FaultScore report
Owners have filed 31 complaints about the 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
31
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 2 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PARKING BRAKE CABLE
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JAMMED STEERING MECHANISM
SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Risk: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
LEFT HANDED DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR PLATE MAY BE UPSIDE DOWN IN LOCK PILLAR SO THAT THE UNTHREADED SLOT OF THE PLATE ALIGNED WITH THE HOLE IN THE LOCK PILLAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE ANCHOR BOLT BEING DRIVEN INTO THE SLOT INSTEAD OF THE THREADED HOLE OF THE ANCHOR PLATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN A VEHICLE CRASH, BELT ANCHOR BOLT MAY PULL LOOSE FROM ANCHOR PLATE, THUS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES, AND INCREASES LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANT.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES THAT THIS STOP LAMP BE LIGHTED ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO, THE OPERA LAMPS MAY COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP PROVIDES ADDITIONAL WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. IF THIS LAMP MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A REAR END ACCIDENT.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
NHTSA complaint #548227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
POOR STABIITY, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #501702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #970223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10089299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE BOLT, WHICH COULD HURT HER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT IN 1997. THIS WAS CORRECTED WITH THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE BOLT DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT JUST THE OTHER DAY HER DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS SITTING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET, FACING TRAFFIC. THE RECALL STATED THAT ONCE THE BOLT FALLS OUT CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF STEERING. IT SEEMED THAT NOTHING WILL HOLD ENGINE BOLT IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10081743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
CONSUMER KEPT HEARING NOISE FROM THE TIRE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS SPLITTING IN THE MIDDLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT (SUMITOMO 205X75X14-9SS). NLM
NHTSA complaint #559451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN ARE YOU TESTING 2001 CARS AND TRUCKS?MOST DEALERS ALLREADY HAVE ALL 2001 IN STOCK
NHTSA complaint #734698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE-00-020; FIRESTONE, F360 TIRES PURCHASED FOR A 1986, OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS, TIRE SIZE P195/75R14, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SHREDDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND THE SHIMMY HAS GONE AWAY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #870610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL IS STICKING ALL THE TIME. CONTACTED DEALER, AND COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #850584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
NHTSA complaint #548227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AG AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AGE AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOORS AGE AND ARE THEN HARD TO OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER HANGERS ARE TOO FEW.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER HANGERS ARE TOO FEW.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER HANGERS ARE TOO FEW. MUFFLER FAILS BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON SINGLE HANGER.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PLASTIC CIRCUIT IS BRITTLE/BREAKS, CAUSING FALSE READINGS ON MOST GUAGES.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGS, RESULTING IN POOR PERFORMANCE.
NHTSA complaint #780149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BACK BRAKES FAIL AND LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #524069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHILE TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY OUT.
NHTSA complaint #802725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK/PINION WORE OUT PREMATURELY ON PASSENGERS SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #485927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
POOR STABIITY, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #501702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP.
NHTSA complaint #483356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #970223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PLASTIC SHEATH ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS CRACKED AND NO LONGER LATCHES. TT
NHTSA complaint #970080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.