1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass 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 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 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
- Engine420.0%
- Driver assistance420.0%
- Transmission315.0%
- Steering315.0%
- Suspension210.0%
- Tires & wheels210.0%
- Brakes15.0%
- Seat belts15.0%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. A FEW YEARS EARLIER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO GARAGE FOR A DIAGNOSIS, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND ON APRIL 13, 2008, THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE OILER RACKER ARM ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING A HOLE FOR THE OIL TO FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEED AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 5/6/08 *CN UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR
VEHICLE WAS DISABLED AND PARKED, DUE TO SUSPECTED ENGINE TROUBLE, THE ABANDONED VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*JB(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-485)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOTH PASSENGER'S SID EAND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CRUISE CONTROL SURGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK
CAR UNEXPECTEDLY SPEEDS UP/ACCELERATES. *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
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE, TOOK TO DEALER REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION 200-C METRIC . *AK
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
STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THREE PLACES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BEEN TO DEALER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
VEHICLE PULLS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED DUE TO MISALIGNMENT.
FRONT SUSPENSION BOLTS RUSTED, ALLOWING THEM TO PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING..
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60-65MPH IN A 1985 STATION WAGON OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS CIERA. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE SEPARATED. CONSUMER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PULLED APART WITH A KNIFE. TIRE WERE PURCHASED 2-18-98 WITH 10-12,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.TIRE SIZE IS 195/75R14. THE MODEL TIRE IS A PREMIER 4.*AK
REAR TIRES LOCKED UP, VEHICLE FISHTAILED, LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS LOOSE. CAUSING IT TO RUB ON FRAME CHASSIS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOTH PASSENGER'S SID EAND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CRUISE CONTROL SURGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY.*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 .