RoadVitals

1997 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.
43
Latest Oct 25, 2004
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.
4
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 Oct 20, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 43 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 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 1–25 of 43 · page 1 of 2

Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2004

ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS AN OILY SCENT AND HAS OIL DEPOSITS INSIDE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10096349
Incident
Jul 27, 2004
Mileage
96,900 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 6, 2004
1 injury reported

MRS. JONES OWNES A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. ON MARCH 10, 2004, I ENTERED THE DRIVER SEAT OF THE SAID CAR TO DEPART FROM HOME. WHEN I ENGAGED THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG STRUCK ME IN FACE, CAUSING INJURY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086318
Incident
Mar 10, 2004
Seat belts
Filed Jul 14, 2004

THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FELL OFF. DRIVER'S SIDE THE SEAT BELT FASTENER CRACKED AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT ABLE TO BE LATCHED. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INDICATE WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THEY WERE JUST QUOTING THE REPLACING PRICE OF THE PART.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081992
Incident
Jul 7, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2004

AFTER HAVING RECALL 03V527000 PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE, I AM HAVING CLICKING NOISES EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10078997
Incident
Apr 30, 2004
Suspension
Filed May 11, 2004

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10073473
Incident
Apr 21, 2004
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 8, 2004

WHEN BRAKING HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT REAR PISTONS WERE STUCK AND ENGAGED THE REAR BRAKES. REAR CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. IT WAS NOT KNOWN HOW LONG THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIS CONDITION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM BESIDES THE NOISE. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID
10062897
Incident
Mar 9, 2004
Mileage
79,000 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Apr 1, 2004

RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS AUTHORIZED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A LEAKING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE RECALL WORK COULD BE DONE. REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION WAS PART OF THE RECALLED PROBLEM. DEALER CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION. *AK THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE TRANSMISSION CABLE FROM THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD TO BE REPLACED *JB

NHTSA ID
10059847
Incident
Feb 24, 2004
Mileage
45,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 23, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN HER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AFTER SHE EXPERIENCED LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION. *PH *MR

NHTSA ID
10065078
Incident
Feb 1, 2003
Brakes
Filed Mar 19, 2004

WHEN BRAKING AND DRIVING HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED, WAS DETERMINED THAT REAR CALIPER SLIDES WERE FROZEN AND ENGAGED THE REAR BRAKES. REAR CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062627
Incident
Mar 18, 2004
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND WENT INTO A DITCH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059497
Incident
Dec 20, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 4, 2004

VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. *LA *MR

NHTSA ID
10057875
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 20, 2004

MY VIN[XXX] IS NOT INCLUDED IN GM RECALL # 03V-527. MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR FROM CALDWELL CLOVER CHEVROLET, AN AUTHORIZED GM FACILITY IS $843.00. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL EFFECTED AUTOMOBILES WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED APPROX. 8 - 12 TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS. ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS SAME CAR IS THE HORN. IT DOES NOT BLOW. AN AUTHORIZED GM FACILITY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD AND STATED IT IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE AIR BAG WHICH IS A TIMELY AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSTANT. THE HORN HAS NOT BLOWN IN OVER 1YEAR EXCEPT ON THE RARE OCCASION (APPROX. EVERY TWO MONTHS) IT WILL BLOW FOR LESS THAN 20 MIN. THEN STOP AGAIN.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10054481
Incident
Jan 15, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 9, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044867
Incident
Dec 3, 2002
Mileage
40,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 19, 2003

WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT AT 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THE DEALER NEVER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT, IT FAILED AGAIN ONE MONTH LATER AND THE REPAIR SHOP REALIGNED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LINE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10040388
Incident
Jun 13, 2001
Mileage
23,331 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 18, 2003

THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS TURN CORNERS.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10044073
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
37,598 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 13, 2003

WHEN PULLING TO THE LEFT OUT OF A PARKING PLACE I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN. EVENTUALLY THE WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN EVEN WITH FORCE. WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL A "SQUOOSHING" NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE STEERING WHEEL DID TURN, BUT WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY, AND I IMMEDIATELY WENT STRAIGHT HOME (APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES). DURING THAT TIME I DID NOT MAKE ANY ABRUPT TURNS AND WAS VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVING ONLY 45 MPH AT THE MAXIMUM. UPON REACHING HOME I CONTACTED THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, SINCE THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN ANY MAJOR DISTANCE. AFTER THE CAR WAS INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO BE OPERABLE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD HAVE FAILED AT 6 YEARS SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE FULLY REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10046858
Incident
Jul 18, 2003
Mileage
131,608 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Oct 23, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION AND RIGHT AXLE.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE LOWER PINION BEARING DAMAGED, DUST CAP MISSING, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING, SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED AND THE RIGHT AXLE BOOT TORN, WHICH CAUSED AXLE NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, AXLE SEAL, REPLACED AND RESEALED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND FLUSHED THE BRAKE AND POWER STEERING FLUID. THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED AT THE LEFT REAR. THE BRAKE HOSE WAS TWISTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSE. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID
10041878
Incident
Sep 29, 2003
Mileage
42,744 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 15, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASH. REQUEST INFORMATION ON VEHICLE AS FAR AS ACCURATE MILEAGE, LEMON CHECK AND RECALL CHECK.*MR DEALER REFUSED TO LET CONSUMER TRADE IN THE VEHICLE OR GIVE HER ANSWERS TO HER QUESTION. IN ADDITION, SHE REQUESTED INFORMATION ON ANY ACCIDENTS/RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. *PH THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10044211
Airbags
Filed Sep 10, 2003

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAD DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10038571
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2003

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED ON OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008426
Incident
Feb 21, 2003
Mileage
109,850 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 9, 2002

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAILED WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT RACK AND PINION HAD FAILED AND CONSUMER HAD REPLACED. TS *TT

NHTSA ID
8023936
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Mileage
62,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 16, 2002

VEHICLE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, AND WHEN I BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN, EVEN WITH FORCE. A "SQUOOSHING" NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER A MOMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN WOULD TURN SO I WENT STRAIGHT HOME (APPROX. 1 1/2 MILES). HAD CAR IN SHOP NEXT DAY FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD RACK & PINION BAD. DEALERSHIP SAID MFGR NOT RESPONSIBLE DUE TO AGE OF CAR. I DON'T FEEL THIS ITEM SHOULD'VE FAILED AT ONLY 5 YRS AND LESS THAN 100K MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
763138
Incident
Jun 9, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40-45MPH WHEN VEHICLE WANDERED TO THE LEFT 3-4 FEET INTO OTHER LANE, DEALER FOUND A BROKEN WELD ON THE LOWER SUB FRAME CRADLE THAT CONNECTS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TO FRAME, THE BROKEN WLED CAUSED THE STEERING MOUNTING BUSHINGS TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
879562
Incident
Jan 29, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jan 12, 2001

WHILE TRYING TO USE REAR LAP&SHOULDER BELT UNITS THEY LOCKED UP. CONSUMER THEN TRIED REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LAP&SHOULDER BELT, AND BUCKLE WAS BROKEN. *AK THE MIDDLE LAP BELT DOES NOT HOLD A CHILD CAR SEAT. *YH

NHTSA ID
878154
Incident
Dec 12, 2000
Brakes
Filed Oct 16, 2000

REAR BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN SHAKING. ROTOS WERE WORN OUT. WAS NO BRAKES IN THE REAR. FRONT BRAKES WERE BEING USED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC BACK BRAKES, FRONT BRAKES & THE ROTORS ALL NEED REPLACING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. CONTACTED GMC AFTER REPAIRS & RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT. KEPT ORIGINAL INVOICE & BAD PARTS.

NHTSA ID
873091
Incident
Jun 6, 2000

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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