21 of the 199 complaints about the 1995 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 82,366 miles.
21
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN CAR STARTS UP, RACES FAST, RUFF SHIFTS INTO GEAR, CRUISE CONTROL WONT WORK, AND BLINKER IS DIM WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON.
NHTSA complaint #10371232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL, HEADLIGHTS HIGH-BEAM STUCK ON, TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. REPEATEDLY MOVING HEADLIGHT DIMMER-LEVER SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT PROBLEM. NOW UNABLE TO GET ANY HIGH-BEAMS, SMOKE COMES AND GOES, TURN-SIGNALS COME AND GO, HORN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY.
NHTSA complaint #10140020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUSES ARE CONTINUOSLY BLOWING, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE SHIFT COLUMN, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ALSO THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE RADIATOR AND TANK ARE FULL. HE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND THE MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. BRAKES ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND ALL SENSORS ARE GOOD. NOW I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING ON HOT DAYS, THE STARTER CLICKS BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WILL THEN START( ABOUT 5 TRIES), AND TODAY I SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP SIGN I LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT A TOP OF 2RPM'S AND COULD NOT GET OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE MECHANIC STILL NEED TO GIVE A DIAGNOSIS ON THIS LATEST PROBLEM BUT SIAD IT MAY BE A CIRCUIT PROBLEM SINCE TOUCHING THE UNDERHOOD DRIVER SIDE CIRCUIT BOX CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND RESTART.
NHTSA complaint #764194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUSES ARE CONTINUOSLY BLOWING, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE SHIFT COLUMN, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ALSO THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE RADIATOR AND TANK ARE FULL. HE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND THE MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. BRAKES ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND ALL SENSORS ARE GOOD. NOW I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING ON HOT DAYS, THE STARTER CLICKS BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WILL THEN START( ABOUT 5 TRIES), AND TODAY I SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP SIGN I LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT A TOP OF 2RPM'S AND COULD NOT GET OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE MECHANIC STILL NEED TO GIVE A DIAGNOSIS ON THIS LATEST PROBLEM BUT SIAD IT MAY BE A CIRCUIT PROBLEM SINCE TOUCHING THE UNDERHOOD DRIVER SIDE CIRCUIT BOX CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND RESTART.
NHTSA complaint #764194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
REPORTING PROBLEM WITH FRONT ROTORS. CONSUMER NEEDS TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND PITTED. BATTERY FAILED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OVER BRAKES PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #873937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CAN DRIVE VEHICLE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITHOUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT DRIVEN FOR ONE DAY (SUNDAY) THEN ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY WEEK - JUST INTERMITTINGLY. HAVE HAD IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOKING FOR ELECTRICAL SHORT, OLDSMOBILE DEALER IS AT A LOSS AS TO WHERE THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. HAVE CHECKED ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED. THERE ARESEVERAL OTHER CUTLASS CIERA'S IN OUR AREA THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - NO ONE IS ABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM..
NHTSA complaint #733858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
EACH YEAR SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS OLDSMOBILE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1989 OLDSMOBILE AND HAD TO DO THE SAME. THE HESITATING/STALLING PROBLEM IS WHAT ORIGINALLY PROMPTED ME TO GET RID OF MY 1989 AND PURCHASE A NEWER VERSION. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS AND AM JUST NOW EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED/CORRECTED IN THE 1989 CAR BUT HOPEFULLY, THE DEALER CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN MY CURRENT CAR. I DO AN AWFUL LOT OF DRIVING AND DO NOT WANT TO END UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A DEAD CAR, NOR DO I WANT TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION AND HAVE MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME. I HOPE THIS IS CORRECTABLE!
NHTSA complaint #726740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE IS VISIBILE AT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE--CAUSES BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #865178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE IS VISIBILE AT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE--CAUSES BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #865178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
LOW MILEAGE, WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENSIVE CORROSION DAMAGE TO HOOD RELEASE CABLE AND AREA UNDER (AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO) BATTERY BOX. DAMAGE CAUSED BY LONG-TERM LEAKAGE OF ELECTROLYTE FROM "+" TERMINAL MOUNT BOLT HOLE OF MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #721258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL, STALLING CAUSED FROM RUSTED AND CORRODED IGNITION COIL WIRING. YH
NHTSA complaint #549746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
CIRCUIT BREAKER EXPERIENCED SHORT RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND BURNING OF THE UNIT CAUSING FAILURE OF THE POWER SEAT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
CIRCUIT BREAKER EXPERIENCED SHORT RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND BURNING OF THE UNIT CAUSING FAILURE OF THE POWER SEAT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
BRAKES ARE UNRELIABLE. PADS HAVE REPLACED THREE TIMES AND REAR ROTORS TWICE. FRONT ROTORS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 3000 MILES. SERVICE TECH INDICATES DESIGN PROBLEMS RELATED TO BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, TIMING BELT FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE.MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND HELPED WITHOUT WARRANTY REPAIRS. ALSO, ALTERNATOR FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE/REPAIR TIME TWICE USUAL DUE TO LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR AND DESIGN OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #703457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN IS DIFFICULT IN ENGAGE DUE TO DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #604365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING LOW/HIGH SPEEDS, EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUTDOWN, RENDERING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #806141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #600433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DASHBOARD FUSE FAILED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #600494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING 60/65MPH, RESULTING IN STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULTY. TT
NHTSA complaint #975389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.