RoadVitals

1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Mar 9, 2005
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Seat belts125.0%
  • Transmission125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ALL INSTRUMENTS FAILED DUE TO FIRE IN THE TRUNK. THE CONSUMER SAYS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS AN INSULATION SHORTING OUT. *YH

NHTSA ID 565878 · filed May 28, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR CHECKUP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT ENGINE FAILED, AND WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO START AND OPERATE.*AK

NHTSA ID 10113703 · filed Mar 9, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER-SIDE SEAT-LAP BELT FAILS TO ENGAGE AND IF LOCKS, FAIL TO RELEASE. MICH HAS A MANDATORY SEATBELT LAW & I MUST USE THE PASSENGER-SIDE STUB-END TO CONNECT TO.*AK

NHTSA ID 725533 · filed Jul 17, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DISENGAGE CAUSING CAR TO STALL IN TRAFFIC, WHEN STOPPING. *AK

NHTSA ID 744016 · filed Apr 13, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .