1990 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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. *TR

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. *JB

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.*AK

HAS FAILED 3 TIME AT THE COST OF $300 EACH TIME. DT

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.*AK

LOCKING TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS TO RELEASE AND STALLS ENGINE. *AK

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.*AK

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. *AK

Crash 1 injured

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

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. *YH

REAR CALIPERS HAVE FROZEN DUE TO DESIGN ERROR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STOP LAMP FAILURE AND REQUIRED A NEW STITCH, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL 90V-185 AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

BOLT CAME LOOSE AND 1 BROKE .HOLDING BODY TO FRAME TOGETHER. *AK

CRADLE IS RUSTED DUE TO A RECALL ON THE CADLE RETAINERS AND BOLTS. *AK

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.*AK

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. *AK

REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

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

INTERMITTENT DIGITAL DASHBOARD FAILURE (SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE). *AK

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. *AK

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. *AK

PAINT ON THE ENTIRE CAR IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN IF NO KEY, SPEEEDOMETER. ODOMETER INTERMITTENT FAILURE, REAR BRAKES FROZE AND RUSTED CAUSING FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKE LININGS AND ROTORS IN 3000 MILES

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD IN THIS CAR FAILS INTERMITTANTLY. SOMETIMES IT FAILS ON STARTUP, AND SOMETIMES WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. UPON FAILURE THE DASHOARD IS BLACK, WITH NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE SPEED OF THIS AUTOMOBILE. SOMETIMES THE FAILURE LASTS FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND SOMTIMES FOR HOURS. ON ONE TRIP I HAD NO SPEEDOMETER FOR 4 HOURS. I BELIEVE THAT FHE FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS INFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE OF THE LOCAL GENERAL MOTORS DEALER THAT FAILURE OF DIGITAL DASHOARDS IN GM CARS HAPPENS OFTEN AND IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I WAS GIVEN A FIGURE OF APPROXIMATELY $650.00 TO REPAIR MY DASHBOARD, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THAT IT BE SENT TO THE FACTORY AND FHAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THE USE OF MY CAR FOR 2 TO 6 WEEKS. SINCE THE SPEEDOMETER IS A COMPONENT OF THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD, AND CERTAINLY RELATED TO VEHICLE SAFETY, I BELIEVE THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COST. IF NOT REQUIRED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST, GM SHOULD AT LEAST BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *AK

HAVE MORE TO REPORT ON DEFECTS: 11/8/1997 TOWED AGAIN - LOST POWER - CAR STOPPED TOOK BACK FOR RECHK OF BATTERY/ALTERNATOR, THEN ON 11/20/1997 - ANOTHER ALTERNATOR, RAN TESTS ON BATTERY BOLT, REPLACED BATTER, REPLACED ALT & REPAIRES WIRES & INSTALL CONNECTORS ($311.45), 12/2/98 STALLED AGAIN LOST POWER, RAN TESTS, ALTERNATOR REPLACED ($150.04), CAR STALLED - LOST POWER ON 12/17/98 - RAN TESTS, BATTERY BAD, BATTERY REPLACED ($81.66). I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE HAS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND CAR WILL STALL AGAIN!!! NOTICE FROM ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON 1990 PONTIAC CULASS SUPREMES THERE HAS TO BE SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH ON OUR . . . IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING THE DRIVEWAY - WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TAKE IT. IF YOU TRADE IT IN - SOMEONE ELSE WILL INHERIT THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR - SHE DROVE IT TO COLLEGE - THE MANY TIMES IT BROKE DOWN HAS CAUSED US TO NOT LET HER DRIVE IT ANY LONGER. SEVERAL TIMES SHE BROKE DOWN AT NIGHT - IN FRONT OF OTHER VEHICLES - COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT - PLUS WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT. THEN ONCE, ON WAY TO COLLEGE - BROKE DOWN - AND PROFESSOR WOULD NOT LET HER TAKE A TEST THAT SHE HAD STUDIED FOR. COST HER A GOOD GRADE. MY WIFE FINALLY TOOK OVER THE CAR - BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES ON WAY TO WORK!! MANY TIMES FELT LIKE HER HEART WAS IN MY MOUTH. HAVE CALLED THE PONTIAC MANUFACTURER . . . SAID NO RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS . . . AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE INTERNET - DOT HAD PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CAR FIXED PERFECTLY BY A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AT NO CHARGE TO US. THEN, WOULD PREFER TO TRADE CAR IN AT A FAIR PRICE. WILL NEVER - EVER BUY ANOTHER PONTAIC CUTLASS. WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS AT WORK THAT HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS REGARDING PONTIAC CUTLASS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT (OR, ALREADY HAS BEEN). PLEASE LET US HEAR!! WOULD PREFER TO JUST BE OFFERED A FAIR PRICE FOR THE CAR BY PONTIAC AND GET RIDE OF IT . . .I CON'T THINK PONTIAC CAN FIX!!!

I'M SORRY - I GOT SO UPSET WHEN I STARTED FILLING THIS FORM I REFERRED TO "PONTIAC" . . . IN DESCRIPTION/ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND WHERE "PONTIAC" APPEARS SHOULD BE "OLDSMOBILE" . . .PLEASE CHANGE ON VOQ SUBMITTED - ODI NUMBER: 705733. THANK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMMARY. *AK

HAVE MORE TO REPORT ON DEFECTS: 11/8/1997 TOWED AGAIN - LOST POWER - CAR STOPPED TOOK BACK FOR RECHK OF BATTERY/ALTERNATOR, THEN ON 11/20/1997 - ANOTHER ALTERNATOR, RAN TESTS ON BATTERY BOLT, REPLACED BATTER, REPLACED ALT & REPAIRES WIRES & INSTALL CONNECTORS ($311.45), 12/2/98 STALLED AGAIN LOST POWER, RAN TESTS, ALTERNATOR REPLACED ($150.04), CAR STALLED - LOST POWER ON 12/17/98 - RAN TESTS, BATTERY BAD, BATTERY REPLACED ($81.66). I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE HAS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND CAR WILL STALL AGAIN!!! NOTICE FROM ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON 1990 PONTIAC CULASS SUPREMES THERE HAS TO BE SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH ON OUR . . . IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING THE DRIVEWAY - WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TAKE IT. IF YOU TRADE IT IN - SOMEONE ELSE WILL INHERIT THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR - SHE DROVE IT TO COLLEGE - THE MANY TIMES IT BROKE DOWN HAS CAUSED US TO NOT LET HER DRIVE IT ANY LONGER. SEVERAL TIMES SHE BROKE DOWN AT NIGHT - IN FRONT OF OTHER VEHICLES - COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT - PLUS WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT. THEN ONCE, ON WAY TO COLLEGE - BROKE DOWN - AND PROFESSOR WOULD NOT LET HER TAKE A TEST THAT SHE HAD STUDIED FOR. COST HER A GOOD GRADE. MY WIFE FINALLY TOOK OVER THE CAR - BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES ON WAY TO WORK!! MANY TIMES FELT LIKE HER HEART WAS IN MY MOUTH. HAVE CALLED THE PONTIAC MANUFACTURER . . . SAID NO RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS . . . AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE INTERNET - DOT HAD PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CAR FIXED PERFECTLY BY A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AT NO CHARGE TO US. THEN, WOULD PREFER TO TRADE CAR IN AT A FAIR PRICE. WILL NEVER - EVER BUY ANOTHER PONTAIC CUTLASS. WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS AT WORK THAT HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS REGARDING PONTIAC CUTLASS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT (OR, ALREADY HAS BEEN). PLEASE LET US HEAR!! WOULD PREFER TO JUST BE OFFERED A FAIR PRICE FOR THE CAR BY PONTIAC AND GET RIDE OF IT . . .I CON'T THINK PONTIAC CAN FIX!!!

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CROSS MEMBER BODY MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BROKE OFF, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

ECM FAILED TWICE,IGNITION MODULE FAILED, WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING LEAKING.

HEAD GASKET CRACKED,TIMING GEAR FAILED,SEALS AND GASKETS FAILED.

ECM FAILED TWICE,IGNITION MODULE FAILED, WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING LEAKING.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING , PROCEEDED TO PUT ON GAS TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION, BUT THERE WAS NO REACTION TO PUTTING ON THE GAS. THE CAR STALLED AND STAYED STILL, DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. *AK

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZE UP, AND THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS CONSISTENTLY NEED RESURFACING OR REPLACING. *AK

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FUNCTIONING SPORADICALLY. AT FIRST THEY WOULD STAY ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. CONSUMER LIFTED THE BRAKE UP FOR A WHILE, AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR A WHILE. THEN COMPLETELY STAYED ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME. OTHER VEHICLES CANNOT DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING OR NOT. *AK

SEAT BELTS FAILED.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

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. *AK

Crash

INTERMITTENT STALLING. ONCE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THEN AFTER IT SEATS FOR 5 T0 10 MINUTES, VEHICLE RESTARTS AND HAS NO PROBLEMS FOR MANY DAYS AND WEEKS. *AK

REAR DISC CALIPER SLIDES ARE RUSTING, RENDERING REAR BRAKES INOPERATIVE. *AK

THE POWER MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES.

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

1 injured

BRAKE PAD LINING SEPARATED FROM BACKING DUE TO BEING WORN OUT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK