1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500.

GENERAL MOTORS RECENTLY RECALLED THE 1997-2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. I OWN THE SISTER VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THIS VEHICLE IS THE IDENTICAL LAYOUT OF THE CHEVROLET MALIBU WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. I SENT A COUPLE OF E-MAIL MESSAGES TO THE GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL EXPLAINING TO ME THAT AT THIS TIME THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF DOING A RECALL ON THE OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AS OF YET, I DEEM IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH GM SHOULD FIX. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR ISSUES AS MINE, BUT I WANTED TO INFORM YOU OF MY CONCERNS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROPER FORUM FOR THIS, SO IF NOT, PLEASE FORWARD MY CONCERNS TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. THANK YOU *TR

HAVE HAD IGNITION SWITCH JUST SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN GM'S RECENT RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCHES ON NEWER CARS. LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR THE LAST 10 OR SO YEARS. WHEN IT HAPPENS I JUST QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A 1998 OLDS CUTLASS. IT IS APPARENT THAT GM'S PROBLEM WITH THEIR IGNITION SWITCH GOES BACK A LOT FARTHER THAN THEY CARE TO ADMIT. *TR

FRAME, WHERE STEERING RACK BOLTS TO, RUSTED OUT. STEERING RACK BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION. FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. *TT

98 OLDS CUTLASS. REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH IN VICINITY OF LR WHEEL . RESULTED IN SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID. NO SEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR FRONT BRAKE FLUID. HEARD OF SIMILAR EVENT WITH SAME MODEL STYLE CHEVY MALIBU. NO YEAR KNOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TIGHTEN WHEN MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS. HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE STEERING RACK AND PINION, WHICH STATED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THIS IS WHERE THE RETAINER TABS WERE LOCATED. THE FAILURE COULD ALLOW THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FELT NO CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CONTINUOUS BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,051 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 125,096.

I WORK FOR A IGNITION INTERLOCK COMPANY. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES ENTER THE SERVICE CENTER WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY HAS TO BE SHAKEN SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THESE IGNITIONS ARE MOUNTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE NOTICED IT ON ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE THAT HAS THE IGNITION MOUNTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE STEERING COLUMN NOT ON THE COLUMN. THAT IS AN OLDSMOBILE. I OWN THE 1998 OLDMOBILE CUTLASS. WAS THERE EVER A RECALL AS DEFECT OF THIS IGNITION AND IS THE DEALERSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT? IF I EVER HAD AN EMERGENCY I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START MY CAR RIGHT AWAY AS IT AT TIMES TAKES UP TO FIVE TO TEN MINUTES TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. *TR

1) THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL USE OF WIPERS IN HEAVY RAIN. 2) DURING NORMAL USE, THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM APPEARED TO BECOME DISLODGED AND BEGAN MOVING ERRATICALLY. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE WIPER ASSEMBLY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE WIPER ARM TO THE WIPER MOTOR WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN AWAY FROM THE LINKAGE TO THE WIPER MOTOR. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE IS THAT NEITHER WIPER ARM OPERATES AND THIS CAUSES HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS BY REDUCING VISIBILITY DURING RAIN OR FROST. 3) AFTER RESEARCHING THIS APPARENT DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURERS ORIGINAL PART, I DISCOVERED AN OPEN RECALL IS ALREADY IN EFFECT FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 01V068000). THE DESCRIPTION UNDER THIS RECALL IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED AND IS FOR THE SAME VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, GM-OLDSMOBILE, AND THE OPEN RECALL WAS VERIFIED, BUT I WAS TOLD MY PARTICULAR VIN# WAS NOT ON THEIR LIST. I WAS TOLD THAT IF GM HAPPENS TO ADD OTHER VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL TO THE LIST THEN I WOULD BE NOTIFIED, BUT NO REPAIRS WOULD BE OFFERED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OR GREATER THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

ON 1/07 HAD LOW SPEED SLIDE ON ICY ROAD , CAUSING IMPACT WITH SMALL TREE, AND RESULTING IN MINOR CRACKS IN RIGHT FRONT BUMPER CAP, AND SUBSEQUENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. NOW, HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION REGARDING DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS WHICH INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED IN MINOR CRASH CONDITIONS. DEPLOYMENT HAS TOTALED VEHICLE WITH ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. *AK

Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO START AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS NEEDING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MADE THE REPAIR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEGUN TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING ANOTHER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN, POWERTRAIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 07/10/07 *TR

I HAVE A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS WITH 55,000 MILES--THE CAR HAS A 3.1 LITER V6 WITH A BLOWN INTAKE GASKET-- IT COST ME $550 TO HAVE THIS FIXED. PER 3 MECHANICS --"ALL"L 3.1 INTAKE GASKETS GO OUT AT AROUND 50,00 MILES I FEEL THE GM SHOULD PAY FOR DEFECTS THAT EFFECTS ALL 3.1S I'VE HAD 40+ CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER EVER HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GO OUT ON ANY OF THEM---------TO ME THAT'S A MFG DEFECT!!! *JB

I SUBMITTED MY COMPLAINT TO GM AND TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MICHIGAN. MY COMPLAINT STEMS FROM PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED OVER THE LAST 3-4 YEARS WITH MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS RELATED TO RUST ON AND AROUND THE GAS FILLER PIPE AND DOOR. I HAVE A CONTINUOUS WARNING LIGHT (CHECK ENGINE) ON MY DASHBOARD THAT ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL MAY IMPACT THE EMISSION CONTROLS IN MY ENGINE. THIS WARNING LIGHT APPEARS TO BE DUE TO THE POOR FIT OF THE GAS CAP ON THE FILLER PIPE DUE TO RUST. CAP REPLACEMENT HAS NOT HELPED. THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST THAT HAS DEVELOPED SURROUNDING THE GAS FILLER PIPE DOOR ON THE RIGHT REAR BODY PANEL. I SPOKE WITH A BODY SHOP AND THEY MENTIONED THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE WITH SIMILAR DAMAGE AND WAS DUE TO THE INSULATION COLLECTING MOISTURE UNDER THE BODY PANEL AND RUSTING THROUGH FROM THE BACK SIDE. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN TWO OTHER SAME MAKE/MODEL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. GM RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT STATING THE RUST-THROUGH PROTECTION ON MY VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO CURRENTLY NO RECALLS ISSUED. MY CONTENTION IS THIS ISSUE IS NOT ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE AND AGE AND PRESENTS NOT ONLY UNSIGHTLY DAMAGE AND COST TO REPAIR, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE SURROUNDING THE GAS FILLER PIPE. *NM

THEFT-LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAD TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR SYSTEM TO RESET BEFORE STARTING CAR. HAD KEY-LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE, FOR A TOTAL OF OVER $1400 IN REPAIRS. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON SEEMINGLY PERMANENTLY. ALWAYS WONDER IF IT WILL START OR NOT. CAN'T GET ANYONE BESIDES A DEALER TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. THE DEALER HAS ENOUGH OF MY MONEY FOR NOW...I HAVE TO DEAL WITH BEING INCONVENIENCED REGULARLY BY THIS PROBLEM. *JB

TOTAL FAILURE OF STEERING SYSTEM. MECHANICAL LOCK UP. STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED BY HAND. PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED CLOSE TO HOME. THE STEERING RACK BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. GM COMPLAINT # 1-399 751 487 MARCH 18,2006. *JB

BOTH REAR SEAT BELT SHOULDER BUCKLE LATCHES BROKE IN MY CAR. THE PLASTIC PIECE BROKE OFF AND THEIR IS NO WAY TO KEEP A CAR SEAT PROPERLY SECURED WITHOUT REPLACING THEM. CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE DEATH TO ANYONE IN THE CAR SEAT IF THERE WAS A CRASH. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND OVER 250 DOLLARS FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO GET THIS FIXED. *NM

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MIN. OR SO, IF ONE STOPS THE VEHICLE SHIFT TO PARK THEN SHIFT TO DRIVE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE RIGHT AWAY. ONE CAN HEAR THE ENGINE ACCELERATE, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE SLOWLY UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES, SOMETIMES IN A ABRUPTLY MANNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN MY VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CONTACTED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY (GMC) THEY SUGGESTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, WHICH I DID AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG EITHER. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHOW THE SAME PROBLEM. II HAVE CONTACTED OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND TYPE OF VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM(S), IN OTHER CASE THE TRANSMISSION HAS SIMPLY GONE BAD. *JB

RECALL ON 1998 OLDS CUTLASS- I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF SUCH RECALL ON STEERING: RACK AND PINION. I AM PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR AND AM GETTING A RUN AROUND FROM OLDSMOBILE. MY CAR IS BEING SERVICED AT A NON-GM FACILITY. OLDSMOBILE IS VERY INCONSISTANT AND UNRELIABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WILL NEVER BUY A GM VEHICLE, AND RECOMMEND THAT MY FRIENDS/FAMILY NOT BUY ONE EITHER. GM IS NOT CUSTOMER ORIENTED AND THIS IS VERY DISSAPPOINTING.

DT: CALLER WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN HE STARTED TO TAKE OFF. HE HIT A DIP AND BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT RECALL, BUT CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN#01V068000 WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BREAKAGE WILL NOT COVER MY BREAKAGE BECAUSE I AM IN A SOUTHERN STATE, MY VIN IS NOT ON THEIR RACALL LIST.

AIR CONDITIONING CUTS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. LEATHER UPHOLSTERY HAS PREMATURELY WORN.

MY COOLENT IS LEAKING. I HAVE HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE AND IT I STILL HAVE LEAK. I WAS TOLD BY THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO EXPECT TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKIT EVERY 20-40,000 MILES. THERE IS A DEFECT. ALSO MY AC KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. MY POWER WINDOW ARE GETTING STUCK WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR. I AM THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER.

I CURRENTLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS CUTLASS GL. MY POWER STEERING IS STIFF AND MAKES A "WAILING" NOISE. MY COOLENT SYSTEM HAS A LEAK. MY HEAT AND AIR HAVE COMPLETEY STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS (IN THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED_ WITH MY POWER WINDOW LOCKING UP (DRIVERS SIDE). THE SOUND SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. THE CD PLAYER QUIT WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED MY WIPER BLADES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STILL DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY. ONE TIME WHEN MY TEENS WERE USING MY CAR, THEY WERE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD...NOT ONLY WERE THEY TERRIFIED, IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THEM TO BE IN.*AK

PERIODICALLY MY THEFT LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WHICH PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. THIS TAKES 15 MIN. AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT. IT HAPPENS UP TO FOUR TIMES OR MORE A MONTH!! *NM

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR WATER LEAK IN TRUNK, MISSING ABSORBER IN REAR DOOR, SUSPENSION NOISE, 4 NEW TIRES REPLACED, NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, AND COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKAGE. *CB

AFTER THE NEW LOWER BEARINGS WERE REPLACED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE GEAR ASSEMBLY AS INDICATED IN THE STEERING GEAR BEARING RECALL 03V527000. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY THERE IS VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD HAD FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS SINCE 1999.*AK

DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH STEERING BEARING RECALL 03V527000. THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL.*AK

VEHICLE HAS AROUND 98000 MILES "LIGHT" WENT OUT ON A MONDAY MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND FOUND THE DIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE WHEEL HUB. AFTER JACKING THE CAR UP I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED. IMMEDIATELY I HAD IT TOWED TO A GM DEALER FOR REPAIR. CONTACTED GM AND DEALER, BOTH SAID THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR??? MY CONCERN WAS THAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND MORE THEN LIKELY CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WAS TOLD THE SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND DID NOT NEED REPLACED. BUT I QUESTION THAT.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A DOWN POUR, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK OUT OF SYNCH AND ENDED CROSSED UP ON THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO REPLACE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. NO RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. *LA

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 *JB