RoadVitals

1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
18
Latest Jul 14, 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.
12%
of 155 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Jul 14, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY THERE IS VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD HAD FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS SINCE 1999.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081986
Incident
Mar 23, 1999
Mileage
20,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 30, 2004

VEHICLE HAS AROUND 98000 MILES "LIGHT" WENT OUT ON A MONDAY MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND FOUND THE DIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE WHEEL HUB. AFTER JACKING THE CAR UP I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED. IMMEDIATELY I HAD IT TOWED TO A GM DEALER FOR REPAIR. CONTACTED GM AND DEALER, BOTH SAID THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR??? MY CONCERN WAS THAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND MORE THEN LIKELY CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WAS TOLD THE SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND DID NOT NEED REPLACED. BUT I QUESTION THAT.

NHTSA ID
10074493
Incident
May 24, 2004
Mileage
99,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 29, 2004

STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY LOCKED. CONSUMER STATED STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT. *AK POWER STEERING PUMP, PULLEY AND PRESSURE HOSE WERE REPLACED. ALSO, NOISE ON FRONT END OF VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10066759
Incident
May 8, 2003
Suspension
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE SUSPENSION. THE MECHANIC HAD NOT YET RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10053423
Incident
Dec 26, 2003
Mileage
39,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 22, 2004

WHILE DRIVING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10055713
Incident
Jan 22, 2004
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed May 21, 2003

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR WATER LEAK IN TRUNK, MISSING ABSORBER IN REAR DOOR, SUSPENSION NOISE, 4 NEW TIRES REPLACED, NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, AND COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKAGE. *CB

NHTSA ID
10021548
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Mileage
60,537 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 2, 2001

VEHICLE WONDERS OFF IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
893316
Heating & air conditioningEngineSuspension
Filed Jun 21, 2001

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN ENGINE STALLED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE SETFOR AWHILE AND IT RESTARTED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND LOW PITCH NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT END. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
890930
Incident
Feb 21, 2001
Suspension
Filed Oct 3, 2000

WHEN BRAKING, THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE, DEALER HAS CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555353
Suspension
Filed Jun 1, 2000

SUSPENSION ON LEFT FRONT MAKES RATTLEING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
723467
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
BrakesSuspension
Filed May 31, 2000

CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT ON 12-17-1998. DIFFERENT BRAKE PADS & ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO THE EXTREME. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. ALSO, TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ID
862783
Incident
Jan 27, 1999
EngineSuspension
Filed Apr 17, 2000

SHAKE, VIBRATION IS FELT MOST WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 50-60MPH. I WAS TOLD THAT NEW TIRES WOULD STOP THE VIBRATION AND THAT A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT WOULD HELP IN THE MEANTIME. THE BALANCING AND ROTATING AS WELL AS HAVING THE CAR ALIGNED HAVE NOT HELPED AT ALL. I DONT THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIRES. THE OIL SMELL CANNOT BE EXPLAINED, THERE ARE NO LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
721579
Incident
Feb 2, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jul 21, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
708865
Suspension
Filed Jun 18, 1999

THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT . THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
840540
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 9, 1999

WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AS A LOUD POP WHEN TURNING AND STRIKING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AFTER THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEY FINALLY EXAMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND FOUND A BROKEN WELD ON THE RACK ASSEMBLY. THERE IS STILL SOME UNUSUAL NOISES IN THE FRONT END BUT THE DEALOR TELLS US EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. AT 8,000 MILES THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR WAS EXAMINED, AND FOUND TO HAVE DEEP SCORES IN IT WHILE THE RIGHT ONE WAS SMOOTH. AFTER THREE DAYS IN THE SHOP, AND THERE TELLING ME THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR THEY FINALLY TURNED THE ROTORS (NOT REPLACING THEM) THIS ELEMINATED SOME NOISE AND SURGING WHEN STOPPING, BUT SOMETHING IS STILL NOT RIGHT. THERE IS A TICKING NOISE LIKE WHEN THERE IS A ROCK IN ONE OF YOUR TIRES, AS WELL AS UNEXPLAINED POPING WHEN CROSSING RR TRACKS ETC. *AK

NHTSA ID
705453
Incident
Aug 31, 1998
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 24, 1998

SUSPENSION MAKING A SQUEAKING LOUD SUEAKING NOISE FROM LEFT FRON END. (LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. ** VEHICLE FRONT END SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS). STEERING PROBLEM GENERATED NOISES FROM LEFT FRONT END WHICH I MISTOOK FOR SUSPENSION FAILURE. (TAPE KIT ADDED TO FRONT STABILIZER BAR). BRAKES NOISES DURING THE ACT OF BRAKING. (CALIBERS GRABBING PAD MAKING A CLACKING SOUND-STOP SQUEAL ADDED TO BACK OF PADS ** BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISES). LEFT AND RIGHT HUB CAP ASSEMPLY BOTH FAILED-CURRENTLY PART ON ORDER FOR RIGH HUB CAP ASSEMBLY). ** VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION ROUGH AND UNREALIABLE CAUSING CONTINUES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
700885
Incident
Sep 3, 1998
Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 22, 1998

BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID
541032
Incident
Jul 21, 1998
Suspension
Filed Dec 10, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATES. *AK

NHTSA ID
526303
Incident
Sep 2, 1997

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .