1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, THE PIVOT HOUSING CAN CRACK AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE.

Consequence: REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Full recall detail →

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITH FORCE AND IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S FACE, CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A SUBSTANCE EMITTED IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND NECK THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,000.

VECHILE RECENTLY STARTED MAKING GROANING NOISE WHEN STEERING AND FROM POWER STEERING PUMP. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACE BACK IN 2011. TOOK TO GOODYEAR AND TECH INDICATED PUMP WAS FINE, PROBLEM POINT TO THE RACK AND PINION. *TR

WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2010 FROM A USED CAR DEALER. UPON 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING WE NOTICED A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS HARD TO THE LEFT AND JUST DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT. THE ENGINE ALSO HAD OVERHEATING AND GASKET PROBLEMS SO WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. UPON TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEER HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE AND RAN HIM TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN BACK ANOTHER DIRECTION. UPON RETURN TO THE SHOP HE CONCLUDED THE ENTIRE RACK WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACED. AT THE TIME IN 2011 WE WERE NOT AWARE THAT GM RECALLED THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING RACK IN 2003 SO WE HAD PAID FOR A NEW RACK AND PINION TO BE REPLACED. THERE EVIDENTLY WAS LEFTOVER DEBRIS IN THE RACK IN PINION FROM THE ORIGINAL PART FAILURE AND NOW HAS RUINED THE 2ND RACK AND PINION. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IN 2004 OUR CAR IS LISTED AS A CAR THAT WAS AFFECTED AND HAD BEEN SERVICED IN 2004 IN GEORGIA. THE ONLY THING REPLACED WAS A TINY SNAP RING, IN WHICH THE DETAILED REPAIR PDF STATES IN MULTIPLE INCIDENCES THAT IT IS UP TO THE MECHANIC TO DECIDE HOW MUCH FAILURE HAS TAKEN PLACE WHAT TO DO AND THAT ANY MISTEPS WILL LEAD TO OTHER PART FAILURES!! WE BOUGHT THIS CAR W/ VERY LOW MILEAGE SO AT THE POINT THEY SAY THEY FIXED THE CAR AND WHEN IT BROKE WAS APPROX. 30,000 MILES. THEY EITHER DID NOT FIX CORRECTLY OR THEY DID NOT TOUCH THE CAR AT ALL BECAUSE THE VERY DESCRIPTION TO WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CAR WAS EXACTLY WHAT IS LISTED AS THE FAILURE OF THE PART. WE WOULD LIKE THE ORIGINAL PART FAILURE THAT IS NOW SHREDDED INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES CAUSING FUTURE RACK AND PINION FAILURES TO BE FLUSHED CLEAN AND HONESTLY SHOULD REPLACED THE ENTIRE RACK BECAUSE THEY NEVER FIXED THE PART ORIGINALLY OR THEY DIDN'T FIX IT CORRECTLY AND THE ORIGINAL PART FAILED EXACTLY AS STATED ON THE RECALL TO THE POINT THE MECHANIC ALMOST WRECKED OUR CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE ANTI- THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE LIGHT DIMMED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 11/19/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. UPDATED 11/19/08. *JB

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON MY 1997 OLDS CUTLASS COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND WILL NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO START. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I SEE THERE ARE LITERALLY 100'S OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THE ISSUE BY COMPLETELY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH ONE THAT IS MORE STABLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OUT ONLY HAPPENING EVER ONCE IN AWHILE, NOW IT IS HAPPENING DAILY. MY ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT, IS TO DISCONNECT THE VERY FEATURE THAT WOULD PREVENT MY VEHICLE FROM BEING STOLEN. OBVIOUSLY, REPLACING THE IGNITION OR KEY IS A SHORT TERM FIX AS THE NEW PART ALSO BECOMES DEFECTIVE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED TWICE. FIRST REPAIRED AT MONROE SERVICE ON 11-18-2005 AT 76655 MILES THE COST WAS $731.16. SECOND REPAIR WAS AT GOODYEAR GEMINI ON 12-21-2006 AT 82274MILES. THE COST WAS $642.40. BOTH FACILITIES WERE ASE CERTIFIED. I HAVE BEEN AN ASSISTANT STORE MANAGER IN THE PAST FOR BOTH PROCARE AND GOODYEAR, AND RARELY SAW A FAILURE OF AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, EXCEPT IN EARLY FORIEGN ENGINES WITH ALUMINUM BLOCKS OR ALUMINUM HEADS OR BOTH. I JUST HAD A FRONT BRAKE OVERHAUL AT MIDAS, AND THE TECH NICIAN ASKED IF I HAD HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEINTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH SET ME OFF ON THIS SEARCH. I TALKED TO THE MANAGERS AT BOTH MONROE AND GOODYEAR ,AND BOTH SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE GASKETS THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR. DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT, AND SAW THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OUT OF CANADA WAS BEING FILED. I COULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION OF BOTH REPAIRS. TALKED TO GM ABOUT IT, AND AS I EXPECTED, SAID THAT I DIDN'T BRING IT TO A GM FACILITY FOR REPAIR, AND THAT IT HAD EXCESSIVE MILEAGE. I DID NOT CONSIDER 76665 OR 82274 AS EXCESSIVE MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR OF THE CAR OR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS DEFECT CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT ONTO HOT EXTERIOR OF THE ENGINE? *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE IN THE CIRCUIT. OCCASIONALLY, IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE GEARS ENGAGED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. BOTH FAILURES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 208,627 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,583. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FUTURA 2000 RADIAL LTE TIRES. THE REMEDY LISTED WAS TO REPLACE THE TIRES IN 60 DAYS. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. PEP BOYS STATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED , AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL PRICE TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. *AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON VERY FREQUENTLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR MAKING A TURN. HAS DONE SO SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT PROBLEM, HAVING SEVERAL PARTS RELATING TO ABS AND BRAKES REPLACED. *NM

I OWN A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME. SOMETIMES WHEN I TRY AND START THIS VEHICLE, THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK ON AND OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AS IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT THE WORST OF TIMES, LIKE IN THE COLD WINTER WEATHER, AT A GAS STATION, OR IN A LOADING/UNLOADING ZONE AT A HOTEL. SOMETIMES THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THEN I WONDER IF THE CAR WILL START WHEN I AM READY TO LEAVE AGAIN. I HAVE READ MANY STORIES ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE ON THEIR VEHICLES, SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A RANDOM PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ONLY SOME PEOPLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ONCE ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THIS WILL BE A VERY EXPENSIVE OPTION IF I HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE THAT THIS HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE OUT OF TOWN ON A TRIP AT THE WORST OF TIMES. *JB

MY HEADLIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF I HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY TOO GET THEM TOO GO OFF I TRIED SEVERAL THINGS THE LIGHT SWITCH THAT ROLLS NOTHING HAPPENED I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS I WAITED A FEW HOURS TRIED THIS AGAIN NOTHING THEY STILL STAY ON THE CAR ONLY HAVE 90000 MILES ON IT WHAT COULD THIS BE I NEED HELP WITH THIS MATTER THANK YOU FREDA COOPER. *NM

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET- 3100 V6 ENGINE ON GM PRODUCT. *JB