Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 123 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 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.
Showing 1–25 of 123 · page 1 of 5
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AT A GREEN LIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THE AIR BAGS LIGHT HAS BEEN STAYING ON SINCE 2009.
HI, I FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH YOU ON THE PHONE IN JANUARY. ANYWAY, I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, MY SECURITY LIGHT STAYED ON AND I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO BERGER CHEVROLET AT 2525 28TH STREET S.E. GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512 (616)949-5200. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR 4102. MY VEHICLE WAS WITH BERGER CHEVY FROM JANUARY 02 TO JANUARY 05,2015. MY INVOICE STATES MY IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND TWO KEYS WERE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR $723.56. PLEASE HELP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE SIERRA SL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME BLACK AND HOT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
COULD NOT TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF. NEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE CABLE TO THE POWER COIL TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS, HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AT A COST OF $147.15. GM HAS A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SEVERAL LATER MODEL CARS. REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COSTS. *TR
CADILLAC & 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BOTH VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OFTEN, THE ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP RANDOMLY WHILE IDLING OR IN PARK, AS THOUGH HE WERE TRAVELING 50 MPH. SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THE SOUND WAS HEARD ANYTIME A TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH SHE HEARD A RUBBING AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE WAS MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE STRUT HOUSING WAS PUSHING UP AGAINST THE HOOD. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, THE REAR STRUT MOUNT BRACKETS ARE BAD, EVERYONE WE HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD THEM BREAK EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THERE VEHICLES NEW HAVE SAID THE BRACKETS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. IF THE BRACKET BREAKS IT CAN LEAD THE DRIVER TO WRECK OR EVEN THE STRUT BEING PROPELLED THROUGH THE BACK SEAT. THE BOLTS HOLDING THE BRACKETS IN PLACE SHEERED OFF. WE DO HAVE THE ORIGINAL BRACKET. *TR
I WAS ACCELERATING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY (GOING ABOUT 60-63 MPH) IN HEAVY TRAFFIC (55-58 MPH) AND WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I TRIED FEATHERING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GOT VERY LITTLE SLOW DOWN SO BEGAN TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET BUT WITH LITTLE EFFECT. CAR WAS VIBRATING AND I HAD TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL TO TRY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND ALSO GET MAXIMUM LEVERAGE ON FLOOR BRAKE. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO AN OFF RAMP, DROVE OVER THE ON-OFF RAMP DIVIDER INTO A FIELD. AT THIS POINT I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR BEGAN FISHTAILING AND ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. I HEADED TOWARDS A GRASSY INCLINE AND THIS FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR AT WHICH POINT I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I OBSERVED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIMP ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. A PERSON DRIVING BEHIND ME STOPPED TO CALL STATE PATROL AND CONFIRM THAT HE WITNESSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON BUT ONLY THE LEFT REAR TIRE BRAKING. THE STATE TROOPER CONFIRMED THIS BY OBSERVING A SINGLE TIRE SKID MARK ON THE OFF-RAMP. ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CABLE REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND A NEW TIRE WAS NEEDED. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIRE THAT SEPARATED. THE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND TIRE PRESSURE WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE BRAND IS COOPER, COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II, SIZE,P215/60R16. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 5 MONTHS LATER WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, BUT NEVER RETURNED A CALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, AND COULD A POSE SERIOUS RISK IF THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE SMELL OF SMOKE COULD BE DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE SMOKE WENT AWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK, AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THE OCCUPANT CLIMBED TO THE BACK SEAT AND TRIED TO KICK THE WINDOWS OUT. SOMEONE SAW THE VEHICLE ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
LTR FM (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE BATTERY HAD A LOW CHARGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND OIL. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INDICATOR FOR THE FUEL NEVER GAVE AN ACTUAL READING OF THE FUEL IN THE TANK, IT FLUCTUATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IT WAS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. THE CONSUMER HAD A WATER PUMP INSTALLED. *JB
LTR FM CONSUMER (FL) RE DEFECTIVE 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TS SIX MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR A WHILE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED ANOTHER SENSOR. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER 100,000 MILES . THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER GAVE THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK READING. THE FUEL NEEDLE WOULD FLUCTUATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEED. MANY BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BATTERY INDICATOR NEVER ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *NM
POWER STEERING FAILED. MY WIFE NEARLY HIT A TREE. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. SHE STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND SOME TYPE OF CODE COMES ON. THE CODE MEANS A SLIP IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAS DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THIS CODE IS KNOWN TO COME ON IN A LOT OF GM MODELS. *JB
THE ABS CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, WHICH THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND A WIRE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. *NM
I WAS DRIVING ACROSS TOWN WHEN I NOTICED MY ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. I WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MY MECHANIC, SO I STOPPED THERE. WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY COOLANT EMPTIED OUT ONTO THE GROUND AS A I WATCHED. MY COOLANT INTAKE GASKETHAD GIVEN OUT. THE REPAIR GUY TOLD ME AFTER HE FIXED IT THAT IT HAD VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARED AT SOME PLACES. HE ALSO CALLED ME AT SOME POINT TO INFORM ME THAT MY FUEL LINE HAD GIVEN OUT AND WAS LEAKING. THANKFULLY THE SHOP WAS ABLE TO FIX EVERYTHING QUICKLY, AS I USE MY CAR FOR COMMUTING TO COLLEGE AND WORK.
THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT TURNS. WHEN TURNING LEFT THE STEERING GETS HARD AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
WAS DRIVING THE CAR NOTICED IT WAS NOT WARMING UP CHECKED ANTI FREEZE AND NOTICED IT WAS LOW IN RADIATOR AND IN OVERFLOW CONTAINER. ADDED ANTI FREEZE LOOKED TO SEE IF HAD BEEN LEAKING AT HOSES OR WAS AFTER ADDING ANTI FREEZE AND IT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN LEAKING AT ANY HOSES OR FROM RADIATOR. STARTED CAR DID NOT RUN RIGHT SHUT ENGINE OFF PULLED DIPSTICK AND FOUND OIL TO BE DISCOLORED. CALLED AROUND AND FOUND THAT THIS YEAR ENGINE MADE BY GENERAL MOTORS IS KNOWN TO BLOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND THAT THIS EXACT CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO. OLD ENGINE IS AVAILABLE. HAVE ESTIMATED MILEAGE UNTIL IT IS TOWED BACK HOME. THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY MY AUNT AND UNCLE WAS SOLD TO MY MOM JOAN ROODBERGEN SHE NEVER DROVE IT AND I PURCHASED IT FROM THEM IN OCTOBER OF 2002. I KNEW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD ALREADY FAILED ONCE AND WAS REPAIRED BY MULLINS AUTO SERVICE. *JB
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER STOPPING FOR A FEW MINUTES VEHICLE STARTED UP AGAIN. DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND EVEN THEN NOTHING COULD BE DETECTED AS TO WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *NM
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND IT WOULD BE COSTLY TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT IT LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE PROBLEM HAD GOTTEN WORSE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE. *SC
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED, BUT SINCE IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN SHE LEFT IT ALONE.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S DOOR AND WINDOW EQUIPMENT.*MR POWER WINDOWS BROKE/ WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE DOOR IS STICKING WHEN OPENED OR CLOSED. DOOR WAS ADJUSTED AND THE HINGES WERE SPRAYED.*MR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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