RoadVitals

1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
22
Latest Mar 7, 2007
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.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 3, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–22 of 22

Brakes
Filed Mar 7, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH,THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AND HAD TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,400.*AK THE CALIPERS WERE CORRODED. UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10184457
Incident
Feb 3, 2007
Mileage
65,800 mi
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PAINT PEELING IN SHEETES ON HOOD AND ROOF

NHTSA ID
10070901
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE PAINT STARTED PEELING ON THE HOOD AFTER I WASHED MY CAR AND IT STARTED PEELING ON THE DRIVER DOOR FRAME. THE PAINT LIFTED AWAY FROM THE PRIMER COAT. TALKED TO DEALER AND THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT I TALKED TO SAID THAT THE CENTER OF AUTO SAFETY AND YOUR INFORMATION ON THE PEELING PAINT WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GETTING THE CAR PAINTED. THE PAINT ON THE DOOR STARTED PEELING BEFORE AND WE TOUCHED IT UP WITH TOUCH UP PAINT. WE ALSO BOUGHT THE CAR USED.

NHTSA ID
10070365
Incident
May 15, 2001
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 12, 2003

I HAVE A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHICH IS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND THEY STATE THAT DUE TO VEHICLE AGE IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. YET I FOUND ON A GM WEBSITE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THIS INFORMATION. "THE HANDLE CASTINGS BREAK, FAIL, FATIGUE AND STRETCH - NO CURE OR FIX EXCEPT TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY. IT IS THE CASTING (NOT THE HANDLE) THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM - THAT'S WHY YOU WON'T FIND USED ONES, THEY ARE ALL BROKE! " THIS AFFECTS ALL 1987-1996 GRAND PRIX'S, BERETTA'S AND CUTLASS SUPREME'S. SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES AND YET THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY. 1996 WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO. THEY EVEN KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND DO NOTHING. SEEMS LIKE A SCAM TO CHEAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY AS THEY COST $136 + TAX UNINSTALLED. IF THEY INSTALL IT IS $204+ TAX. TAKE THAT $204 TIMES MILLIONS OF CARS AND BAM SEVERAL MILLIONS DOLLARS ARE ROLLING IN. WHAT GOOD IS THE CAR IF YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DOORS AND NEARLY EVERYONE OF THESE MODELS HAS AT LEAST ONE BROKEN HANDLE. I AM UNABLE TO LEAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE DUE TO WEATHER. THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THE DEALERS SHOULD HAVE TO FIX. *PH

NHTSA ID
10038761
Incident
Aug 28, 2003
Mileage
168,925 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 12, 2003
Crash reported

WHEN MAKING SUDDEN STOPS VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE PASSING LANE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN 1996. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033702
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8022072
Incident
Oct 1, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jun 7, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO HAVE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REAR BOLTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THE ENGINE DROPPED AND CONSUMER LOST STEERING. CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE BUT IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID BECAUSE THERE IS NOW A RECALL OUT ON THE ABOVE SAID DEFECT, HOWEVER THE RECALL IS FOR THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS.*JG

NHTSA ID
566026
Incident
Jul 28, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Oct 25, 2001
Crash reported

IDENTICAL FAILURE AS DESCRIBED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V189000/ CRADLE BOLTS. HOWEVER, THIS CAMPAIGN IS LIMITED TO NORTHERN TIER OF STATES "WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY." MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY OF THOSE STATES. I CONTEND THE PROBLEM TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED. WHAT ABOUT COASTAL STATES WITH PLENTY OF SALT AIR. WOULDN'T THEY BE SIMILARLY AFFECTED TOO? MANUFACTURER REFUSED SETTLEMENT BECAUSE TENNESSEE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF STATES FOR ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.*AK

NHTSA ID
753666
Incident
Jul 18, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Apr 4, 2001

THE CRABLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189 CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT THE MANUFACTURER ONLY CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OF THE CRADLE BOLTS AND THE LABOR, NOT THE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN THE BOLTS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
560662
Incident
Nov 27, 1998
Suspension
Filed Mar 27, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS "FELL OFF" THEREFOR CAUSING A FLIP OVER WHEN THE BACK RIGHT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE BLEW BECAUSE THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRES, THEREFOR, EXPOSING THE THREADS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P195/R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/R14 )

NHTSA ID
743126
Brakes
Filed Feb 21, 2001

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FALLS APART --NO BRAKE SHOES AT ALL IN REAR. GRINDING OF DRUMS AGAINST OTHER BRAKE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
741290
Incident
Feb 10, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Oct 25, 2000

FRAME GOT CORRODED WHICH CAUSED FRONT END TO FALL WITH THE BUSHING, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE, BUT NOT WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
873830
Incident
May 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 10, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
733942
Steering
Filed Sep 28, 2000

TIE RODS RUSTED OUT DUE TO ROAD SALT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555409
Body & structureEngine
Filed Mar 15, 2000

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS HANGING AND THE HINGES ARE RUSTED. THIS FAILURE WAS RECALLED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, BROUGHT IN TO DEALER, THEY CLAIMED DOOR ASSEMBLY WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. POWER WINDOW ON THIS DOOR HAS NOT WORKED SINCE PURCHASE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
858564
Incident
Feb 15, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2000

BODY MOUNTS SNAPPED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
857977
Steering
Filed Oct 22, 1999

THE STEERING WHEEL IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
851506
Incident
Oct 5, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Dec 29, 1998

THE FRONT ENGINE-CRADLE RETAINERS BROKE PERMITTING THE ENGINE TO FALL TO THE ROAD SURFACE AS I TURNED ONTO A HIGHWAY DISABLING ALL STEERING CONTROLL. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD OF A RECALL ( THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1997 ) ON THE REAR RETAINERS OF THE ENGINE-CRADLE. I HAVEN'T CHECKED THE PART #S TO SEE IF THEY ARE THE SAME #S BUT THE FUNCTIONS ARE THE SAME, TO HOLD THE SUB-FRAME TO THE BODY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OLDSMOBILE THAT DUE TO THE AGE ( 10 YEARS ) AND THE MILEAGE THAT THIS IS MY RESONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. MY QUESTIONS ARE WHY ARE THE REAR RETAINERS UNDER RECALL AND NOT THE FRONT RETAINERS SINCE THEY ARE SIMILAR IN FUNCTION AND DESIGN? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHEN THESE RETAINERS BREAK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS? WHEN IS THE CAR TOO OLD FOR A RECALL WHEN IT'S STILL IN USE? I'VE HAD THIS CAR AT GOODYEAR AND FIRESTONE EACH THIS PAST YEAR FOR FRONT-END ALIGNMENT AND THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
701677
Incident
Dec 21, 1998
Suspension
Filed Nov 2, 1998

WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HALF OR A QUARTER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE STEERING. WHEN CONSUMER CAME OUT OF VEHICLE, SHE SAW THE SUSPENSION AND ENGINE ON THE GROUND. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
829972
Incident
Oct 30, 1998
Brakes
Filed Aug 10, 1998

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES.

NHTSA ID
539706
Incident
Jan 1, 1993
Body & structure
Filed Jan 29, 1998

RECALL WORK ON THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS CAN NOT BE DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ID
529383
Steering
Filed Sep 3, 1997

WHEN DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN AREA . CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCE. NOTICED THE PROBLEM TWICE A WEEK. *AK

NHTSA ID
815988

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.

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