FaultScore

1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass electrical problems

22 of the 200 complaints about the 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass are about the electrical system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 127,500 miles.

C

22

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Horn 4 18.2%
Electrical System 4 18.2%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 4 18.2%
Ignition 3 13.6%
Wiring 2 9.1%
Switch 2 9.1%
Front Underhood 1 4.5%
Interior/Under Dash 1 4.5%
Control Module 1 4.5%

Electrical System across every Oldsmobile Cutlass year

1989 22 9.6%
1990 12 5.3%
1991 25 11.0%
1992 23 10.1%
1993 25 11.0%
1994 22 9.6%
1995 21 9.2%
1996 15 6.6%
1997 19 8.3%
1998 18 7.9%
1999 26 11.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Utica, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE HORN AND, AS A RESULT, THE FUSE WENT OUT. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FAILURE WOULD AFFECT THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11101857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Utica, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE HORN AND, AS A RESULT, THE FUSE WENT OUT. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FAILURE WOULD AFFECT THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11101857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Greenville, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAVE AN OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME 1994 THE OTHER DAY WE GOT IN THE CAR TO DRIVE AND THE WIPERS WASN'T WORKING UNLESS WE TURNED ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WE NEED A RECALL REPLACEMENT. ALSO WE HAVE AN EXCEPTION DUE BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.

NHTSA complaint #10660726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH/MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH THAT ALSO CONTROLS THE CRUISE CONTROL, WIPERS, AND WINDSHIELD WASHER. 1. I CAN'T PUT THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHEN SIGNALING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE SIGNALS WON'T WORK. I HAVE TO APPLY JUST ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE LEVER TO MAKE THE SIGNALS BLINK. 2. MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS WON'T WORK AT ALL AND I HAD TO REMOVE THE UPPER PART OF THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY BUMP IT THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T WORK. 3. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK ON LOW UNLESS I TURN ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN THE LEFT SIGNAL IS BLINKING THE WIPERS WORK PERFECT ON LOW. WHEN I TURN THE WIPERS ON FAST THEY WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ON AND THEN THEY GO UP THREE INCHES AND DOWN THREE INCHES.

NHTSA complaint #10555778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yucaipa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL FROM INSIDE. A MECHANIC FOUND IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED. ALSO, ANTI-THEFT MODULE WAS REPLACED AS A RESULT OF IGNITION MELTING. *AK

NHTSA complaint #889171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yucaipa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL FROM INSIDE. A MECHANIC FOUND IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED. ALSO, ANTI-THEFT MODULE WAS REPLACED AS A RESULT OF IGNITION MELTING. *AK

NHTSA complaint #889171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yucaipa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CAR QUITS RUNNING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #745488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Levittown, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

FAILURES OUTLINED ABOVE CAUSED CAR ENGINE TO FAIL ON A TOTAL OF 3 OCCASIONS - COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #714006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norridge, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #524639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norridge, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ENGINE SPUTTERS AND HESITATES DUE TO WIRE BURNED IN THE WIRING ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #524639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring GRO, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #523707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baker, MT Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING BURNING OF PLASTIC AROUND FENDER, BURNT CARPET INSIDE THE CARE, BEHIND CENTER CONSOLE AND WIRING BEHIND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BURNING WIRES RESULTED IN FIRE. REASON UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #526472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Matawan, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY WHICH WAS DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #816407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamilton, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE DEFECTIVE WIRE BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WHICH CONTROLS THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOORS CAUGHT ON FIRE, LOCKING IN THE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. OCCUPANT HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #816408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Malverne, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

DIFFICULTY ACCESSING HORN BUTTON IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #513170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Panama City, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION, NOW KEY IS HARD TO GET IN/OUT.

NHTSA complaint #507054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmington Hills, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE IS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #802630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falcroft, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ALTERNATOR FAILURE, CAUSING ABS LIGHT TO APPEAR/ LOSS OF POWER ASSIST/ STEERING/BRAKES AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FRONT END VIBRATES, FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE SHUTDOWN.

NHTSA complaint #801159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Joplin, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #986547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING SHORTED AT TRANSAXLE CASE SUPPORT.

NHTSA complaint #485776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carpenters, IL Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

LOCATION OF HORN BUTTONS CAUSED DIFFICULTY ACCESSING BUTTONS DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #482019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT Wayne, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING UP AND WANTS TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #958949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems

← Full 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass report