55 of the
2,251 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Cutlass
are about the lighting —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE IN THE CIRCUIT. OCCASIONALLY, IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE GEARS ENGAGED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. BOTH FAILURES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 208,627 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,583.
NHTSA complaint #10187191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT DEFECTIVE. (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03V327 & NHTSA ACTION NUMBER RQ04005.) GM WILL NOT HONOR THIS RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID MY VEHICLE HAS A "BRANDED" TITLE.
NHTSA complaint #10183944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ABS CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, WHICH THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND A WIRE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10113668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT OR NOT AT ALL, ALREADY RECALLED ON SELECT FEW GM "MALIBU" MODELS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #03V327000 RECALL DATE 08/27/04, BUT NOT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS AND APPARENTLY NOT ON CUTLASS NAME PLATED MALIBU DESPITE THAT SAME PART IS CLEARLY FAILING IN MANY MODELS INCLUDING ALERO, AURORA, MALIBYU, CUTLASS ETC. CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10093231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT OR NOT AT ALL, ALREADY RECALLED ON SELECT FEW GM "MALIBU" MODELS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #03V327000 RECALL DATE 08/27/04, BUT NOT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS AND APPARENTLY NOT ON CUTLASS NAME PLATED MALIBU DESPITE THAT SAME PART IS CLEARLY FAILING IN MANY MODELS INCLUDING ALERO, AURORA, MALIBYU, CUTLASS ETC. CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10093231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE FLASHER UNIT UNDER THE DASH WOULD CLICK EVEN WHEN THE FLASHER WASN'T TURNED ON. WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED OFF, THE CLICKING WOULD CONTINUE UNDER THE DASH, SOMETIMES AT A RAPID SPEED AND SOMETIMES AT A SLOWER RATE). THE GARAGE STATED THAT THE SIGNAL SWITCH SEEPS POWER TO THE FLASHER. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10071831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: TRANSMISSION, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ENGINE FAN, SHOCKS, MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BROKEN, BRAKES, FOG LIGHT NEVER WORKED, CABLE AND HINGES ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WERE BREAKING, THE ARM REST WAS HOLLOW, THE VEHICLE CONTINUOSLY RAN HOT, EVEN AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE FAN NOT WORKING. MR SCC
NHTSA complaint #10015673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SHORT. NO TAILLIGHTS WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ON. ONE WAY BOTH SIDE TAILLIGHTS GO OUT AND THE OTHER WAY ONE SIDE OF TAILLIGHTS GO OUT. WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT BEING USED, SOMETIMES I HAVE TAILIGHTS AND SOMETIMES I DON'T. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND IT STARTED AFTER I HAD MY CAR IN THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. I HAVE NO TAILLIGHTS AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY TAILLIGHTS. THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT WORK ON THE BACK END OF MY CAR ARE THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS. THE REST OF THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF.
NHTSA complaint #764262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SHORT. NO TAILLIGHTS WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ON. ONE WAY BOTH SIDE TAILLIGHTS GO OUT AND THE OTHER WAY ONE SIDE OF TAILLIGHTS GO OUT. WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT BEING USED, SOMETIMES I HAVE TAILIGHTS AND SOMETIMES I DON'T. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND IT STARTED AFTER I HAD MY CAR IN THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. I HAVE NO TAILLIGHTS AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY TAILLIGHTS. THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT WORK ON THE BACK END OF MY CAR ARE THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS. THE REST OF THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF.
NHTSA complaint #764262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING COLUMN TURN SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT COMPLETELY - TOTAL DARK - THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WILL CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION! ! IT IS ALSO HARD TO DISCOVER - THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T USE TURN SIGNALS - THEY WEAR OUT EARLY, AND COST A LOT! BRAKE LIGHTS ARE MAJOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT!!
NHTSA complaint #760731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING COLUMN TURN SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT COMPLETELY - TOTAL DARK - THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WILL CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION! ! IT IS ALSO HARD TO DISCOVER - THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T USE TURN SIGNALS - THEY WEAR OUT EARLY, AND COST A LOT! BRAKE LIGHTS ARE MAJOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT!!
NHTSA complaint #760731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARTS AND RUNS BEAUTIFULLY UNTIL STOPPED BRIEFLY, WON'T RESART, TURNS OVER AND DIES. NO GAS SMELL. AFTER SITTING 15-20 MINUTES, STARTS. LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN CAR IS PARKED IF BUFFETED BY WIND. SHORT IN STALK SWITCH. DOME LIGHT DOESN'T GO OFF WHEN DOOR IS
NHTSA complaint #742659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR LIGHTS SLOWLY WENT OUT ON DRIVE HOME. ANTILOCK BRAKES WENT OUT, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND FINALLY ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACED BATTERY-HORN WOULDN'T WORK AND LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP-RESET COMPUTER-NOW DAY RUNNING LAMPS DON'T COME ON WHEN START THE CAR ON-THEY ONLY COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. THE AIRBAG SENOR IS ALSO OUT. THIS ALL OCCURRED AT 37000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #739403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.