What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Typical pattern

19.3% of complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (40 complaints), typically at 1.6 yr or about 60,537 miles.

Complaints
187
Median age at failure
3.3 yr
Median mileage
66,051 n=47
Crash / fire / tow
3.2% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes, hydraulic
40 reports · 60,537 mi
1.6 yr
2.5%
Engine cooling
29 reports · 60,000 mi
4.7 yr
3.4%
Steering
22 reports · 118,000 mi
6.2 yr
0%
Electrical system
17 reports · 70,000 mi
5.8 yr
5.9%
Suspension
15 reports · 60,537 mi
1.5 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

07E021000 2007-03-12
Fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

03V527000 2003-12-11
Steering:rack and pinion

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND

01V068000 2001-03-08
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.

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

In owners’ own words

Suspension mileage not reported 7 mo in service
NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS.
Suspension mileage not reported 7 mo in service
NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS.
Suspension mileage not reported 2.4 yr in service
SHAKE, VIBRATION IS FELT MOST WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 50-60MPH. I WAS TOLD THAT NEW TIRES WOULD STOP THE VIBRATION AND THAT A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT WOULD HELP IN THE MEANTIME. THE BALANCING AND ROTATING AS WELL AS HAVING THE CAR ALIGNED HAVE NOT HELPED AT ALL. I DONT THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIRES. THE OIL SMELL CANNOT BE EXPLAINED, THERE ARE NO LEAKS. *AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 6 mo in service
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. BRAKES PULSE OR GRAB WHEN APPLIED. ROTORS REPLACED ONCE AND TURNED FOUR TIMES. *AK

Other Cutlass model years

19991998

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