RoadVitals

1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
113
Latest Apr 15, 2014
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.
10
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 25, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 113 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 113 · page 1 of 5

Electrical
Filed Apr 15, 2014
Crash reported

1989 CUTLASS CALIAS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHILE TRAVELING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A MEDIAN. THE CONSUMER WASN'T DRIVING VERY FAST. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10579755
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Steering
Filed Jun 12, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND PAID TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ONCE HE LEFT THE MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE IS PLANNING TO RETURN TO THE STATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10230794
Incident
May 27, 2008
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. *AK THE LIGHT DEVICE FLASHED RED/GREEN BEFORE GOING DEAD ON A STEEP HILL AND OR DANGEROUS CURVE. THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT, THEN THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT THROUGH A FENCE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10071781
Incident
Apr 25, 2004
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 2003

LTR FM SEBASTIAN SCOLLO (CT) REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR BRAKE REPAIRS ON HIS 1989 GM OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME.*MR CONSUMER IS ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR BRAKE REPAIRS.*TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10037984
Incident
Oct 13, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 20, 2003
Fire reported

WHEN DRIVING 70MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034274
Incident
Aug 11, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jul 8, 2002
Crash reported

REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKTHIS DEFECT HAPPENS ONCE EVERY YEAR. *JG

NHTSA ID
8013460
Incident
Jul 5, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jun 26, 2002

RIGHT SIDE OF SUBFRAME DROPPED WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012738
Incident
Jun 19, 2002
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed May 17, 2002

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING NOISE, ASSUMING A TIRE HAD GONE FLAT, PULLED OVER TO CHECK BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION, FIGHTING TO KEEP VEHICLE IN CONTROL, CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET OVER, FINDING THE WHEEL, TIRE AND LUG NUTS HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF OF VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JG

NHTSA ID
565798
Body & structure
Filed Apr 11, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 00 V 189 000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00065-S/CRABLE BOLTS: DEALER: KING OROURKE CADILLAC OLDSMOBILE; LYNBROOK,NY; PHONE# 516/593-6420 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE STRUCTURE AROUND CRADLE BOLTS HAVE SEVERELY RUSTED OUT. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THAT STRUCTURE BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007355
Incident
Apr 8, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Oct 14, 2001

RECALL WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. REPAIRS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER DEALERSHIP DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSES TO REPAIR CAR. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY TRIED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. MANAGER IS STATING THAT YES THE RECALL STATES THAT THE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE FRAME BUT SAYS THAT THE FRAME PULLED FROM THE BOLTS. COPY OF PAPER FROM SAME DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE FRAME. DEALERSHIP MADE ME DRIVE CAR OFF OF THEIR LOT IN AN UNDRIVABLE CONDITION WITHOUT ADVISING ME THAT IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. GENERAL MOTORS SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT YOU REGARDING THIS MATTER. THEY ALSO AGREE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. NOW THE ENGINE HAS TILTED TO THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT FRAME AND EARL OLSMOBILE REFUSES TO TRY TO REPAIR THE RECALL ON WARRENTED PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
753222
Incident
Oct 4, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 25, 2001

CARRY 35 LBS. PRESSURE, TIRE HAD SLOW LEAK, TOOK TO DEALER, LEAK IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE, HAD NEVER RAN TIRE LOW, WAS ON RIGHT REAR, SO DID NOT HIT CURB OR ANYTHING ELSE IN ROAD. TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: AMN509 TIRESIZE: 18575R14)

NHTSA ID
752557
Incident
Sep 6, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 10, 2001

LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE, P185/75R14 M+S, EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL, CONSUMER PAID FULL PRICE FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT TIRE. *ET

NHTSA ID
561991
Incident
May 29, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jun 20, 2001

PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-058) WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE FRAME CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. *YH

NHTSA ID
561708
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 15, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. POPPED HOOD, AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. *AK CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN IS THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
890505
Incident
Jun 14, 2001
Fuel system
Filed May 31, 2001
Fire reported5 injuries reported

THE FUEL SYSTEM/TANK FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE, CAUSING SEVERAL INJURIES. NLM

NHTSA ID
561385
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 12, 2001

CRADLE BOLTS ROTTED OUT AND MOTOR DROPPED TO THE GROUND, LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING, DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, VEHICLE RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM (00V-189), OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE. CJ

NHTSA ID
559595
Incident
Aug 8, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Dec 12, 2000

HAD RECEIVED RECALL 00V189000/ ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND TOOK VEHICLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. LATER IN THE DAY, PROBLEM WITH CRADLE BOLTS REAPPEARED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT CRADLE BOLTS WOULD BE REPAIRED, BUT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE DONE TO MOTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
876396
Incident
Nov 8, 2000
BrakesInterior & seats
Filed Nov 3, 2000

BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS RESURFACED, THE REAR BRAKES WERE JUST REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. *CJ

NHTSA ID
557370
Incident
May 11, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 27, 2000

DUE TO INFORMATION HEARD ABOUT TIRES CONSUMER WAS CHECKING THEM & NOTICED ALL 4 TIRES HAD CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL. 2 FRONT TIRES HAD CRACKS ON INSIDE OF THE TREAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
874036
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Oct 13, 2000

ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING...SEVERAL TIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS...LOOSES STEERING, BRAKES...SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS. DEALERS & REPAIR SHOPS CAN NEVER DUPLICATE OR IDENTIFY A PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
734213
Brakes
Filed Oct 2, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
733237
Incident
Dec 3, 1999
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 14, 2000

FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN STEERING SHAFT DISENGAGED. *AK

NHTSA ID
731499
Incident
Sep 14, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2000
1 injury reported

THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES, THE TIRE PEELED OFF TREAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID OFF THE ROAD, INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS

NHTSA ID
554482
Suspension
Filed Jun 2, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30MPH HEARD A SNAP AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO STEERING FAILURE. IT WAS HARD TO VEER ACROSS THREE LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE HITTING A CURB. AT THAT TIME CAR STOPPED. CONSUMER SAID WASHER DETERIORATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
862965
Incident
May 30, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 2000

DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE BRAKE LINE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, CLAMP HAS RUBBED A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
854632
Incident
Jan 3, 2000

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.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .