Model year record

1985 OLDSMOBILE Cutlass

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 22 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 89V102000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,755,897
Reported to NHTSA
1989-06-16
Owners notified
1989-07-20

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).

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

Recall campaignNHTSA 84V154000

Seat belts: front: retractor

Component
Seat belts: front: retractor
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
19
Reported to NHTSA
1984-11-27
Owners notified
1984-11-27

Defect description

THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH MAY NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY DURING A COLLISION.

Manufacturer remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FREE OF CHARGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 84V124000

Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly

Component
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
10,359
Reported to NHTSA
1984-10-10
Owners notified
1984-10-01

Defect description

THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.

Manufacturer remedy

THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Vehicle speed control4
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3
Power train: automatic transmission3
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar2
Suspension: front2
Tires2
Engine and engine cooling1139,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable1
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter1
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Steering1

The 1984 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1986 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.