RoadVitals

1984 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.
16
Latest Jun 22, 2016
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.
2
Latest Jun 16, 1989
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.
5
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
1 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass, most frequently naming the engine, visibility and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 5 NHTSA investigations name 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

  • Engine422.2%
  • Visibility316.7%
  • Electrical211.1%
  • Fuel system211.1%
  • Driver assistance211.1%
  • Transmission211.1%
  • Seat belts15.6%
  • Brakes15.6%

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

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.gov
89V102000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jun 16, 1989
1,755,897 units potentially affected
The defect: A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
The risk: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
84V011000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Feb 6, 1984
76,586 units potentially affected
The defect: SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
The remedy: INSPECTION OF SEAT BACK LOCKS WILL BE PERFORMED. LOCKS THAT HAVE BENT, BROKEN OR MISSING HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

C89001ClosedInvestigation

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989
Closed Jan 16, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA88023ClosedEngineering Analysis

THROTTLE LINKAGE STICKING

Opened Feb 2, 1988
Closed Mar 6, 1989

===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP87021ClosedDefect Petition

CUTLASS SUPREME BRAKE LOCKUP

Opened Jul 1, 1987
Closed Jul 17, 1987

CUTLASS SUPREME BRAKE LOCKUP

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DP87014ClosedDefect Petition

84 OLDS BRAKE LOCKUP

Opened Mar 3, 1987
Closed May 7, 1987

84 OLDS BRAKE LOCKUP

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 16
Fuel system
Filed Jun 22, 2016

FUEL TANK REPLACED WITH SPECTRA PREMIUM SERVICE REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK PART NUMBER 308A FILLER NECK IS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CAUSING LICENSE PLATE LAMP TO BE NON FUNCTIONAL. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK. VEHICLE NOW VIOLATES FEDERAL AND STATE SAFETY LAWS.

NHTSA ID
10875827
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
38,358 mi
Filed Jan 15, 2004

WELL, I HAVE A 1984 CUTLASS CIERA "LS". SHE ONLY HAS 24,000 ORIGINAL MILES. HAS NO RUST, NO FADED PAINT, AND NO DAMAGED PARTS ON THE BODY, UNDER THE HOOD, BUT THE INTERIOR CEILING UNFORTUNATELY HAS STARTED TO FALL DOWN (THE CLOTH TOP). I HAD IT REPAIRED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND IT STARTED RECENTLY FALLING AGAIN. WITH ITS MILEAGE, IS IT STILL UNDER SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY? I AM TERRIBLY UPSET YOU GUYS AT GENERAL MOTORS QUIT MAKING THE CIERA, I OWN THE '84 PLUS 8 OTHER CIERAS IN MINT CONDITION WITH EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE. PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK AND DONT QUIT MAKING OLDSMOBILES. "IM DESPERATE". I'M REAL ANGRY THAT GM IS GOING TO STOP MAKING OLDSMOBILES. LET ME SAY IF THEY QUIT MAKING THEM THEY ARE GOING TO CATCH MAJOR HELL FROM THE PEOPLE WHO BUY THEM. I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION, WHY DID GM QUIT MAKING THE CIERA? THAT CAR WAS SOLID METAL AND HAD A GREAT STRONG AND CLASSIC BODY STYLE. THATS BULLCRAP THAT OLDAMOBILE HAS STARTED TO MOVE INTO THE PLASTIC STAGE, THAT JUST DISGUSTS ME, JUST LIKE THE PRESIDENT OF GENERAL MOTORS WHO MAKES ME SICKER THAN THE MEANING OF THE WORD SICK! IF RANSOM OLDS HEARD ABOUT THIS HE'D BE SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE. WHY RUIN A 108 YEAR OLD TRADITION OF THE OLDSMOBILE. IT MAKES NO SENSE! PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE CARS AND PLEASE MAKE THE DISCONTINUED MODELS COME BACK AGAIN SUCH AS THE CIERA. RIEGELMAN

NHTSA ID
10070007
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
24,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2003
Fire reported

1984 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUFFERED VEHICLE FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE CAR WAS SMOKING, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. *CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10051902
Incident
Sep 24, 2003
Transmission
Filed Apr 10, 2002

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE MADE A POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE, INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED TORQUE CONVERTER AS THE CAUSE. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID
8007347
Incident
Apr 2, 2002
Visibility
Filed Aug 25, 2001

WINSHIELD WPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN TURNED ON OR EVEN USE OF THE MIST FEATURE RESULTS IN THE WIPERS TURNING ON LOW AND HAVE TOM PLAY WITH SWITCH TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
751118
Fuel system
Filed Aug 1, 2001

DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM

NHTSA ID
9003762
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLES ENGINE COMPARTMENT OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT).

NHTSA ID
544145
Incident
Jan 5, 1999
Visibility
Filed Apr 27, 1998

REMOTE DOOR OPENER STOPPED WORKING. ALSO REAR WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN WHEN WEATHER IS COLD OR NEAR 30 DEGREES F.

NHTSA ID
534815

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
1984Viewing162565.5
1983521—
1982120—
1981321—
1980351—
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.