RoadVitals

1992 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.
136
Latest Feb 2, 2006
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.
4
Latest Mar 12, 2007
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.
2
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.
18
7 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 136 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 15 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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
07E021000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Mar 12, 2007
742 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DELPHIView on NHTSA.gov
95V173000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Sep 15, 1995
2,216,325 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
92V066000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

May 11, 1992
33 units potentially affected
The defect: THE OPTIONAL REMOTE ENTRY MODULE MAY HAVE A FAULT WHICH CAUSES RANDOM ACTUATION OF INTERIOR LAMPS, DOOR LOCKS, AND/OR TAILGATE RELEASE. THIS ACTUATION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED.
The risk: IF THE TAILGATE RELEASE ACTUATES, THE TAILGATE WILL OPEN.UNRESTRAINED PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT AREA COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLEWHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND RECEIVE SERIOUS INJURIES.
The remedy: REPLACE THE REMOTE ENTRY MODULE WITH A NEWLY REVISED MODULE TO PREVENT RANDOM ACTUATION.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE94063ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES

Opened Aug 12, 1994
Closed Dec 21, 1994

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE94048ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE

Opened Jun 21, 1994
Closed Dec 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 136
Seat beltsTransmission
Filed Feb 2, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR WILL SHOW NEUTRAL BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE IN REVERSE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 91V214000, REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 95V173000, REGARDING THE FRONT SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL AND THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VIN DOES NOT MATCH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10149309
Incident
Feb 2, 2006
Mileage
106,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 2005

DT: PROBLEM BEGAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHILE IN MOTION. IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN WHEN IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE. VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. THEN, LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE HORN. UPON INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A BAD SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN ,AND THE WIRES WERE FRAYED. VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE SHOP. OWNER CONTACTED GM, AND PROVIDED HER VIN, WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10126258
Incident
Jun 8, 2005
Mileage
135,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 2, 2005

OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME 1992 COMPUTER IN DASH MALFUNCTION. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING OR HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10113445
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2005

1992 CUTLASS SUPREME EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THERE HAS BEEN NO VISIBLE SIGN OF AND OIL LEAK NOR DOES THE VEHICLE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10128018
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 7, 2004

MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR OCCURANCE. WOULD NOT RE-START. AFTER 6-8 DANGEROUS MINUTES STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR STARTED AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE AND WAS REPAIRED. A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I SHUDDER TO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF A SUDDEN POWER FAILURE AND STALLED CAR IN THE MIDST OF FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. WHILE I REALIZE THAT 12-YEAR-OLD PARTS WILL FAIL DUE TO AGE, I WONDER IF A BACK-UP POWER SOURCE COULD NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OR IS THE POSSIBILITY OF STALLING JUST A PRESUMED AND ACCEPTED HAZARD OF DRIVING? *AK

NHTSA ID
10080523
Incident
Jul 6, 2004
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 8, 2004

BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE PER YEAR. CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO OR THREE TIMES. VEHICLE WILL NOT DO AN EMERGENCY STOP. IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP NORMALLY. THE ABS DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MECHANICS SAY THIS IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10065766
Incident
Mar 5, 2004
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 3, 2004

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE SPOKES ON THE HUBS OR THE LUG NUTS ON THE TIRES BECAUSE THE WRENCH PROVIDED FOR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *JB

NHTSA ID
10055788
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 2004

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING. DEALER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059517

Manufacturer communications

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

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

990730030A

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT

990730030

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT

990309004

SUSPENSION

CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT

876002A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT

970801735026

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

COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC

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
1992Viewing1364262.0
19911938863.4
19901036464.2
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.