RoadVitals

1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
3
Latest Sep 18, 2000
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass, most frequently naming the brakes, fuel system and tires & wheels categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
85V048000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

Apr 29, 1985
1,810,000 units potentially affected
The defect: EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.
The remedy: ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
84V149000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Nov 24, 1984
3,100,000 units potentially affected
The defect: REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA86006ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE BACKING PLATE

Opened Nov 27, 1985
Closed Nov 28, 1988

SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BRAKING FOR PASSENGER CARSIN MOST NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALL AFFECTED TRUCKS ARE INCLUDED INTHE CURRENT RECALL.IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED DURING BRAKEMAINTENANCE.THE RECALL APPEARS TO COVER THOSE GROUPS OF CARS WITH THEHIGHEST FAILURE RATES.STATUS:ANALYZING GM IR RESPONSE AND NEW COMPLAINT DATA. DRAFT CLOSINGREPORT BY 5/15/88.===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 18, 2000

ABOUT A 1.5 TO 2 YEARS AGO I PURCHASE A FIRESTONE 721 PASSENGER CAR TIRE. I ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR RIDING RUFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRE AND TOLD THEM THAT MY TIRE WERE OUT OF BALANCE AND THAT THEY NEEDED REBALANCING. THEY SAID THAT MY RIMS WERE BENT, THEY REPLACED THEM AND IT STILL DIDN'T STOP THE VIBRATION. NEXT, THEY SAID MY REAR AXLE WAS BENT AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. I DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS AT THE TIME TO REPLACE MY REAR ALXE I WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE ROUGH RIDE. SHORTLY THERE AFTER, ON A TRIP TN THE VIBRATION GOT ALOT WORSE, UNTIL I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED SOMEONE HITTING THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH A BASEBALL BAT I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND FOUND THAT THE NEW 721 THAT I BOUGHT THREADS CAME OFF AND HIT THE SIDE OF MY CAR KNOCKING THE TRIM OFF OF IT. I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO MEMPHIS ON THE DONUT, ALSO, I NOTICE AS SOON AS I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THE VIBRATION I HAD PUT UP WITH FOR THE LAST YEAR COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. IN MEMPHIS THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER 721 FIRESTONE TIRE THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE NOW, THAT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO. IN THE LAST WEEK, I HAVE NOTICED ANOTHER VIBRATION CROPPING UP IN MY CAR. I HAVE 3 NEW MICHELINS AND THE 721 THAT I GOT IN MEMPHIS ON MY CAR. WHEN I GET UP TO ABOUT 55MILES/HR THE VIBRATION GETS ALOT WORSE. I AFRAID THE 721'S BELTS ARE ABOUT TO SPLIT AGAIN. ALTOUGH THE 721 HAS OVER 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF IT'S THREAD LEFT. WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IN MY CASE?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195R14 )

NHTSA ID
731764
Fuel system
Filed Dec 12, 1999

THIS IS TO BOB YOUNG: AFTER READING THE WALL ST JOURNAL ARTICLE I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I LEARNED FIRST HAND ANOTHER CAUSE OF RUNAWAY VEHICLES: ELECTRONIC CARBURETOR DIDNT LIKE FUEL RICHNESS SO ACCELERATED EVERYTIME I TRIED TO STOP AT A SIGN. LA VEGAS DEALER ADJUSTED IT TO IGNORE PROBLEM. TOOK 2 TIMES TO FIX. MORE INFO IF BOB YOUNG WANTS TO EMAIL ME... ALEX

NHTSA ID
715961
Incident
Jul 15, 1992
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 1997
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10 TO 15 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
815069
Incident
Jul 15, 1997

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile Cutlass by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001000—
2000000—
1999801038.1
19981553656.9
1997963660.3
19961231045.7
19951564053.3
19941485053.9
19931395159.8
19921364262.0
19911938863.4
19901036464.2
19891136462.1
1988746862.5
1987162363.2
1986233362.8
1985183668.5
1984162565.5
1983521—
1982120—
1981321—
1980Viewing351—
1979281—
1978061—
1977320—
1976320—
1975040—
1974030—
1973020—
1967010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.