1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems & Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS- ENGINE CRADLE AND/OR FRONT SUSPENSIONS BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *LA THE CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE DECEASED CONSUMER. THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON ROADWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH AND BEGAN TO ROLL APPROX. THREE TIMES COMING TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE 20 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE. *TC

ENGINE SUPPORT FAILED (BROKE) WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IMPOSSIBLE STEERING CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAVE ROADWAY AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES, CAUSING MY DAUGHTER'S DEATH. ALSO, I REPORTED THIS DEVASTATING EVENT SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY RESPONSE FROM ANY AGENCY. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. *PH *NM

BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD.*AK

CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAYAND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WENT OUT, AND BOLTS THAT HELD STEERING COLUMN ,FELL ONTO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FUEL LINES ARE RUSTING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

1.) THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SAGS AND THE HINGES ARE RUSTY. THE DOOR LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WILL FALL OFF AT ANY TIME. THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS ALREADY FALLEN OFF ONCE, I HAVE REPLACED THE HINGES. WHEN IT FELL OFF, WE WERE STOPPED, BUT IT ALMOST FELL ON MY COUSIN'S LEG. 2.) THE CAR DOES NOT START LIKE NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WILL "TURN OVER" BUT WILL NOT IGNITE. IT USUALLY TAKES THREE TIMES TO START IT. 3.) WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT STUTTERS AND NEARLY STALLS. I HAVE SPENT $600 GETTING A NEW IGNITION MODUEL, FUEL PUMP, PROM CHIP, MAP SENSOR, WIRE SET, FUEL FILTER. IT RAN WELL FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS AND IS NOW HAVING THE SAME INDICATIONS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND CAR WAS TOTALED, NO WARNING SIGNS, AN ADJUSTER CAME AND SAID THAT CRADLE BOLTS WERE CORRODED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *AK

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. ADJUSTER DISCOVERED THAT CRADLE BOLTS WERE CORRODED DUE TO A DEFCTIVE PRODUCT. *AK

CRADLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 97V-058, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES PEDAL IS SOFT. BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL O00065-S AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL COULDN'T BE DONE DUE TO THE RECALL COMPONENT NOT BEING SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME HOLES AND FRAME, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER IN ORDER TO DO RECALL THE ENTIRE FRAME ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S COST. *SLC

ENGINE SHUTDOWN/NO POWER STEERING/DANGEROUS SITUATION /ELDERLY DRIVER !! THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 50K MILES. TWO FUEL PUMPS AND ONE MODULE REPLACED SINCE 1995. THE FUEL PUMPS REPLACED IN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE @ 70MPH, WHEN THE TREAD ON MY TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT OR BLOW COMPLETELY OUT. I CONTACTED THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A TIRE DEFECT. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE, FOR I FELT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS SURRONDING FIRESTONE TIRES, THIS MIGHT BE ANOTHER MODEL THAT IS UNSAFE. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY RESPONSE FROM FIRESTONE, AS I WOLD LIKE TO SUBMIT A CLAIM.( DOT NUMBER: HYJK4055 TIRE SIZE: 185-80-13 )

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD JUST GO DEAD. ONCE GOING DOWN A HILL POWER WENT OUT AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. BUT CONSUMER MANGAGED TO LEVEL CAR OFF. CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. VEHICLE WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN. *AK

ECM PROM HAD TO BE REPLACED 02/01/2000, AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN(88-T-147B) HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR BOTH THE PART AND LABOR SINCE WE NEVER RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL BULLETIN AND THIS PART HAD NEVER PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED?*AK

WITH LIGHT BRAKING THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP AT SPEEDS UNDER 15MPH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, THE SECOND TIME RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. *AK

THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES GO ON FINE, AND STOP THE CAR GREAT, BUT THEY DO NOT RELEASE ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED, AS HAS THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. ONCE THEY I LOCKED, IF I TURN OFF THE ENGING AND WAIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RELEASE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL SHOPS, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN FIRE TWICE, AND SMOKE AND TOTALLED ROTORS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE REAR WAS ADDED BY CONSUMER, HOWEVER BUCKLE FIT AT THE CHILDS CHEST AREA WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. MJS

SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE REAR WAS ADDED BY CONSUMER, HOWEVER BUCKLE FIT AT THE CHILDS CHEST AREA WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. MJS

SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE REAR WAS ADDED BY CONSUMER, HOWEVER BUCKLE FIT AT THE CHILDS CHEST AREA WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. MJS

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRES UNDER THE DASHBOARD MELTING. *AK

A PIECE OF THE CHASSIS THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE SWAY BAR BROKE OFF. ALSO, THE A-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RIPPED AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS. *AK

THE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT SEAL HAS DETERIORATED, ALLOWING OIL TO FLOW DOWN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND COVER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WITH OIL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHEN I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, HE SHOWED ME A SERVICE FORM WHERE HE JUST FIXED A 1992 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME 2 DAYS AGO FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU ALLOW OIL TO COVER THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CAR, AS WELL AS EXTERIOR ENGINE COMPONENTS, IT MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. I PLAN ON ASKING OTHER OWNERS WITH THE 2.8 AND 3.2 LITER ENGINES IF THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU, DAN HARLETT DAN@CARCORRAL.COM. *AK

RECALL 97V058000, REAR CRADLE BOLTS. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AND DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATES VARIOUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED AND CAUSED BY THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS, INCLUDED RIGHT CV JOINT/ RIGHT FRONT END ALIGNMENT/ LOWER BALL JOINTS/WEAKSTRUTS/ RIGHT AND LEFT TIRES IN FRONT/REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE FROM MOUNT SUPPORT. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE A FRAME FAILED TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 97VO5800, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 97016, TIE ROD END. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO BLOW FUSES.

HEATER CORE BURNED OUT.

TIMING BELT MISADJUSTED.

STARTER FAILED.

POWER STEERING FAILURE.

FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED OIL. *AK

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE.

THROTTLE STUCK.

DASH LIGHTS FAILED.

THE REAR DISC BRAKES CONSTANTLY CORRODE, AND THEY DO NOT OPERATE AT ALL. *AK

LEFT FRONT SUBFRAME MOUNTING BARS FELL OFF. *AK

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IS INOPERATIVE. ALSO REPLACED FRONT AND REAR PADS/ROTORS/CALIPER. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT HIS BRAKES WENT OUT AND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PLASTIC SHIELD THAT RUBBED A HOLE ON TO THE BRAKE LINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE ROLLED RIGHT OUT THE DRIVEWAY. *AK

BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZED/ REPLACED. *AK

SEAT LATCH FAILED TO LOCK SEAT IN PLACE. *SD

REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK, WEAR FRONT BRAKES OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED 4 TIMES. *SD

EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT ENGAGE. *SD

BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED. *SD

BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED DUE TO NOISE. *SD

HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. TT PISTONS IN CALIPERS FREEZE UP AND LEAK RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. *SLC

CLICKING SOUND IN REAR. PEDAL FELL OFF DUE TO CORROSION. TT

CLICKING SOUND IN REAR. PEDAL FELL OFF DUE TO CORROSION. TT

FRONT END SHIMMING FLUID DROPPED INTO BEARING AREA AND RUINED STEERING. TT

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. *AW

BRAKES PULSATING DUE TO RUST/REAR CALIPER SLIDES FROZEN. *SD

REAR STRUTS REPLACED. *SD

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO GEARS. *AK

ENGINE FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. TT

CORRODED REAR DISC BRAKES, PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING. TT

THE REAR DISC BRAKES HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE CORROSION OF THE CALIPERS ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. TT

BOTH REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE RUSTING. *AK

WHEEL RIMS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RIPPING INSIDE OF TIRE. *AW

SEAT BELT FAILURE, BUCKLE HAS CRACKED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT. TT

EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. TT

EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *AK

CALIPERS FROZE, CAUSING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES/LOSS OF BRAKES. *SKD

BRAKE FAILURE. *TW

REAR DISC BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKES. *SKD

REAR DISC BRAKES LOCKUP, REPLACE LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD/ROTOR 5 TIMES. TT

CORRODED REAR DISC BRAKES. TT

REAR DISC BRAKES CORRODED PREMATURELY. TT

HAD TWO BRAKE JOBS DONE ON ABS BRAKES BECAUSE OF CORRODED REAR DISC AND ROTORS. TT

AFTER EXPERIENCING REAR BRAKE FAILURES, REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REBUILT BY CLASSIC OF FALMOUTH DEALERS. TT

RIGHT REAR CALIPERS STICKING. *AK

MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING TIRES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. *AK

RIGHT/REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE SEIZED. *AK

FRONT ROTORS RUSTY. *AK

THE REAR DISC BRAKE WAS CORRODED. TT

CORRODED REAR DISC BRAKES, RUSTED ROTORS IN THE REAR, PARKING BRAKE IS FROZEN. TT

ROTORS CORRODED/CALIPERS FRACTURED/ LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *SKD

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT 50 MPH. *SKD

WATER PUMP REPLACED.

AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED.

PARKING BRAKE STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, BRAKE DRAGS AND OVERHEATS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BRAKE CABLE. TT

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER CORRODED. *AK

CORRODED DISC BRAKES CAUSING LACK OF BRAKE REDUCTION WHEN APPLIED. PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DEAILS. IDENTIFY COMPONENTS REPLACED. TT

REAR DISC BRAKE CORROSION AND ROTORS. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

BRAKES SQUEAK. TT

REAR DISC BRAKE CORROSION, RESULTING IN FREEZE UP, REPLACE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. TT

TRAVELING NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE STALLED DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. TT

WIPER SWITCH OVERHEATS/MELTS IF ICE OR DEBRIS ACCUMULATES ON WIPERS, CAUSING WIPERS TO FAIL/POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD