1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

WHILE DRIVING MY FIANCES OLDSMOBILE, I NOTICED A BAD SHUDDER UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED SO BADLY THAT IT HAD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY HAD BEEN SO BADLY COMPROMISED I AM SURE THAT HAD I NEEDED TO BRAKE SUDDENLY THE CONTROL ARM WOULD HAVE FAILED CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO COME OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO FLEX PART OF THE CONTROL ARM BY HAND UPON REMOVAL FROM THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DECAY ON SUCH A CRITICAL PART ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTY, BUT IT SEEMED STRUCTURALLY SOUND. THIS LEADS ME TO SUSPECT THE LEFT ONE MAY HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AND THAT THERE COULD BE MORE DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS OUT THERE. I REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM BUT KEPT THE OLD ONE IN CASE GM OR THE NHTSA WISHES IT TO BE SHIPPED TO THEM FOR ANALYSIS. I ALSO HAVE DETAILED PICTURES OF THE PART TO PROVIDE UPON REQUEST. I LIVE IN MN WHICH IS A STATE WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Fire

THE THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WON'T START AND IT'S A ON GOING PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

I HAVE 99 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS WHICH ONLY ISSUE I EVER HAD IS FAULTY ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH GMC OR OLDSMOBILE OR CHEVY ANYTHING WITH ANTITHEFT SYSTEM USE RIGHT KEY AND THE LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10-15 MIN THEN IT STARTS HOW CAN A COMPANY NOT EVER HAVE RECALL I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS FEW CARS BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR ALL TYPES OF THERE CARS HAVE ISSUES WITH ANTI THEFT IF YOU CANT FIX YOUR OWN PROBLEM GET OUT OF CAR MAKING BUSINESS I WONDER IF THERE BEEN A LAWSUIT EVER FILE CAUSE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING FOR US PEOPLE. *TR

THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE BLOWING OUT THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT WAS A GOOD THING I WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 25 MPH AND ON A SIDE STREET. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A MAIN ROAD THERE VERY WELL MAY HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES TO MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I AM NOT SURE AS TO HOW MANY RECENT REPORTS THERE HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS ISSUE BUT I SEE THERE WERE SEVERAL REPORTS OF SPRINGS BREAKING ON 1999 CHEVY MALIBU'S IN THE PAST. AND I FEEL THIS IS AN UNCALLED FOR SAFETY DEFECT. WHILE MY CAR IS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS IT'S AN EXACT TWIN TO THE CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

IN THE 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS; IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITION AND HEAT CONTROL UNIT. WHILE DRIVING, AT ANYTIME, THE CONROL CAN SHUT-OFF THE DEFROSTER (WHEN IN USE) AND CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WINDOWS TO FOG UP; THUS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. MY A/C AND HEAT CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED TODAY THAT IT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THE A/C COMPRESSOR ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE INTERMITTALLY; BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND FOUND THAT THE SAME CONTROL UNIT OUTFITTED, IN HER VEHICLE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PAVED COUNTY ROAD, AND WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR ANY ACCIDENT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED ON MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THERE WAS A DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. WE WERE BANGED UP SOME, BUT DIDN'T FEEL THERE AS ANYTHING WORTH GOING TO DR'S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $800 BECAUSE THE HORN AND AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WERE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT WAS CHIPPING ON THE VEHICLE DOWN TO THE METAL. THE CHIPPING WAS PRESENT ON ALL SURFACES OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE HOOD. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLEAR COAT WAS RUBBING OFF AND THE FAILURE WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

CAR WONT START ANTI THEFT (DTC) IS ON WONT DISENGAGE NOTHING WAS CHANGED OR DONE TO THE CAR LIGHT FLASHED A COUPLE OF TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

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. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HIT A SIGN AND A BRICK WALL. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Crash Fire 1 injured

WATER LEVEL LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON EVERY FEW WEEKS - LEAKING HEAD GASKET. COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE OIL. *JB

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FLASHES AND CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL IT SET FOR A WHILE (USUALLY 20 MIMUTES). THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL LEADING TO POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENT AND INJURY. THEIR IS NO FIX TO THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE OLDSMOBLE DEALERSHIP.

ENGINE OVERHEATING -- COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. INTAKE MAINFOLD GASKET SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILING AT AROUND 57,000 MILES FAILED COMPLETELY AT 59,000 MILES. DID SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND FOUND DOZENS OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.1 LITER V-6 ENGINE IN THIS AND SIMILAR GM MODELS. CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A 50/50 ON THE COST OF REPAIR.

ON APRIL 26,2005 WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK THE SPRING WAS REPLACED, FRONT END ALIGNED AND THE TIRE REPLACED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS WITH APX. 42000 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL AUTOMOBILE. THANK YOU, HAROLD OLIVER

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE I HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND FELT THE CAR BOUNCE. THINKING THAT IS WAS JUST THE ICE RIDGES IN THE DRIVE WAY I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I DROVE ONLY A FEW BLOCKS WHEN I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING SO I RETURNED HOME AND PARKED THE CAR UNTIL MY HUSBAND RETURNED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC WERE HE REPLACED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE FRONT TIRE BECAUSE THE BROKEN COIL SPRING LEFT A DEEP GASH IN IT.*AK

THEFT SYSTEM CONTINUALLY OVERRIDES THE SYSTEM AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. IS HAS NOT YET CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT IT DOES POSE A THREAT TO DO SO. I HAVE ALSO TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWERS OF THE SAME TYPE/DIVISION(CUTLASS AND MALIBU) OF VEHICLE AND THEY ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCAL GM DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT SO MANY IN THE SAME AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM?. *AK

1. CAR RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. 2. ONE DAY, CAR WOULDN'T START AND THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING. 3. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT SAID TO WAIT 1/2 HOUR AND THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. SO WE WAIT, AND IT STARTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. WE RELY HEAVILY ON THIS CAR.*AK

VEHICLE WAS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPAIRS.*AK

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.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN DUE TO DROPPED TUMBLER IN KEY CYLINDER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE LOCK AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY ($425 PARTS PLUS LABOR) DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A $2 TUMBLER IN THE LOCK. DEALER SAID THAT THEY (1 DEALERSHIP) REPLACE APPROX. 5 SWITCHES OF THIS DESIGN (GM INSTRUMENT PANEL-MOUNTED IGNITION SWITCHES) PER MONTH DUE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED FAILURE TO FAULTY DESIGN.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITENTLY FAILED TO SHOW ANY CHECK/WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED AT THE OFF AND ON POSITION. THE IGNITION ALSO FAILED TO START THE ENGINE EVEN WITH THE PRESENCE OF CLICKING NOISE. IF THE IGNITION WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE ENGINE COULD SUDDENLY DIE UNEXPECTANTLY WHILE RUNNING IN THE GARAGE OR ON THE HIGHWAY -- WITHOUT SHOWING ANY INSTRUMENTAL FAILURE INDICATOR SIGNS IN EITHER CASE. THE PROCESSES REPEATEDLY OCCURRED UNPREDITABLY DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SIMILAR FAILURES AS REPORTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR CHECKING-UP.

MY 1999 OLDS CUTLASS, HAD A LEAKING MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN THE LIBERTY TUNNEL IN PGH, DUE TO OVERHEATING. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GM ENGINE, IT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE TUNNEL AND OVER THE BRIDGE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE, SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF OVER $363. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH COIL SPRING BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE GOING UP INTO THE FENDER, AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKING UP. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE RUST DEVELOPED ON THE EDGE OF THE COIL SPRING. *AK

HARNESS, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING, REPLACED LEFT FRONT HUB AND SENSOR ASSEMBLY. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH - FAILURE. *AK

1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS - 62,000 MILES - REPAIR - LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK

COOLANT LEAK, OVERHEATED IN LIBERTY TUNNEL IN PGH,PA, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN TUNNEL. MECHANIC STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET VERY COMMON TO GM VEHICLES. *LA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN. ALSO, THE COOLANT LIGHT FLASHED ON/OFF. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD . COOLANT WENT INSIDE THE ENGINE. DEALER STATED CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND IT WOULD COST $700.00. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABS WARNING ALARM CHIME CAME ON, AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF ABS MODULE SENSOR FAILURE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SNAPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN THE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED, IT CUT AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T HELP, ALL THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WAS 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES NO CONCERN AT ALL. *PH

LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF GM VEHICLES... THE GASKETS LEAKING THAT IS. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**763569

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR SERVICE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED. *JB

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