1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Electrical Problems

GENERAL MOTORS RECENTLY RECALLED THE 1997-2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. I OWN THE SISTER VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THIS VEHICLE IS THE IDENTICAL LAYOUT OF THE CHEVROLET MALIBU WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. I SENT A COUPLE OF E-MAIL MESSAGES TO THE GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL EXPLAINING TO ME THAT AT THIS TIME THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF DOING A RECALL ON THE OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AS OF YET, I DEEM IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH GM SHOULD FIX. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR ISSUES AS MINE, BUT I WANTED TO INFORM YOU OF MY CONCERNS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROPER FORUM FOR THIS, SO IF NOT, PLEASE FORWARD MY CONCERNS TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10609708

Incident

Jul 10, 2014

Mileage

117,000 mi

HAVE HAD IGNITION SWITCH JUST SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN GM'S RECENT RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCHES ON NEWER CARS. LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR THE LAST 10 OR SO YEARS. WHEN IT HAPPENS I JUST QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A 1998 OLDS CUTLASS. IT IS APPARENT THAT GM'S PROBLEM WITH THEIR IGNITION SWITCH GOES BACK A LOT FARTHER THAN THEY CARE TO ADMIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576006

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WORK FOR A IGNITION INTERLOCK COMPANY. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES ENTER THE SERVICE CENTER WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY HAS TO BE SHAKEN SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THESE IGNITIONS ARE MOUNTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE NOTICED IT ON ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE THAT HAS THE IGNITION MOUNTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE STEERING COLUMN NOT ON THE COLUMN. THAT IS AN OLDSMOBILE. I OWN THE 1998 OLDMOBILE CUTLASS. WAS THERE EVER A RECALL AS DEFECT OF THIS IGNITION AND IS THE DEALERSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT? IF I EVER HAD AN EMERGENCY I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START MY CAR RIGHT AWAY AS IT AT TIMES TAKES UP TO FIVE TO TEN MINUTES TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250738

Incident

Dec 3, 2008

THEFT-LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAD TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR SYSTEM TO RESET BEFORE STARTING CAR. HAD KEY-LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE, FOR A TOTAL OF OVER $1400 IN REPAIRS. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON SEEMINGLY PERMANENTLY. ALWAYS WONDER IF IT WILL START OR NOT. CAN'T GET ANYONE BESIDES A DEALER TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. THE DEALER HAS ENOUGH OF MY MONEY FOR NOW...I HAVE TO DEAL WITH BEING INCONVENIENCED REGULARLY BY THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153655

Incident

Jun 8, 2003

I CURRENTLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS CUTLASS GL. MY POWER STEERING IS STIFF AND MAKES A "WAILING" NOISE. MY COOLENT SYSTEM HAS A LEAK. MY HEAT AND AIR HAVE COMPLETEY STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS (IN THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED_ WITH MY POWER WINDOW LOCKING UP (DRIVERS SIDE). THE SOUND SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. THE CD PLAYER QUIT WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED MY WIPER BLADES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STILL DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY. ONE TIME WHEN MY TEENS WERE USING MY CAR, THEY WERE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD...NOT ONLY WERE THEY TERRIFIED, IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THEM TO BE IN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114007

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

PERIODICALLY MY THEFT LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WHICH PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. THIS TAKES 15 MIN. AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT. IT HAPPENS UP TO FOUR TIMES OR MORE A MONTH!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10095654

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER DISABLES THE IGNITION PERIODICALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO WAIT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE SYSTEM RESETS AND ALLOWS THE CAR TO START. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037540

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY ALARM DEFAULT ALONE-THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKS AND MY AUTO WILL NOT START UNTIL IT STOP BLINKING WHICH IS 10 MIN LONG. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021188

Incident

Jun 7, 2003

POSTIVE BATTERY CABLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. EVERYTHING SHUTDOWN AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8011486

Incident

May 19, 2002

ENGINE(IGNITION) QUITS WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. ALL POWER SYSTEMS ARE LOST, MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. ENGINE RESTARTS WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO RESTART. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RESET WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

755405

Incident

Dec 5, 2001

POWER FAILURE- DRIVING APPROX. 20MPH- CAR HESITATES- TRAVELS 3-5MPH-NEED TO STOP THE CAR TO PICK UP SPEED. HAD IT TO THE DEALER 10 TIMES- REPLACED PCM, FUEL REGULATER/PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER -POWER LOSS PROBLEM STILL REMAINS.

NHTSA ID

752259

Incident

Jan 6, 2001

LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED, FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING S, P205/70R15 95S M+S, DOT VDMO A/B 118, CLAIM 55-S259-389. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900307

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

BATTERY FAILED AND LEAKING ACID. *MJS

NHTSA ID

553253

Incident

Oct 14, 1999

THE DESIGN OF THE HORN IS SUCH THAT A SPECIFIC SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HAS TO BE PRESSED. WHEN IN AN EMERGENCY THE CENTER PORTION IS HIT WITH THE FLAT HAND THE HORN IS NOT ACTIVATED. SINCE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE STEERING WHEEL IS LIKELY TO BE TURNED THE AREA TO BE PRESSED TO ACTVATE THE HORN HAS BEEN SHIFTED.

NHTSA ID

705690

IGNITION SWITCH LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILS CONTINUALLY, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO LOCK UP.

NHTSA ID

544139

Incident

Apr 21, 1998

IGNITION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

607059

Incident

Oct 1, 1998