IllustrationHEAD GASKET FAILURE AS WELL AS A CRACKED HEAD, $2,000 REPAIR BILL. *AK
1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cutlass years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 193 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
30 reportsACTUATOR (TIMING BELT TENSIONER) HAS GONE OUT 2 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE ROD THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY CAUSE A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE UNDER 50,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANDWITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE KEPT CUTTING OFF. *AK
PURCHASED CAR (USED) IN NOV. 1997. WAS TOLD BY AMATO OLDS THAT THE CAR UNDERWENT A COMPLETE INSPECTION. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INCLUDING: INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED, 4 OF 6 FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED, FAN MOTOR IN ENGINE REPLACED. HEARD GRINDING NOISE IN BRAKES LAST NITE. MECHANIC STATES THAT THE CALIPERS ON REAR BRAKES HAVE…
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PURCHASED CAR (USED) IN NOV. 1997. WAS TOLD BY AMATO OLDS THAT THE CAR UNDERWENT A COMPLETE INSPECTION. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INCLUDING: INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED, 4 OF 6 FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED, FAN MOTOR IN ENGINE REPLACED. HEARD GRINDING NOISE IN BRAKES LAST NITE. MECHANIC STATES THAT THE CALIPERS ON REAR BRAKES HAVE RUSTED IN LOCKED POSITION. SAID THAT THIS IS AN OLD PROBLEM. HAVE WORN DOWN ROTORS. MUST REPLACE CALIPERS AND ROTORS IN REAR. ALSO IN REAR, EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS FAILED. ALSO LOOKS TO BE OLD PROBLEM. STATES FRONT BRAKES ALSO NEED ROTORS. UNEVEN WEAR ON ROTORS. MECHANIC SEEMS TO THINK THAT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS EXISTED WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. NOTICED ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON CALIPERS AND ROTORS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE?
WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH THERE IS AN OIL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES FOR SERVICE. TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DUE TO A WARPED ENGINE HEAD. ALSO, PRESSURE IS COMING FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT UNIT,AND THE VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING. *AK
POWER STEERING HOSES AND PUMPS HAVE ON THREE OCCASIONS HAD PROBLEMS ABOUT ONE MONTH APART.THE HOSE AND PUMP WERE REPLACED, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROBLEMS CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THERE IS A WHINE NOISE WHEN TAKING OFF. *ADJ
TIMING BELT WORE OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO WARRANTY, REPAIRS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATIONS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE.
Official recalls
600V189000 · Structure
Jul 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
97V058000 · Structure
Apr 8, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
95V173000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 15, 1995
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
92V124000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Sep 1, 1992
THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.
Remedy: REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.
92V043000 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
Apr 1, 1992
MOISTURE CAN ENTER THE EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CAUSES WINDOW OPERATION WITHOUT OPERATOR CONTROL, AND LEAVES THE WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WILL FAIL FROM OVERHEATINGAND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL.
Remedy: REPLACE THE WINDOW EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
92V003000 · Seat Belts
Jan 10, 1992
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
8RP01001 · Structure
Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes
Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure
Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA92024 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA91049 · Jack Failure
Opened Nov 26, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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PE91072 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened May 1, 1991 · Closed Jul 8, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available