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Oldsmobile CutlassYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,609 NHTSA owner complaints across 28 model years, no Oldsmobile Cutlass year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1988, 1990, 1997 and 1999. The Cutlass has 58 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1991Best years'88 '90 '97 '99Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,609Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls581967–1999 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Oldsmobile Cutlass years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cutlass median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1999Solid65/10080 complaints · 0 recalls1998Solid50/100155 complaints · 2 recalls1997Solid59/10096 complaints · 2 recalls1996Solid50/100123 complaints · 0 recalls1995Solid46/100156 complaints · 3 recalls1994Solid47/100148 complaints · 4 recalls1993Solid48/100139 complaints · 4 recalls1992Solid48/100136 complaints · 3 recalls1991Caution41/100193 complaints · 6 recalls1990Solid56/100103 complaints · 6 recalls1989Solid55/100113 complaints · 6 recalls1988Solid66/10074 complaints · 6 recalls1987Not rated–/10016 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/10023 complaints · 3 recalls1985Not rated–/10018 complaints · 3 recalls1984Not rated–/10016 complaints · 2 recalls1983Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1981Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1980Not rated–/1003 complaints · 4 recalls1979Not rated–/1002 complaints · 7 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1977Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1976Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Oldsmobile Cutlass problems

All model years combined: 1,609 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic45624
Engine and engine cooling21119
Electrical system20633
Steering11410
Seat belts11117
Power train1011
Structure1007
Vehicle speed control9528
Suspension933
17 other systems47572
58 recalls

Oldsmobile Cutlass recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Steering: rack and pinion03V-527 · 1997–1998 · Dec 11, 2003 · 750,283 vehicles–Windshield wiper/washer: linkages01V-068 · 1997–1998 · Mar 8, 2001 · 129,427 vehicles–Structure00V-189 · 1991 · Jul 11, 2000 · 713,435 vehicles–Front: anchorage98V-306 · 1995 · Dec 1, 1998 · 111,470 vehicles–Front: anchorage97V-065 · 1995 · Apr 18, 1997 · 50,709 vehicles–Structure97V-058 · 1988–1991 · Apr 8, 1997 · 676,535 vehicles–Windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring97V-017 · 1994–1995 · Feb 11, 1997 · 349,331 vehicles–Front: anchorage95V-173 · 1991–1993 · Sep 15, 1995 · 2,216,325 vehicles–Wheels95V-115 · 1988–1990 · Jun 5, 1995 · 22,361 vehicles–Wheels94V-041 · 1988–1990 · Mar 28, 1995 · 198,163 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings95V-061 · 1994 · Mar 22, 1995 · 199,572 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings94V-211 · 1993–1994 · Oct 26, 1994 · 70,676 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 58 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

29 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Cutlass

  1. WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURERQ04006 · 1997–1998 · closed Jan 13, 2005
    No recall
  2. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · 1997–1998 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
  3. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA02003 · 1997 · closed Dec 10, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-286
  4. STRUCTURERP01001 · 1991 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189
  5. STEERING RACK AND PINIONPE01038 · 1997 · closed Apr 4, 2002
    No recall
  6. WINDSHIELD WIPEREA00019 · 1997–1998 · closed Mar 6, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-068
  7. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONEA00011 · 1989–1991 · closed Jan 12, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-189
  8. WINDSHIELD WIPERPE00009 · 1997–1998 · closed Jul 12, 2000
    No recall
  9. OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA99030 · 1998 · closed Mar 25, 2002
    No recall
  10. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTSPE99037 · 1998 · closed Oct 29, 1999
    No recall