1986 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 1986 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
- Steering312.0%
- Brakes312.0%
- Driver assistance312.0%
- Transmission312.0%
- Engine312.0%
- Body & structure28.0%
- Seat belts28.0%
- Tires & wheels28.0%
- Fuel system14.0%
- Suspension14.0%
- Interior & seats14.0%
- Electrical14.0%
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
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
RACK/PINION WORE OUT PREMATURELY ON PASSENGERS SIDE. *DH
FRONT RACK AND PINION FAILURE, DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE. *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
BACK BRAKES FAIL AND LOCK UP.
WHILE TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY OUT.*AK
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
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL IS STICKING ALL THE TIME. CONTACTED DEALER, AND COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. *AK
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AG AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
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
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC
THE REVERSE WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE BOLT, WHICH COULD HURT HER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT IN 1997. THIS WAS CORRECTED WITH THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE BOLT DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT JUST THE OTHER DAY HER DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS SITTING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET, FACING TRAFFIC. THE RECALL STATED THAT ONCE THE BOLT FALLS OUT CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF STEERING. IT SEEMED THAT NOTHING WILL HOLD ENGINE BOLT IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AG AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
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
THE PLASTIC SHEATH ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS CRACKED AND NO LONGER LATCHES. TT
SEAT BELT WILL PULL OUT BUT WON'T CATCH. TT
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 KEPT HEARING NOISE FROM THE TIRE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS SPLITTING IN THE MIDDLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT (SUMITOMO 205X75X14-9SS). NLM
PE-00-020; FIRESTONE, F360 TIRES PURCHASED FOR A 1986, OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS, TIRE SIZE P195/75R14, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SHREDDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND THE SHIMMY HAS GONE AWAY. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *JB
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
POOR STABIITY, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)*SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AG AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. TT
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 .