1989 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 1989 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
- Brakes5033.8%
- Electrical1812.2%
- Engine1711.5%
- Seat belts117.4%
- Steering96.1%
- Body & structure96.1%
- Suspension74.7%
- Interior & seats74.7%
- Tires & wheels53.4%
- Fuel system42.7%
- Driver assistance42.7%
- Visibility21.4%
- Other / unspecified21.4%
- Transmission21.4%
- Powertrain (other)10.7%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKTHIS DEFECT HAPPENS ONCE EVERY YEAR. *JG
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT TEN MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT FLIPPED THE CUTLASS ON ITS SIDE, CAUSING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT TO RELEASE ON IMPACT, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS SNAPPED INTO RECEPTICAL, BECAME INOPERATIVE. CAUSE: IMPROPER RESTRAINT OF SEAT BELT SYSTEM. OWNER HAS DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS AND THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. *AK
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIGHT SIDE OF SUBFRAME DROPPED WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
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
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
RECALL WORK CONCERNING THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.(MOUNTS)
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
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
BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS RESURFACED, THE REAR BRAKES WERE JUST REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. *CJ
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
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
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)
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
THE FUEL SYSTEM/TANK FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE, CAUSING SEVERAL INJURIES. NLM
THIS VEHICLE CONSTANTLY HESITATES, MISFIRES,AND TODAY IT BACKFIRED FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR YOU CAN SMELL A THE FUEL OUT OF THE EXHAUST . THIS PROBLEM IS NOT INTERMITTENT IT IS CONSTANT AND I FEEL IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS ON THIS CAR . I WENT TO AN OLDMOBILE DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT RECALLS . THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE, HOWEVER , IN A CONSUMER REPORTS BOOK I AM READING IT USES THE SAME CAR AS MINE FOR AN EXAMPLE OF A VEHICLE WITH A EXHAUST EMISSIONS RECALL. THE REAR BRAKES HAD A 10 POINT REAR BRAKE JOB CONSISTING OF NEW CYLINDERS ,HARDWARE, DRUMS TURNED AND NEW PADS. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE IN GOOD REPAIR. YET IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING THE CAR EFFECTIVELY
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
SEAT BELT LATCH CASE BROKEN. *SD
PRESS ON GAS PEDAL VEHICLES REVOLUTION PER MINUTE INCREASES TO 3000 AND WHEEL SQUEALS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WATER IS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER CAN'T FIND WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. ALSO, WHEN USING THE HEAT, THE SMELL IS REAL BAD AND IS COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. VEHICLE IS STALLING, AND DRIVER HAS TO PUT FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE NOT TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK
PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE CAR IN MOTION. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
PRESS ON GAS PEDAL VEHICLES REVOLUTION PER MINUTE INCREASES TO 3000 AND WHEEL SQUEALS. TT
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
STEERING COLLAPSED IN CONSUMER'S LAP WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, IGNITION AUTOMATIC SWITCH TURNED ITSELF OFF. *AK
AFTER TRAVELING TWO TO THREE HOURS ONE HUNDRED MILES VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS TANK LEAKS. *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 .