Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass, most frequently naming the engine, body & structure and fuel system categories. 2 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 3 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
2 campaigns cover this model year
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.govWHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
SUSPENSION:REAR
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
BRAKE BACKING PLATE
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.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE PLACES OR A PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME CITIZENS TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *LA CONSUMER NEEDS MAJOR ENGINE WORK DONE ON HER VEHICLE. *PH
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
CARBURETOR FLOAT STUCK, CAUSING OVERFLOW OF GASOLINE INTO ENGINE. *SD
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 80 | 1 | 0 | 38.1 |
| 1998 | 155 | 3 | 6 | 56.9 |
| 1997 | 96 | 3 | 6 | 60.3 |
| 1996 | 123 | 1 | 0 | 45.7 |
| 1995 | 156 | 4 | 0 | 53.3 |
| 1994 | 148 | 5 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 1993 | 139 | 5 | 1 | 59.8 |
| 1992 | 136 | 4 | 2 | 62.0 |
| 1991 | 193 | 8 | 8 | 63.4 |
| 1990 | 103 | 6 | 4 | 64.2 |
| 1989 | 113 | 6 | 4 | 62.1 |
| 1988 | 74 | 6 | 8 | 62.5 |
| 1987 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 62.8 |
| 1985 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 68.5 |
| 1984 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 65.5 |
| 1983 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1981Viewing | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.