FaultScore

1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass engine problems

19 of the 164 complaints about the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass are about the engine — 12% of everything reported for this model year.

D

19

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 9 47.4%
Engine 5 26.3%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 1 5.3%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 5.3%
Emission Control 1 5.3%
Cooling System 1 5.3%
Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 1 5.3%

Engine & Cooling across every Oldsmobile Cutlass year

1989 19 10.4%
1991 34 18.6%
1992 21 11.5%
1994 17 9.3%
1995 10 5.5%
1996 16 8.7%
1997 16 8.7%
1998 36 19.7%
1999 14 7.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Belfast, TN Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. *AK THE LIGHT DEVICE FLASHED RED/GREEN BEFORE GOING DEAD ON A STEEP HILL AND OR DANGEROUS CURVE. THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT, THEN THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT THROUGH A FENCE. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10071781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfiel, MA Fire 1 killed

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ACCIDENTAL FIRE IN PARKED RUNNING CAR IN OUTSIDE LOT, TOXIC FIRE CAUSED CARBON MONOXIDE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM ENGINE, OCCUPANT AQUIRED BURNS ON 27% OF HIS BODY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT, CLIENT DECEASED).

NHTSA complaint #545034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING...SEVERAL TIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS...LOOSES STEERING, BRAKES...SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS. DEALERS & REPAIR SHOPS CAN NEVER DUPLICATE OR IDENTIFY A PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #734213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amarillo, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF IT MAY NOT START AGAIN LIKE THE BATTERY HAS NO CHARGE, THE HEATER COIL MODULE HAVE BEEN CHANGED BUT STILL SEEMS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #782347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flint, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN STEERING SHAFT DISENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #731499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amarillo, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #782346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orlando, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THIS VEHICLE CONSTANTLY HESITATES, MISFIRES,AND TODAY IT BACKFIRED FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR YOU CAN SMELL A THE FUEL OUT OF THE EXHAUST . THIS PROBLEM IS NOT INTERMITTENT IT IS CONSTANT AND I FEEL IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS ON THIS CAR . I WENT TO AN OLDMOBILE DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT RECALLS . THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE, HOWEVER , IN A CONSUMER REPORTS BOOK I AM READING IT USES THE SAME CAR AS MINE FOR AN EXAMPLE OF A VEHICLE WITH A EXHAUST EMISSIONS RECALL. THE REAR BRAKES HAD A 10 POINT REAR BRAKE JOB CONSISTING OF NEW CYLINDERS ,HARDWARE, DRUMS TURNED AND NEW PADS. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE IN GOOD REPAIR. YET IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING THE CAR EFFECTIVELY

NHTSA complaint #706326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maple Heights, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WATER IS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER CAN'T FIND WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. ALSO, WHEN USING THE HEAT, THE SMELL IS REAL BAD AND IS COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. VEHICLE IS STALLING, AND DRIVER HAS TO PUT FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE NOT TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #833642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middle Island, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

RECALL # 97V058000 GM/REAR CRADLE BOLTS; VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER RECALL IN JULY OF 1998. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 3 MPH AND COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ON THE EVE OF THANKSGIVING, THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #831653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colorado Springs, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #530480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newington, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #519093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHILE STOPPING.

NHTSA complaint #516237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ionia, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #602896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ionia, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED DUE TO RUSTED WASHERS.

NHTSA complaint #602896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Polktello, ID

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #808695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Aurthur, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET LEAKS AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #809594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ionia, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CRADLE MOUNTS THAT SUPPORT THE ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BECAME RUSTED. THIS CONDITION ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO DROP ON THAT SIDE WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM REPAIRED BY MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #808107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leipsic, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

EGR VALVE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #480318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leipsic, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #480318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems

← Full 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass report