1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass Owner Complaints

WHILE DRIVING MY FIANCES OLDSMOBILE, I NOTICED A BAD SHUDDER UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED SO BADLY THAT IT HAD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY HAD BEEN SO BADLY COMPROMISED I AM SURE THAT HAD I NEEDED TO BRAKE SUDDENLY THE CONTROL ARM WOULD HAVE FAILED CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO COME OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO FLEX PART OF THE CONTROL ARM BY HAND UPON REMOVAL FROM THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DECAY ON SUCH A CRITICAL PART ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTY, BUT IT SEEMED STRUCTURALLY SOUND. THIS LEADS ME TO SUSPECT THE LEFT ONE MAY HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AND THAT THERE COULD BE MORE DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS OUT THERE. I REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM BUT KEPT THE OLD ONE IN CASE GM OR THE NHTSA WISHES IT TO BE SHIPPED TO THEM FOR ANALYSIS. I ALSO HAVE DETAILED PICTURES OF THE PART TO PROVIDE UPON REQUEST. I LIVE IN MN WHICH IS A STATE WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609486

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

69,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10607518

Incident

Jun 17, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WON'T START AND IT'S A ON GOING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10486661

Incident

Jan 25, 2011

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

10482371

Incident

May 15, 2012

Mileage

69,000 mi

I HAVE 99 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS WHICH ONLY ISSUE I EVER HAD IS FAULTY ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH GMC OR OLDSMOBILE OR CHEVY ANYTHING WITH ANTITHEFT SYSTEM USE RIGHT KEY AND THE LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10-15 MIN THEN IT STARTS HOW CAN A COMPANY NOT EVER HAVE RECALL I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS FEW CARS BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR ALL TYPES OF THERE CARS HAVE ISSUES WITH ANTI THEFT IF YOU CANT FIX YOUR OWN PROBLEM GET OUT OF CAR MAKING BUSINESS I WONDER IF THERE BEEN A LAWSUIT EVER FILE CAUSE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING FOR US PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457819

Incident

May 21, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE BLOWING OUT THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT WAS A GOOD THING I WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 25 MPH AND ON A SIDE STREET. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A MAIN ROAD THERE VERY WELL MAY HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES TO MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I AM NOT SURE AS TO HOW MANY RECENT REPORTS THERE HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS ISSUE BUT I SEE THERE WERE SEVERAL REPORTS OF SPRINGS BREAKING ON 1999 CHEVY MALIBU'S IN THE PAST. AND I FEEL THIS IS AN UNCALLED FOR SAFETY DEFECT. WHILE MY CAR IS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS IT'S AN EXACT TWIN TO THE CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342120

Incident

Jul 3, 2010

Mileage

132,000 mi

IN THE 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS; IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITION AND HEAT CONTROL UNIT. WHILE DRIVING, AT ANYTIME, THE CONROL CAN SHUT-OFF THE DEFROSTER (WHEN IN USE) AND CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WINDOWS TO FOG UP; THUS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. MY A/C AND HEAT CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED TODAY THAT IT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THE A/C COMPRESSOR ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE INTERMITTALLY; BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND FOUND THAT THE SAME CONTROL UNIT OUTFITTED, IN HER VEHICLE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10323251

Incident

Mar 31, 2010

Mileage

138,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PAVED COUNTY ROAD, AND WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR ANY ACCIDENT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED ON MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THERE WAS A DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. WE WERE BANGED UP SOME, BUT DIDN'T FEEL THERE AS ANYTHING WORTH GOING TO DR'S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287113

Incident

Oct 8, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $800 BECAUSE THE HORN AND AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WERE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10266094

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT WAS CHIPPING ON THE VEHICLE DOWN TO THE METAL. THE CHIPPING WAS PRESENT ON ALL SURFACES OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE HOOD. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLEAR COAT WAS RUBBING OFF AND THE FAILURE WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10264093

Incident

Apr 9, 2007

Mileage

51,000 mi

CAR WONT START ANTI THEFT (DTC) IS ON WONT DISENGAGE NOTHING WAS CHANGED OR DONE TO THE CAR LIGHT FLASHED A COUPLE OF TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217734

Incident

Feb 11, 2008

1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT DEFECTIVE. (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03V327 & NHTSA ACTION NUMBER RQ04005.) GM WILL NOT HONOR THIS RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID MY VEHICLE HAS A "BRANDED" TITLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183944

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

74,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HIT A SIGN AND A BRICK WALL. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10145619

Incident

Dec 17, 2005

WATER LEVEL LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON EVERY FEW WEEKS - LEAKING HEAD GASKET. COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE OIL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130749

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FLASHES AND CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL IT SET FOR A WHILE (USUALLY 20 MIMUTES). THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL LEADING TO POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENT AND INJURY. THEIR IS NO FIX TO THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE OLDSMOBLE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

10128928

Incident

Mar 14, 2005

Mileage

66,000 mi

ENGINE OVERHEATING -- COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. INTAKE MAINFOLD GASKET SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILING AT AROUND 57,000 MILES FAILED COMPLETELY AT 59,000 MILES. DID SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND FOUND DOZENS OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.1 LITER V-6 ENGINE IN THIS AND SIMILAR GM MODELS. CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A 50/50 ON THE COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10124171

Incident

May 21, 2005

Mileage

57,000 mi

ON APRIL 26,2005 WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK THE SPRING WAS REPLACED, FRONT END ALIGNED AND THE TIRE REPLACED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS WITH APX. 42000 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL AUTOMOBILE. THANK YOU, HAROLD OLIVER

NHTSA ID

10118742

Incident

Apr 26, 2005

Mileage

41,534 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE I HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND FELT THE CAR BOUNCE. THINKING THAT IS WAS JUST THE ICE RIDGES IN THE DRIVE WAY I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I DROVE ONLY A FEW BLOCKS WHEN I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING SO I RETURNED HOME AND PARKED THE CAR UNTIL MY HUSBAND RETURNED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC WERE HE REPLACED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE FRONT TIRE BECAUSE THE BROKEN COIL SPRING LEFT A DEEP GASH IN IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114460

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

Mileage

112,689 mi

THEFT SYSTEM CONTINUALLY OVERRIDES THE SYSTEM AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. IS HAS NOT YET CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT IT DOES POSE A THREAT TO DO SO. I HAVE ALSO TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWERS OF THE SAME TYPE/DIVISION(CUTLASS AND MALIBU) OF VEHICLE AND THEY ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCAL GM DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT SO MANY IN THE SAME AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM?. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105935

Incident

Jan 5, 2005

Mileage

81,000 mi

1. CAR RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. 2. ONE DAY, CAR WOULDN'T START AND THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING. 3. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT SAID TO WAIT 1/2 HOUR AND THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. SO WE WAIT, AND IT STARTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. WE RELY HEAVILY ON THIS CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100250

Incident

Sep 15, 2004

Mileage

98,500 mi

VEHICLE WAS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10101341

Incident

Nov 10, 2004

SIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT OR NOT AT ALL, ALREADY RECALLED ON SELECT FEW GM "MALIBU" MODELS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #03V327000 RECALL DATE 08/27/04, BUT NOT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS AND APPARENTLY NOT ON CUTLASS NAME PLATED MALIBU DESPITE THAT SAME PART IS CLEARLY FAILING IN MANY MODELS INCLUDING ALERO, AURORA, MALIBYU, CUTLASS ETC. CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093231

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN DUE TO DROPPED TUMBLER IN KEY CYLINDER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE LOCK AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY ($425 PARTS PLUS LABOR) DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A $2 TUMBLER IN THE LOCK. DEALER SAID THAT THEY (1 DEALERSHIP) REPLACE APPROX. 5 SWITCHES OF THIS DESIGN (GM INSTRUMENT PANEL-MOUNTED IGNITION SWITCHES) PER MONTH DUE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED FAILURE TO FAULTY DESIGN.

NHTSA ID

10066122

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

44,465 mi

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITENTLY FAILED TO SHOW ANY CHECK/WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED AT THE OFF AND ON POSITION. THE IGNITION ALSO FAILED TO START THE ENGINE EVEN WITH THE PRESENCE OF CLICKING NOISE. IF THE IGNITION WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE ENGINE COULD SUDDENLY DIE UNEXPECTANTLY WHILE RUNNING IN THE GARAGE OR ON THE HIGHWAY -- WITHOUT SHOWING ANY INSTRUMENTAL FAILURE INDICATOR SIGNS IN EITHER CASE. THE PROCESSES REPEATEDLY OCCURRED UNPREDITABLY DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SIMILAR FAILURES AS REPORTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR CHECKING-UP.

NHTSA ID

10060790

Incident

Mar 4, 2004

Mileage

36,220 mi

MY 1999 OLDS CUTLASS, HAD A LEAKING MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN THE LIBERTY TUNNEL IN PGH, DUE TO OVERHEATING. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GM ENGINE, IT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE TUNNEL AND OVER THE BRIDGE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE, SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF OVER $363. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060618

Incident

Nov 9, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi