RoadVitals

1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
103
Latest Feb 22, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Apr 8, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
1 currently open
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.
11
11 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 103 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass, most frequently naming the brakes, seat belts and interior & seats categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V058000

STRUCTURE

Apr 8, 1997
676,535 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 97016View on NHTSA.gov
95V115000

WHEELS

Jun 5, 1995
22,361 units potentially affected
The defect: CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
The risk: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
94V041000

WHEELS

Mar 28, 1995
198,163 units potentially affected
The defect: CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
The risk: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ97017OpenRecall Query

CRADLE BOLT FAILURES

Opened Oct 2, 1997

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURELed to recall 97V058000
EA00011ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION

Opened Apr 10, 2000
Closed Jan 12, 2001

THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLed to recall 00V189000
PE94063ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES

Opened Aug 12, 1994
Closed Dec 21, 1994

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE90088ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCH

Opened Jun 11, 1990
Closed Oct 31, 1990

There is no summary currently available

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGLed to recall 90V185000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 103
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 22, 2014

THE VEHICLE IS A 1990 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA SL. I CHECKED BOX AS CHEVROLET AS OLDSMOBILE IS NOT AN OPTION ON THE DROP DOWN. FOUR NEW TIRES INSTALLED BETWEEN 12/31/13 AND 1/31/14, UNIROYAL AWP II TIGER PAWS SIZE P185/75R14. MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE REPORTS THEY ?DO NOT CURRENTLY MANUFACTURE TIRES FITTING THIS VEHICLES SPECIFICATIONS.? ARE THE TIGER PAWS II P185/75R14 INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE COUNTERFEIT TIRES? SINCE INSTALLING THESE TIRES, THE VEHICLE "SWAYS" WHEN DRIVING ON GROOVED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY PAVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565448
Incident
Feb 5, 2014
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 17, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DASHBOARD COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SHE COULD NOT TELL HOW MUCH FUEL THERE WAS OR HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING/DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING DEFECT. MECHANIC TRIED TO PUT A BRAND NEW PART IN THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUME RHAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10089093
Incident
Aug 17, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Jan 13, 2003

NAR 1/29/2003. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2003 REGARDING THE FRONT FRAME /CRADLE BOLT RETAINERS. AS PER THE RECALL LETTER THEY WERE REPLACED. ON DEC 12, 2002 BEFORE REACHING A STOP, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONSUMER FELT A THUMP. WHEN THE CONSUMER INVESTIGATED, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO STEERING CAPABILITIES. UPON GENERAL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE REAR FRAME/ CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS HAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP AND THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL FOR THE CRADLE BOLTS DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE ONLY THE FRONT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10006042
Incident
Dec 12, 2002
Filed Dec 1, 2002

HAS FAILED 3 TIME AT THE COST OF $300 EACH TIME. DT

NHTSA ID
770291
Incident
Nov 11, 2002
Brakes
Filed Mar 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING REAR DISC BRAKE ON ONE SIDE STICKS ON ROTOR. HAD TO REPLACE CYLINDER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005926
Transmission
Filed Nov 28, 2001

LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS TO RELEASE AND STALLS ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
755024
Incident
Mar 6, 2001
Suspension
Filed Aug 23, 2001

I TAKE GOOD CARD OF MY CAR. IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD 4 OIL CHANGES, NEW TIRES AND RIMS, AN ALIGNMENT, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. ON 04/20/2001 I HAD A OIL CHANGE AND ASKED PENSKE AUTO TO LOOK AT MY STRUTS AND SUSPENSION BECAUSE MY CAR FELT AND LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN USUALLY, AND AGAIN ABOUT 06/05/2001. THIS TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO LOOK AND HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON 06/15/2001 I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR AND HAD A FEW MORE MILES TO GO BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DECIDED TO PULL OF ON A EXIT TO CHECK A PRICE OF A PRODUCT. I SLOWED DOWN FOR A PEDESTRIAN, AND AS I GOT TO ABOUT 10 MILES A HOUR I FELT A BUMP AND LOST ALL STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH OUT WRECKING OR HITTING THE PEDESTRIAN. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE BACK PART OF THE FRONT A FRAME HAD FALLEN AND THE MOTOR WHICH HAD PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART. IF I HAD NOT EXITED THE INTERSTATE BEFORE I WAS SUPPOSE TO I AM SURE I WOULD BE DEAD, ALSO I AM LUCKY I DID NOT KILL A PEDESTRIAN. I HAVE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY RECALLED THE CARS IN 20 STATES AND MY STATE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THEY KNOW THAT ITS PROBLEM EXISTS ON CARS 1988 TO 1990 AND EARLY 1991. OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME, CHEV LUMINA, PONTIAC GRAND PER AND BUICK REGAL. I HAVE A CASE # WITH OLDS C05115278 AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH LARRY WALDRICK AT 1-800-442-6537 HE IS TRYING TO BE HELPFUL, BUT IS GETTING NOWHERE. IF I LIVED IN IOWA THEY WOULD OF WARNED ME THAT MY CAR WAS DANGEROUS IN 1997 AND FIXED MY CAR, BUT SINCE I LIVE IN NE AND MY CAR TRIED TO KILL ME, I AM GETTING THE RUN A ROUND. OLDSMOBILE TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. I DID ON 08/02/2001. THEY SAY THEY WILL ONLY PAY HALF, AND TO THIS DAY 08/23/2001 HAVE NOT GOTTEN ME A WRITTEN ESTIMATE. I JUST WANT TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER 30 STATES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN WARNED OF THESE KILLER CARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
750994
Incident
Jun 15, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jun 25, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER. HEADREST BUSTED, AND CONSUMER'S HEAD AND NECK WERE INJURED. CONSUMER FELT THAT HEADREST SHOULD NOT HAVE BUSTED. IF IT HAD NOT BUSTED, CERTAIN INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
891152
Incident
Apr 18, 1997

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

435012A

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *TW

133405

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

REAR STRUT RELATED THUMPING/SQUEAKING NOISE. *TW

435012

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

ABS WIRE HARNESS FOR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL MAY RUB ON THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile Cutlass by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001000—
2000000—
1999801038.1
19981553656.9
1997963660.3
19961231045.7
19951564053.3
19941485053.9
19931395159.8
19921364262.0
19911938863.4
1990Viewing1036464.2
19891136462.1
1988746862.5
1987162363.2
1986233362.8
1985183668.5
1984162565.5
1983521—
1982120—
1981321—
1980351—
1979281—
1978061—
1977320—
1976320—
1975040—
1974030—
1973020—
1967010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.