1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems

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.

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

HARNESS, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING, REPLACED LEFT FRONT HUB AND SENSOR ASSEMBLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABS WARNING ALARM CHIME CAME ON, AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF ABS MODULE SENSOR FAILURE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SNAPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN THE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED, IT CUT AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T HELP, ALL THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WAS 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES NO CONCERN AT ALL. *PH

TIRE BLEW OUT ON SIDEWALL NEXT TO TREAD. TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED MANAGED TO PULL OFF ON SIDE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHEN INSPECTING TIRE FOUND ALL TIRES HAD CRACKS IN OUTER TREAD GROOVE NEAREST SIDEWALLS SIMILAR TO REPORTS FILED IN ODI ID #750071 AND #870103. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A TIRE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM AND IS NOT A DEALER OR CAR MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. DRIVER EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO WITH 4800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: TRANSMISSION, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ENGINE FAN, SHOCKS, MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BROKEN, BRAKES, FOG LIGHT NEVER WORKED, CABLE AND HINGES ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WERE BREAKING, THE ARM REST WAS HOLLOW, THE VEHICLE CONTINUOSLY RAN HOT, EVEN AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE FAN NOT WORKING. MR SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE WHOLE FRONT END VIBRATES. IT GETS WORST WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THINKS IT EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR AXLE AND CV JOINTS. MR

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING INSIDE INTERIOR OF CAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING T2, P215/60R15, CLAIM 13-7112-321. *SLC

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.

THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: TRANSMISSION, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ENGINE FAN, SHOCKS, MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BROKEN, BRAKES, FOG LIGHT NEVER WORKED, CABLE AND HINGES ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WERE BREAKING, THE ARM REST WAS HOLLOW, THE VEHICLE CONTINUOSLY RAN HOT, EVEN AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE FAN NOT WORKING. MR SCC

CONSUMER WAS IN PROCESS OF PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN ENGINE STARTED REVVING. SUDDENLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO GO THROUGH A GLASS WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER HAS SOMEONE COMING OUT, NOT THE DEALER TO INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS ROUGH WHEN APPLYING AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR DROPPED OUT AT TIMES CAUSING THE ABS TO SEE 0 SPEED AND GO INTO ABS MODE WHEN NOT CALLED ON. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

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.

THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: TRANSMISSION, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ENGINE FAN, SHOCKS, MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BROKEN, BRAKES, FOG LIGHT NEVER WORKED, CABLE AND HINGES ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WERE BREAKING, THE ARM REST WAS HOLLOW, THE VEHICLE CONTINUOSLY RAN HOT, EVEN AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE FAN NOT WORKING. MR SCC

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.

HEADRESTS ARE TOO LARGE AND NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FROM REARVIEW MIRROR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING CAN DONE.*AK