Model year record

1979 OLDSMOBILE Cutlass

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 2 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V048000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,810,000
Reported to NHTSA
1985-04-29

Defect description

EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.

Manufacturer remedy

ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.

Recall campaignNHTSA 84V149000

Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft

Component
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
3,100,000
Reported to NHTSA
1984-11-24
Owners notified
1984-12-28

Defect description

REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 81V025000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
5,821,160
Reported to NHTSA
1981-02-25
Owners notified
1981-03-09

Defect description

THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.

Manufacturer remedy

BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 81V022000

Visibility: glass, side/rear

Component
Visibility: glass, side/rear
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
67,350
Reported to NHTSA
1981-02-11
Owners notified
1981-03-13

Defect description

THE ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGERS CONTAIN A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE GLASS TO SHATTER WITHOUT IMPACT DURING OR SOME TIME AFTER USE OF THE DEFOGGER. VERTICAL ELECTRICAL STRIPS MAY DETERIORATE AND CAUSE HOT SPOTS THAT CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE REAR GLASS.

Manufacturer remedy

VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PRESENCE OF A PARTICULAR WEATHERSTRIP. IF PRESENT, A LAYER OF A SPECIAL CONDUCTIVE EPOXY WILL BE ADDED TO THE VERTICAL BAR ON THE REAR WINDOW GLASS. THIS EPOXY IS A NEW CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL WHICH WILL NOT REACT WITH THE WEATHERSTRIP.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V196000

Seats: front assembly: head restraint

Component
Seats: front assembly: head restraint
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
491
Reported to NHTSA
1979-08-28
Owners notified
1979-09-07

Defect description

THE INVOVLED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS". INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW HEAD RESTRAINTS AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V142000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
15,328
Reported to NHTSA
1979-06-06

Defect description

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V101000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
46
Reported to NHTSA
1979-04-17
Owners notified
1979-04-19

Defect description

AN INCORRECT FLUID WAS USED AS AN ASSEMBLY AID (LUBRICATION) DURING INSTALLATION OF THE PISTON SEAL IN FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS WHICH WERE INSTALLED IN 10.5" X 1" DISC BRAKE ASSEMBLIES USED ON "A" SERIES CARS. THE INCORRECT FLUID ATTACKS THE PISTON SEAL AND CAUSES THEM TO SWELL AND DETERIORATE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPER PISTON SEALS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1
Power train: automatic transmission1

The 1980 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.