Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical 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.
17
Latest Feb 2, 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.
9%
of 193 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2004
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES ALREADY BECAUSE IT WILL CUT OFF WILL DRIVING, PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATING USING CONSUMER AUTOMOBILE REVIEW SITES ON THE WEB. I FIND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OR ONES VERY SIMILAR PRODUCED BY GM/OLDSMOBILE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39,700 MILES ON IT. I HAVE A 2 YEAR WARRANTY, THAT HAS YET TO BE HONORED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I AM SERIOUSLY WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF COVER UP OR INTENTIONAL IGNORING OF A COMMON MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THIS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU. *JB
NHTSA ID
10056325
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
39,600 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Apr 8, 2002
WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING, ALTERNATOR GOES OUT AND KILLS THE BATTERY. HAD 4 ALTERNATORS AND BATTERIES REPLACED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO INDICATED ENGINE WAS TOO BIG FOR ALTERNATOR ALSO CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL, ENGINE COOLING FAN REPLACED, POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE FAILED AND REPLACED, REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, CEILING FABRIC COMING UNGLUED AND DASHBOARD VENT COVER COMING OFF. *AK *TT
NHTSA ID
8007026
Incident
Sep 9, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 9, 2000
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT INTO PARK, IT WOULD START AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE JUNE OF THIS YEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUISNG THIS PROBLEM. *AK CLEANING THE FUEL SYSTEM AND REPLACING SPARK PLUGS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.. *YH
NHTSA ID
874708
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Nov 22, 1999
A POSSIBLE SHORTAGE IN THE MAIN COMPUTER MAY BE CAUSING VEHCILE TO STALL. *YC
NHTSA ID
852550
Incident
Nov 2, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 7, 1999
ANYTIME THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED, IT WIPES OUT THE COMPUTER MEMORY, CAUSING STALLING, ERADIC SHIFTING, ENGINE FAILURE, AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS NOT NOTICED UNTIL CAR IS DRIVEN, AND DIDN'T APPEAR UNTILL TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. DEALER SAID THIS IS PART OF HE VEHICLE DESIGN AND IT WILL COST $60.00 TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER ANY TIME THAT THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED OR FAILS. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF THE CAR FAILS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING VERY STIFF STEERING AND BRAKING.
NHTSA ID
712965
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 1999
Fire reported
VEHICLE HAS HAD LONG HISTORY OF UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO ELECTRICAL FIRE.
NHTSA ID
543434
Incident
Nov 27, 1998
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 1998
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
831347
Incident
Nov 18, 1998
Electrical
Filed Nov 10, 1998
ALTERNATOR AND ALTERNATOR BELT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE ALTERNATOR AND ALTERNATOR BELT WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
830503
Incident
Aug 23, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 4, 1998
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WIRING HARNESS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO ABRASION ON A SHARP EDGE OF SHEET METAL.
NHTSA ID
780680
Electrical
Filed Sep 1, 1998
Fire reported2 injuries reported
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH CAUSED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
827477
Incident
Aug 30, 1998
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 1997
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ID
818164
Incident
Oct 30, 1997
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 1996
DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, PULLED VEHICLE OVER, WAITED, STARTED VEHICLE AND STARTED SMOKING AGAIN, HAD IT TOWED. *AK
NHTSA ID
983399
Incident
Apr 11, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 24, 1996
COMPUTER COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED.
NHTSA ID
500932
Incident
Jan 23, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 18, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 10-12MPH, IN ICE & SNOW, MAKING LEFT TURN, ENGINE STALLED, ALLOWING TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA ID
972228
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 25, 1995
BARE WIRES STICKING OUT UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. *AK
NHTSA ID
484467
Incident
Jul 25, 1995
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Jul 20, 1995
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
NHTSA ID
483379
Incident
Jan 1, 1993
Electrical
Filed May 25, 1995
Fire reported
ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS,HAD FIXED, SAME PROBLEMS REOCCURED, CAR CAUGHT FIRE. TT
NHTSA ID
965838
Incident
May 1, 1994
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