RoadVitals

1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Dec 3, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 74 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineSeat beltsSuspension
Filed Dec 3, 2004
Crash reported1 death reported

1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS- ENGINE CRADLE AND/OR FRONT SUSPENSIONS BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *LA THE CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE DECEASED CONSUMER. THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON ROADWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH AND BEGAN TO ROLL APPROX. THREE TIMES COMING TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE 20 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ID
10043188
Incident
Dec 29, 1999
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2004
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID
10057815
Incident
Nov 30, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD JUST GO DEAD. ONCE GOING DOWN A HILL POWER WENT OUT AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. BUT CONSUMER MANGAGED TO LEVEL CAR OFF. CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. VEHICLE WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
859543
Incident
Mar 31, 1990
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 1999

THE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT SEAL HAS DETERIORATED, ALLOWING OIL TO FLOW DOWN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND COVER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WITH OIL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHEN I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, HE SHOWED ME A SERVICE FORM WHERE HE JUST FIXED A 1992 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME 2 DAYS AGO FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU ALLOW OIL TO COVER THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CAR, AS WELL AS EXTERIOR ENGINE COMPONENTS, IT MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. I PLAN ON ASKING OTHER OWNERS WITH THE 2.8 AND 3.2 LITER ENGINES IF THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU, DAN HARLETT [email protected]. *AK

NHTSA ID
701863
Incident
Aug 12, 1998
ElectricalEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Apr 17, 1998

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO BLOW FUSES.

NHTSA ID
534355
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 1996

HEAD GASKET FAILED 4 TIMES. *SD

NHTSA ID
503089
Incident
Mar 29, 1990
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 1995

ENGINE FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA ID
967743
Incident
Jun 23, 1994
Heating & air conditioningEngineSuspension
Filed Mar 12, 1995

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT 50 MPH. *SKD

NHTSA ID
482506
Incident
Mar 12, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Brakes36Body & structure9Suspension8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .