR TIRE ROTATION THE MECHANIC NOTICED SEVERE CRACKING BETWEEN TREADS ON ALL FOUR TIRES TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THESE TIRES STILL HAVE 50% OF THE TREAD LEFT. IN A QUESTION ABOVE I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT ALL FOUR TIRES -- I WAS ONLY ABLE TO SELECT FRONT OR REAR AND RIGHT OR LEFT. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R15 )

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. DEALER CAN NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK