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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
Component: WHEELS
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: 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.
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.
Component: WHEELS
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: 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.
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.
Component: STRUCTURE
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.
1989 CUTLASS CALIAS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHILE TRAVELING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A MEDIAN. THE CONSUMER WASN'T DRIVING VERY FAST. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND PAID TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ONCE HE LEFT THE MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE IS PLANNING TO RETURN TO THE STATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. *AK THE LIGHT DEVICE FLASHED RED/GREEN BEFORE GOING DEAD ON A STEEP HILL AND OR DANGEROUS CURVE. THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT, THEN THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT THROUGH A FENCE. *SC *JB
The 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 6 NHTSA recalls and 144 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
Component: EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE ELECTRONIC AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN STARTING CAR THAT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS WITH IGNITION OFF.
Consequence: WINDSHIELD MAY NOT DEFROST AND CAR WOULD NOT CONFORMWITH FMVSS 103.
Remedy: REPLACE ELECTRONIC COMFORT CONTROL ASSEMBLY.
Component: SEAT BELTS
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.
LTR FM SEBASTIAN SCOLLO (CT) REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR BRAKE REPAIRS ON HIS 1989 GM OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME.*MR CONSUMER IS ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR BRAKE REPAIRS.*TS *JB
WHEN DRIVING 70MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKTHIS DEFECT HAPPENS ONCE EVERY YEAR. *JG
RIGHT SIDE OF SUBFRAME DROPPED WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING NOISE, ASSUMING A TIRE HAD GONE FLAT, PULLED OVER TO CHECK BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION, FIGHTING TO KEEP VEHICLE IN CONTROL, CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET OVER, FINDING THE WHEEL, TIRE AND LUG NUTS HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF OF VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JG
NHTSA RECALL 00 V 189 000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00065-S/CRABLE BOLTS: DEALER: KING OROURKE CADILLAC OLDSMOBILE; LYNBROOK,NY; PHONE# 516/593-6420 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE STRUCTURE AROUND CRADLE BOLTS HAVE SEVERELY RUSTED OUT. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THAT STRUCTURE BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
RECALL WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. REPAIRS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER DEALERSHIP DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSES TO REPAIR CAR. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY TRIED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. MANAGER IS STATING THAT YES THE RECALL STATES THAT THE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE FRAME BUT SAYS THAT THE FRAME PULLED FROM THE BOLTS. COPY OF PAPER FROM SAME DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE FRAME. DEALERSHIP MADE ME DRIVE CAR OFF OF THEIR LOT IN AN UNDRIVABLE CONDITION WITHOUT ADVISING ME THAT IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. GENERAL MOTORS SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT YOU REGARDING THIS MATTER. THEY ALSO AGREE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. NOW THE ENGINE HAS TILTED TO THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT FRAME AND EARL OLSMOBILE REFUSES TO TRY TO REPAIR THE RECALL ON WARRENTED PARTS.*AK
CARRY 35 LBS. PRESSURE, TIRE HAD SLOW LEAK, TOOK TO DEALER, LEAK IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE, HAD NEVER RAN TIRE LOW, WAS ON RIGHT REAR, SO DID NOT HIT CURB OR ANYTHING ELSE IN ROAD. TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: AMN509 TIRESIZE: 18575R14)
LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE, P185/75R14 M+S, EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL, CONSUMER PAID FULL PRICE FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT TIRE. *ET
PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-058) WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE FRAME CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. *YH
PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-058) WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE FRAME CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. *YH
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. POPPED HOOD, AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. *AK CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN IS THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED. *SLC
Showing 15 of 144 complaints