Model year record

1990 OLDSMOBILE Cutlass

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 151 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V058000

Structure

Component
Structure
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
676,535
Reported to NHTSA
1997-04-08
Owners notified
1997-06-11

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Safety risk

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 95V115000

Wheels

Component
Wheels
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
22,361
Reported to NHTSA
1995-06-05
Owners notified
1995-06-14

Defect description

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Safety risk

IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 94V041000

Wheels

Component
Wheels
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
198,163
Reported to NHTSA
1995-03-28
Owners notified
1994-05-05

Defect description

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Safety risk

IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V005000

Seat belts

Component
Seat belts
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
412,792
Reported to NHTSA
1991-10-02
Owners notified
1991-02-22

Defect description

FRONT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY SEPARATE AT FRONT BELT UPPER GUIDE LOOPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT.

Safety risk

WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A CONTROLLED ROTATION BRACKET ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V185000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
476,422
Reported to NHTSA
1990-10-16
Owners notified
1990-11-08

Defect description

BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH CAN RESULT IN RESUMPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Safety risk

A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V054000

Seat belts

Component
Seat belts
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
673,000
Reported to NHTSA
1990-03-14
Owners notified
1990-07-23

Defect description

FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.

Safety risk

SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc19
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper17
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum8
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components6
Unknown or other6
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash5
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly5
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads5
Vehicle speed control5
Seat belts: front: anchorage4
Structure: frame and members4
Electrical system: ignition: module3
Engine and engine cooling: engine3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor3
Electrical system2
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch2
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system2
Seat belts: front: retractor2
Seats2
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2
Structure2
Structure: body: door2
Tires2
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1
Engine and engine cooling1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe1
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1
Exterior lighting1
Exterior lighting: brake lights1
Exterior lighting: turn signal1
Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system1
Fuel system, other1
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system1
Interior lighting1
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock1
Parking brake: conventional1
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable1
Power train: automatic transmission1
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter1
Power train: manual transmission1
Seat belts1
Seat belts: front: webbing1
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections1
Steering: rack and pinion1
Suspension: front1
Suspension: rear: springs: air suspension system: springs/bags1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1
Visibility: power window devices and controls1
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1
Wheels1
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs1

The 1989 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1991 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.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

RQ97017CRADLE BOLT FAILURES

Structure

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.