IllustrationTHE DEFECTIVE WIRE BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WHICH CONTROLS THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOORS CAUGHT ON FIRE, LOCKING IN THE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. OCCUPANT HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
1994 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: 11 of 148 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
148 reportsWHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY WHICH WAS DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING SO HOT THAT IT MELTED PLASTIC AND RUBBER FITTINGS UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO BREAK AND COME DOWN AND BEND THE SWAY BAR THAT SEPARATES THE REAR TIRES AND BURNT ALL THE WIRES UNDER THE CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND UP THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAR DAMAGING THE ELECTRICAL …
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING SO HOT THAT IT MELTED PLASTIC AND RUBBER FITTINGS UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO BREAK AND COME DOWN AND BEND THE SWAY BAR THAT SEPARATES THE REAR TIRES AND BURNT ALL THE WIRES UNDER THE CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND UP THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAR DAMAGING THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND BURNING THE INTERIOR.
THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE.
WHILE COMING OUT OF A DRIVE THROUGH AT THE BANK, THE MOTOR BEGAN TO RACE, BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND AND CONSUMER ENDED UP INTO A CEMENT WALL. CONSUMER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED. *AK
REAR WINDOW LEAKS.
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.
THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL PUMP BURNT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
497V017000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring
Feb 11, 1997
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
95V061000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 22, 1995
THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.
94V211000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 26, 1994
THE BRAKE LINES CAN CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. THE LINES CAN WEAR THROUGH RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF ONE HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE LINE CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THE BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE INDENTATIONS WILL BE REPLACED.
93V162000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Sep 27, 1993
THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL MAY NOT REDUCE ENGINE SPEEDTO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STOPPEDWITH THE SERVICE BRAKE, LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.