FaultScore report
Owners have filed 151 complaints about the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass with NHTSA between 1995 and 2014. The largest single group is the brakes.
151
Complaints
11
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
6
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.
5 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
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.
1 investigation is still open.
CRADLE BOLT FAILURES
ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES
FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCH
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.
STRUCTURE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
WHEELS
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Risk: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
WHEELS
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Risk: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
SEAT BELTS
FRONT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY SEPARATE AT FRONT BELT UPPER GUIDE LOOPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT.
Risk: WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH CAN RESULT IN RESUMPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Risk: A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
SEAT BELTS
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
Risk: SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
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.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER. HEADREST BUSTED, AND CONSUMER'S HEAD AND NECK WERE INJURED. CONSUMER FELT THAT HEADREST SHOULD NOT HAVE BUSTED. IF IT HAD NOT BUSTED, CERTAIN INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #891152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATED AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE RACED AND IT WOULDN'T BRAKE, IT STOPPED WHEN IT HIT ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #820593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #517057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATION AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED DUE TO THE THROTTLE STICKING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, EA92-024.
NHTSA complaint #809270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
95V115 RECALL RELATED, NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 50MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #803832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK. ACCIDENT ON NOV. 9. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #976255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
TIRES
THE VEHICLE IS A 1990 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA SL. I CHECKED BOX AS CHEVROLET AS OLDSMOBILE IS NOT AN OPTION ON THE DROP DOWN. FOUR NEW TIRES INSTALLED BETWEEN 12/31/13 AND 1/31/14, UNIROYAL AWP II TIGER PAWS SIZE P185/75R14. MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE REPORTS THEY ?DO NOT CURRENTLY MANUFACTURE TIRES FITTING THIS VEHICLES SPECIFICATIONS.? ARE THE TIGER PAWS II P185/75R14 INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE COUNTERFEIT TIRES? SINCE INSTALLING THESE TIRES, THE VEHICLE "SWAYS" WHEN DRIVING ON GROOVED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY PAVEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10565448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
NAR 1/29/2003. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2003 REGARDING THE FRONT FRAME /CRADLE BOLT RETAINERS. AS PER THE RECALL LETTER THEY WERE REPLACED. ON DEC 12, 2002 BEFORE REACHING A STOP, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONSUMER FELT A THUMP. WHEN THE CONSUMER INVESTIGATED, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO STEERING CAPABILITIES. UPON GENERAL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE REAR FRAME/ CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS HAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP AND THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL FOR THE CRADLE BOLTS DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE ONLY THE FRONT.
NHTSA complaint #10006042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DASHBOARD COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SHE COULD NOT TELL HOW MUCH FUEL THERE WAS OR HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING/DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING DEFECT. MECHANIC TRIED TO PUT A BRAND NEW PART IN THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUME RHAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10089093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HAS FAILED 3 TIME AT THE COST OF $300 EACH TIME. DT
NHTSA complaint #770291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHILE DRIVING REAR DISC BRAKE ON ONE SIDE STICKS ON ROTOR. HAD TO REPLACE CYLINDER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #8005926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
WHILE DRIVING REAR DISC BRAKE ON ONE SIDE STICKS ON ROTOR. HAD TO REPLACE CYLINDER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #8005926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS TO RELEASE AND STALLS ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #755024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I TAKE GOOD CARD OF MY CAR. IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD 4 OIL CHANGES, NEW TIRES AND RIMS, AN ALIGNMENT, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. ON 04/20/2001 I HAD A OIL CHANGE AND ASKED PENSKE AUTO TO LOOK AT MY STRUTS AND SUSPENSION BECAUSE MY CAR FELT AND LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN USUALLY, AND AGAIN ABOUT 06/05/2001. THIS TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO LOOK AND HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON 06/15/2001 I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR AND HAD A FEW MORE MILES TO GO BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DECIDED TO PULL OF ON A EXIT TO CHECK A PRICE OF A PRODUCT. I SLOWED DOWN FOR A PEDESTRIAN, AND AS I GOT TO ABOUT 10 MILES A HOUR I FELT A BUMP AND LOST ALL STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH OUT WRECKING OR HITTING THE PEDESTRIAN. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE BACK PART OF THE FRONT A FRAME HAD FALLEN AND THE MOTOR WHICH HAD PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART. IF I HAD NOT EXITED THE INTERSTATE BEFORE I WAS SUPPOSE TO I AM SURE I WOULD BE DEAD, ALSO I AM LUCKY I DID NOT KILL A PEDESTRIAN. I HAVE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY RECALLED THE CARS IN 20 STATES AND MY STATE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THEY KNOW THAT ITS PROBLEM EXISTS ON CARS 1988 TO 1990 AND EARLY 1991. OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME, CHEV LUMINA, PONTIAC GRAND PER AND BUICK REGAL. I HAVE A CASE # WITH OLDS C05115278 AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH LARRY WALDRICK AT 1-800-442-6537 HE IS TRYING TO BE HELPFUL, BUT IS GETTING NOWHERE. IF I LIVED IN IOWA THEY WOULD OF WARNED ME THAT MY CAR WAS DANGEROUS IN 1997 AND FIXED MY CAR, BUT SINCE I LIVE IN NE AND MY CAR TRIED TO KILL ME, I AM GETTING THE RUN A ROUND. OLDSMOBILE TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. I DID ON 08/02/2001. THEY SAY THEY WILL ONLY PAY HALF, AND TO THIS DAY 08/23/2001 HAVE NOT GOTTEN ME A WRITTEN ESTIMATE. I JUST WANT TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER 30 STATES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN WARNED OF THESE KILLER CARS.
NHTSA complaint #750994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER. HEADREST BUSTED, AND CONSUMER'S HEAD AND NECK WERE INJURED. CONSUMER FELT THAT HEADREST SHOULD NOT HAVE BUSTED. IF IT HAD NOT BUSTED, CERTAIN INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #891152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS STARTING TO CRACK WHERE RESTRAINT HARNESS IS MOUNTED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF RECALL 90V054 AND WENT TO HAVE WORK DONE, HOWEVER DEALER STATED THE CRACKING WHERE SEAT BELT MOUNT IS LOCATED WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS STARTING TO CRACK WHERE RESTRAINT HARNESS IS MOUNTED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF RECALL 90V054 AND WENT TO HAVE WORK DONE, HOWEVER DEALER STATED THE CRACKING WHERE SEAT BELT MOUNT IS LOCATED WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD STAY OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, DEALER STATED CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED THREE TIMES. THE THREE COILS AND THE COMPUTER WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILS TO START DUE TO CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #883648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD STAY OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, DEALER STATED CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED THREE TIMES. THE THREE COILS AND THE COMPUTER WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILS TO START DUE TO CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #883648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD STAY OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, DEALER STATED CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED THREE TIMES. THE THREE COILS AND THE COMPUTER WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILS TO START DUE TO CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #883648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
REAR CALIPERS HAVE FROZEN DUE TO DESIGN ERROR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #883285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STOP LAMP FAILURE AND REQUIRED A NEW STITCH, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL 90V-185 AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOLT CAME LOOSE AND 1 BROKE .HOLDING BODY TO FRAME TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #741070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
CRADLE IS RUSTED DUE TO A RECALL ON THE CADLE RETAINERS AND BOLTS.
NHTSA complaint #740458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
FLUIDS ALL FULL. IF ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. WHEN TURNED ON ALL OK BUT BRAKES FAIL RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. HAS BEEN SERVICED BY BRAKE SHOP. FLUSH AND FILL OF BRAKE FLUID. NO VISABLE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #736787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WAS ON INTERNET AND FOUND A SECTION THAT HAD STATED A PAINT PEELING PROBLEM WITH OLDSMOBILES AND IT HAD STATED THAT THE GM MANUFACTURE WOULD FURNISH A FREE PAINT FOR THE CARS THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM.. THE CAR THAT I OWN IS A 1990 OLDSMOBILE CUT.SUP.IN.SED.4D. IF THIS IS A TRUE FACT COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #732071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #871522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SLID TO A STOP. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint #554270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INTERMITTENT DIGITAL DASHBOARD FAILURE (SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE).
NHTSA complaint #725550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I TOOK TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM THE MASTER COMPUTER WAS EVEN REPLACED WITH A GMAC REBUILD THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CHANGED.
NHTSA complaint #722370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ALSO, AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES THE BRAKES OPERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #852646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.