1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

6 recalls, 107 complaints - 1 TSBs

STRUCTURE

Defect Description

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 BOL... Read more

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

676,535 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

WHEELS

Defect Description

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

22,361 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

WHEELS

Defect Description

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

198,163 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

SEAT BELTS

Defect Description

FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.

673,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Defect Description

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).

Consequence

SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

1,755,897 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

Defect Description

THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER.

Consequence

PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE PROPERLY APPLIED AND VEHICLEWILL NOT MEET THE GRADE HOLDING REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105.

Remedy

INSTALL A RETAINER ON LEFT REAR CALIPER IF CABLE IS NOT ALREADY RETAINED WITH A COTTER PIN AND ADJUST PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.

3,857 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

107 total complaints 7 crashes 2 fires 2 injuries 4 deaths

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC	8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR	8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	8
SUSPENSION:FRONT	5
STRUCTURE	4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM	4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION	3
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL	3

Incident date: Mar 25, 2003

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING... Read more

Incident date: Dec 29, 1999

ENGINE SUPPORT FAILED (BROKE) WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IMPOSSIBLE STEERING CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROADWAY AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES, CAUSING MY DAUGHTER'S DEATH. ALSO, I REPORTED THIS DEVASTATING EVENT SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY RESPONSE FROM ANY ... Read more

Crash 1 injured 1 deaths

Incident date: Nov 30, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. *PH *NM

Fire

Incident date: Dec 29, 1999

1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS- ENGINE CRADLE AND/OR FRONT SUSPENSIONS BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *LA THE CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE DECEASED CONSUMER. THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON ROADWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH AND BEGAN TO ROLL APPROX. THREE TIMES COMING TO A R... Read more

Crash 1 deaths

Incident date: Dec 29, 1999

Crash 1 deaths

Incident date: Dec 29, 1999

Crash 1 deaths

Incident date: May 14, 2002

BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD.*AK

Incident date: May 14, 2002

BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD.*AK

CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAYAND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WENT OUT, AND BOLTS THAT HELD STEERING COLUMN ,FELL ONTO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Incident date: Apr 8, 2001

FUEL LINES ARE RUSTING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Incident date: Jan 15, 2001

1.) THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SAGS AND THE HINGES ARE RUSTY. THE DOOR LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WILL FALL OFF AT ANY TIME. THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS ALREADY FALLEN OFF ONCE, I HAVE REPLACED THE HINGES. WHEN IT FELL OFF, WE WERE STOPPED, BUT IT ALMOST FELL ON MY COUSIN'S LEG. 2.) THE CAR DOES NOT START LIKE ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 15, 2001

Incident date: Oct 24, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Mar 30, 1999

CRADLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 97V-058, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. ADJUSTER DISCOVERED THAT CRADLE BOLTS WERE CORRODED DUE TO A DEFCTIVE PRODUCT. *AK

Incident date: Jun 1, 2000

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND CAR WAS TOTALED, NO WARNING SIGNS, AN ADJUSTER CAME AND SAID THAT CRADLE BOLTS WERE CORRODED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *AK

Incident date: May 1, 1990

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES PEDAL IS SOFT. BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL O00065-S AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL COULDN'T BE DONE DUE TO THE RECALL COMPONENT NOT BEING SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME HOLES AND FRAME, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER IN ORDER TO DO RECALL THE ENTIRE FRAME ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO... Read more

Incident date: Aug 2, 2000

ENGINE SHUTDOWN/NO POWER STEERING/DANGEROUS SITUATION /ELDERLY DRIVER !! THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 50K MILES. TWO FUEL PUMPS AND ONE MODULE REPLACED SINCE 1995. THE FUEL PUMPS REPLACED IN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. *AK

Incident date: Aug 2, 2000

Incident date: May 15, 2000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE @ 70MPH, WHEN THE TREAD ON MY TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT OR BLOW COMPLETELY OUT. I CONTACTED THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A TIRE DEFECT. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE, FOR I FELT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS SURRONDING FIRESTONE TIRES, THI... Read more

Incident date: Mar 31, 1990

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD JUST GO DEAD. ONCE GOING DOWN A HILL POWER WENT OUT AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. BUT CONSUMER MANGAGED TO LEVEL CAR OFF. CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. VEHICLE WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN. *AK

ECM PROM HAD TO BE REPLACED 02/01/2000, AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN(88-T-147B) HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR BOTH THE PART AND LABOR SINCE WE NEVER RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL BULLETIN A... Read more

Incident date: Dec 19, 1999

WITH LIGHT BRAKING THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP AT SPEEDS UNDER 15MPH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, THE SECOND TIME RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: May 23, 1995

THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES GO ON FINE, AND STOP THE CAR GREAT, BUT THEY DO NOT RELEASE ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED, AS HAS THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. ONCE... Read more

Crash Fire

SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE REAR WAS ADDED BY CONSUMER, HOWEVER BUCKLE FIT AT THE CHILDS CHEST AREA WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. MJS

Incident date: Sep 8, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRES UNDER THE DASHBOARD MELTING. *AK

Incident date: Jan 20, 1994

A PIECE OF THE CHASSIS THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE SWAY BAR BROKE OFF. ALSO, THE A-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RIPPED AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS. *AK

Incident date: Aug 12, 1998

THE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT SEAL HAS DETERIORATED, ALLOWING OIL TO FLOW DOWN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND COVER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WITH OIL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHEN I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, HE SHOWED ME A SERVICE FORM WHERE HE JUST FIXED A 1992 OLDS CUTL... Read more

Incident date: Aug 3, 1998

RECALL 97V058000, REAR CRADLE BOLTS. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AND DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATES VARIOUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED AND CAUSED BY THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS, INCLUDED RIGHT CV JOINT/ RIGHT FRONT END ALIGNMENT/ LOWER BALL JOINTS/WEAKSTRUTS/ RIGHT AND LEFT TIRES IN... Read more

Incident date: Aug 3, 1998

Incident date: Jul 23, 1998

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE A FRAME FAILED TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE. *AK

Incident date: Jul 3, 1998

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 97VO5800, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 97016, TIE ROD END. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 1996

POWER STEERING FAILURE.

STARTER FAILED.

TIMING BELT MISADJUSTED.

HEATER CORE BURNED OUT.

Incident date: Jan 1, 1996

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO BLOW FUSES.

Incident date: Dec 4, 1996

THROTTLE STUCK.

Incident date: Dec 4, 1996

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE.

FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED OIL. *AK

DASH LIGHTS FAILED.

Incident date: Jul 22, 1997

THE REAR DISC BRAKES CONSTANTLY CORRODE, AND THEY DO NOT OPERATE AT ALL. *AK

Incident date: Aug 4, 1996

LEFT FRONT SUBFRAME MOUNTING BARS FELL OFF. *AK

Showing 50 of 107 complaints.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

1 manufacturer communications from 1 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	1

061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

RATTLING NOISE/ENGINE OVERHEATING. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations, OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1998

OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

There is no summary currently available

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS

There is no summary currently available

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1983

CUTLASS SUPREME BRAKE LOCKUP

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1984

84 OLDS BRAKE LOCKUP

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1984

PULLING TO LEFT AND VIBRATING STEERING W

PULLING TO LEFT AND VIBRATING STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPING

OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS across all model years (1967, 1999).

101 Total Recalls

2,253 Total Complaints

5 Investigations

142 Reported Crashes

59 Reported Fires

7 Reported Deaths

OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
1999	1	117	View
1998	3	223	View
1997	3	161	View
1996	1	160	View
1995	4	199	View
1994	5	200	View
1993	5	193	View
1992	4	182	View
1991	8	266	View
1990	6	151	View
1989	6	164	View
1988 (current)	6	107
1987	2	22	View
1986	3	31	View
1985	3	22	View
1984	2	24	View
1983	2	8	View
1982	2	1	View
1981	2	8	View
1980	5	3	View
1979	8	2	View
1978	6	0	View
1977	2	4	View
1976	2	3	View
1975	4	0	View
1974	3	0	View
1973	2	0	View
1967	1	0	View

Other OLDSMOBILE Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
SILHOUETTE	77	1,287	View
88	46	1,228	View
BRAVADA	46	1,350	View
98	41	417	View
OMEGA	36	5	View
INTRIGUE	32	1,608	View
TORONADO	27	45	View
ALERO	21	2,936	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS - All Years Overview

OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS - Year by Year

Other OLDSMOBILE Models