1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, 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
- Body & structure834.8%
- Brakes417.4%
- Steering417.4%
- Engine28.7%
- Suspension28.7%
- Fuel system14.3%
- Transmission14.3%
- Visibility14.3%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL OFF CONSUMER 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. *TS THE CRADLE FELL DROPPING THE ENGINE DUE TO CONDENSATION FORMING BETWEEN THE RUBBER MOUNTING SUPPORTS AND THE METAL FRAMEWORK. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB
THIS WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE CRADLE BOLTS ON 10/24/02. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS ROTTED AND CORRODED. *JB...*AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR DISC BRAKE MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO LEAK BRAKE FLUID . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEAS PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STRUT MOUNT & PLATE BROKE. BRAKES, CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS, AND STRUTS WERE DESTROYED BY THIS OCCURRENCE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MECHANIC MANUAL SAID THAT ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE DAILY TO MAKE THE CALIPERS FUNCTIONAL WAS A NECESSITY, OWNER UNAWARE OF THIS. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUB FRAME BOLTS RUSTED AWAY AND PULLED THE WASHERS AND RUBBER BUSHINGS THEN THE STEERING SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE STEERING BOX CAUSING NO STEERING. I PHONED GM IN ONTARIO JUST TO ADVISE THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS. THE LADY I WAS SPEAKING TO GOT REAL DEFENSIVE AND BELLIGERENT AND SAID IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN SAID GOODBYE AND HUNG UP. THEN I FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET BY ACCIDENT A WEB SITE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENT LISTING THE YEAR AND MODEL OF MY CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 05/03 A FRIEND OF OURS TOLD US ABOUT YOUR WEB SITE AND THAT YOUR COMPANY MAY TAKE UP MY CASE BECAUSE MYSELF OR ANY OF MY FAMILY OR FRIENDS COULD HAVE DIED AND MAYBE KILLED OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER WHEN I WAS ON THE HIWAY AT 80 KM/HR. I JUST WANTED GM TO LET OTHER OWNERS KNOW SO THEY COULD GET IT FIXED BEFORE ANYTHING FATAL HAPPENED BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS WEB SITE AND FOR LISTENING TO MY SITUATION.
STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A TURN. PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTED CONTROL OF INSTRUMENTS PANEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACCIDENTAL FIRE IN PARKED RUNNING CAR IN OUTSIDE LOT, TOXIC FIRE CAUSED CARBON MONOXIDE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM ENGINE, OCCUPANT AQUIRED BURNS ON 27% OF HIS BODY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT, CLIENT DECEASED).
CRANK MODULE, CRANK SENSOR COOLANT LINE MALFUNCTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN I HEARD A THUMP AND MY CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED AND THE DID NOT SO I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON AND AVOIDED A MAIL BOX AND ANY BODY DAMAGE TOTHE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AND MYSELF. THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE FRAME WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE BUSHINGS NEED REPLACED, THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRAME NEED REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS REPLACED AT THIS POINT. THE MECHANIC I HAVE WORKING ON IT SAID THE FOUR MOUNTING BOLTS ON THE FRAME WERE CORRODED AND CAME OFF. I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY CURIOUS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP WHEN FRONT CRADLE BOLTS FELL OFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO DRIVETRAIN, DISLODGING STEERING. TOTALLY DISABLED, NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER SAID CRADLE BOLTS HAD RUSTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
READ INFORMATION IN PAPER REGARDING FUEL TANK BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE BUMPER & COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET BURNED OR A FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED NO REMEDY AVAILABLE TO CORRECT FUEL TANK. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT:CONSUMER WAS CLIMBING A HILL AT 5% GRADE FIVE MILES LONG ON FREEWAY WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN FROM OVERDRIVE TO SECOND GEAR AND LOCKED IN SECOND. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AFTER THIS HAPPENS IT WILL NOT GO TO FIRST GEAR, SO TRYING TO PULL OUT IN SECOND GEAR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. CONSUMER SAYS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LIKE THIS THREE TIMES. FIRST TWO TIMES ON AN UPWARD GRADE, THE THIRD TIME WAS ON A FLAT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL SHOP AND HAD A USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FROM THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS, AND SOME PLATE IN THE VALVE BODY MELTS, WHICH CASES TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION ONTO THE ROAD.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF A DISTORTED VIEW WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER AT NIGHT & DURING THE DAY. WHENEVER HEADLIGHTS ARE SHOWN AGAINST WINDSHIELD, UNABLE TO DETECT LINES IN ROAD. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALERSHIP BUT WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO HAVE WINDSHIELD CHECKED OUT.AK
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .