IllustrationVEHICLE WAS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPAIRS.*AK
1999 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
30–25K
525–50K
1350–75K
375–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
30 reports with mileage · 50 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
80 reportsSIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT OR NOT AT ALL, ALREADY RECALLED ON SELECT FEW GM "MALIBU" MODELS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #03V327000 RECALL DATE 08/27/04, BUT NOT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS AND APPARENTLY NOT ON CUTLASS NAME PLATED MALIBU DESPITE THAT SAME PART IS CLEARLY FAILING IN MANY MODELS INCLUDING ALERO, AURORA, MALIBYU, CU…
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SIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT OR NOT AT ALL, ALREADY RECALLED ON SELECT FEW GM "MALIBU" MODELS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #03V327000 RECALL DATE 08/27/04, BUT NOT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS AND APPARENTLY NOT ON CUTLASS NAME PLATED MALIBU DESPITE THAT SAME PART IS CLEARLY FAILING IN MANY MODELS INCLUDING ALERO, AURORA, MALIBYU, CUTLASS ETC. CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN DUE TO DROPPED TUMBLER IN KEY CYLINDER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE LOCK AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY ($425 PARTS PLUS LABOR) DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A $2 TUMBLER IN THE LOCK. DEALER SAID THAT THEY (1 DEALERSHIP) REPLACE APPROX. 5 SWITCHES OF THIS DESIGN (GM INSTRUMENT PANEL-MOUNTED IGNITION SWITCHES) PE…
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IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN DUE TO DROPPED TUMBLER IN KEY CYLINDER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE LOCK AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY ($425 PARTS PLUS LABOR) DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A $2 TUMBLER IN THE LOCK. DEALER SAID THAT THEY (1 DEALERSHIP) REPLACE APPROX. 5 SWITCHES OF THIS DESIGN (GM INSTRUMENT PANEL-MOUNTED IGNITION SWITCHES) PER MONTH DUE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED FAILURE TO FAULTY DESIGN.
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITENTLY FAILED TO SHOW ANY CHECK/WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED AT THE OFF AND ON POSITION. THE IGNITION ALSO FAILED TO START THE ENGINE EVEN WITH THE PRESENCE OF CLICKING NOISE. IF THE IGNITION WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE ENGINE COULD SUDDENLY DIE UNEXPECTANTLY WHILE RUNNING IN THE…
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THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITENTLY FAILED TO SHOW ANY CHECK/WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED AT THE OFF AND ON POSITION. THE IGNITION ALSO FAILED TO START THE ENGINE EVEN WITH THE PRESENCE OF CLICKING NOISE. IF THE IGNITION WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE ENGINE COULD SUDDENLY DIE UNEXPECTANTLY WHILE RUNNING IN THE GARAGE OR ON THE HIGHWAY -- WITHOUT SHOWING ANY INSTRUMENTAL FAILURE INDICATOR SIGNS IN EITHER CASE. THE PROCESSES REPEATEDLY OCCURRED UNPREDITABLY DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SIMILAR FAILURES AS REPORTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR CHECKING-UP.
MY 1999 OLDS CUTLASS, HAD A LEAKING MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN THE LIBERTY TUNNEL IN PGH, DUE TO OVERHEATING. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GM ENGINE, IT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE TUNNEL A…
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MY 1999 OLDS CUTLASS, HAD A LEAKING MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN THE LIBERTY TUNNEL IN PGH, DUE TO OVERHEATING. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GM ENGINE, IT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE TUNNEL AND OVER THE BRIDGE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE, SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF OVER $363. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH COIL SPRING BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE GOING UP INTO THE FENDER, AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKING UP. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE RUST DEVELOPED ON THE EDGE OF THE COIL SPRING. *A…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH COIL SPRING BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE GOING UP INTO THE FENDER, AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKING UP. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE RUST DEVELOPED ON THE EDGE OF THE COIL SPRING. *AK
HARNESS, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING, REPLACED LEFT FRONT HUB AND SENSOR ASSEMBLY. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH - FAILURE. *AK
1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS - 62,000 MILES - REPAIR - LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK
COOLANT LEAK, OVERHEATED IN LIBERTY TUNNEL IN PGH,PA, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN TUNNEL. MECHANIC STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET VERY COMMON TO GM VEHICLES. *LA
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.