1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Oldsmobile › Cutlass › 1990
These records cover every 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
6 recalls name the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle IS in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle IS in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Front shoulder safety belt webbing may separate at front belt upper guide loops on either side of the front seat.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Webbing separation could occur without prior warning andincrease the risk of injury to belted front outboard occupants in a high energycrash.
Remedy
Install a controlled rotation bracket on driver and passenger side front seat belt guide loops.
Brake stoplamps may not illuminate or, in some cases, stoplamps will not stay illuminated all the time when brakes are applied due to a faulty stoplamp switch. Also in vehicles equipped with cruise control, a faulty stoplamp switch can result in resumption of the cruise control function upon release of the brake pedal.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A trailing vehicle may not recognize a braking actionin time to respond appropriately. Also, cruise control will reengage uponrelease of the brake pedal and resume the set speed. In either case, it couldresult in a crash without prior warning.
Remedy
Install an improved design stoplamp switch.
Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener may pull through door mounted anchor plate.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Seat belt may not sustain loads required by fmvss 210, and in a vehicle accident, the seat belt may not properly restrain a passenger, resulting in increased risk of greater injury to an occupant.
Remedy
Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.
Owner complaints
103 complaints11 involved a crash11 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires
The vehicle IS a 1990 oldsmobile cutlass ciera SL. I checked box as chevrolet as oldsmobile IS not an option on the drop down. four new tires installed between 12/31/13 and 1/31/14, uniroyal awp II tiger paws size p185/75r14. manufacturer's website reports they ?do not currently manufacture…
The vehicle IS a 1990 oldsmobile cutlass ciera SL. I checked box as chevrolet as oldsmobile IS not an option on the drop down. four new tires installed between 12/31/13 and 1/31/14, uniroyal awp II tiger paws size p185/75r14. manufacturer's website reports they ?do not currently manufacture tires fitting this vehicles specifications.? are the tiger paws II p185/75r14 installed on my vehicle counterfeit tires? since installing these tires, the vehicle "sways" when driving on grooved interstate highway pavement. *tr
- Structure
Nar 1/29/2003. The consumer received a recall notice in march 2003 regarding the front frame /cradle bolt retainers. As per the recall letter they were replaced. on dec 12, 2002 before reaching a stop, there was a loud noise and the consumer felt a thump. When the consumer investigated, he found…
Nar 1/29/2003. The consumer received a recall notice in march 2003 regarding the front frame /cradle bolt retainers. As per the recall letter they were replaced. on dec 12, 2002 before reaching a stop, there was a loud noise and the consumer felt a thump. When the consumer investigated, he found that the engine had fallen from the vehicle and there were no steering capabilities. Upon general inspection, the consumer was advised the rear frame/ cradle bolts and retainers had separated which caused the engine to drop and the steering shaft to separate from the steering gear. When the consumer contacted the manufacturer he was told the recall for the cradle bolts did not apply to his vehicle only the front. *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Consumer complained that dashboard components were not working properly. she could not tell how much fuel there was or how fast she was traveling/driving. consumer took vehicle to a mechanic to look at the problem, and was told it was a wiring defect. Mechanic tried to put a brand new part in the dashboard, but the problem recurred. consume rhad this problem for 3 years.*ak
- Unknown or other
Has failed 3 time at the cost of $300 each time. dt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum › Wheel cylinders
While driving rear disc brake on one side sticks on rotor. Had to replace cylinder. Problem has not been remedied as of yet. Please provide any further information, and vehicle identification number.*ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Torque converter
Locking torque converter fails to release and stalls engine. *ak
- Suspension › Front
I take good card of my car. in the last year I have had 4 oil changes, new tires and rims, an alignment, new brakes and rotors. on 04/20/2001 I had a oil change and asked penske auto to look at my struts and suspension because my car felt and little different than usually, and again about…
I take good card of my car. in the last year I have had 4 oil changes, new tires and rims, an alignment, new brakes and rotors. on 04/20/2001 I had a oil change and asked penske auto to look at my struts and suspension because my car felt and little different than usually, and again about 06/05/2001. this time I asked the service manager to look and he could find nothing wrong. on 06/15/2001 I was on the interstate going about 65 miles an hour and had a few more miles to go but at the last minute decided to pull of on a exit to check a price of a product. I slowed down for a pedestrian, and as I got to about 10 miles a hour I felt a bump and lost all steering. luckily I was able to stop the car with out wrecking or hitting the pedestrian. I got out of my car and found that the back part of the front a frame had fallen and the motor which had pulled the steering column apart. if I had not exited the interstate before I was suppose to I am sure I would be dead, also I am lucky I did not kill a pedestrian. I have contacted oldsmobile and they told me that they were aware of the problem but only recalled the cars in 20 states and my state was not one of them. they know that its problem exists on cars 1988 to 1990 and early 1991. olds cutlass supreme, chev lumina, pontiac grand per and buick regal. I have a case # with olds c05115278 and have been working with larry waldrick at 1-800-442-6537 he IS trying to be helpful, but IS getting nowhere. if I lived in iowa they would of warned me that my car was dangerous in 1997 and fixed my car, but since I live in ne and my car tried to kill me, I am getting the run a round. oldsmobile told me to get my car to the dealership and they would look at it. I did on 08/02/2001. they say they will only pay half, and to this day 08/23/2001 have not gotten me a written estimate. I just want to protect the people in the other 30 states who have not been warned of these killer cars.*ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
Vehicle was hit by a drunk driver. headrest busted, and consumer's head and neck were injured. consumer felt that headrest should not have busted. If it had not busted, certain injuries would not have been sustained. consumer has contacted dealer. please provide any further information. *ak
- Seat belts · Structure › Body › Door
Driver's side door IS starting to crack where restraint harness IS mounted. dealer has inspected vehicle.*ak consumer was informed of recall 90v054 and went to have work done, however dealer stated the cracking where seat belt mount IS located was not included in recall. *slc
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module · Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash · Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Lights on dashboard stay off for long periods of time, dealer stated cluster needed to be replaced. *Ak the ignition module failed three times. the three coils and the computer were replaced. the vehicle still fails to start due to crank shaft sensor failure. *yh
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
Rear calipers have frozen due to design error. Please provide further information.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
The vehicle experienced stop lamp failure and required a new stitch, the consumer was not notified of recall 90v-185 and request reimbursement. nlm
- Structure › Frame and members
Bolt came loose and 1 broke .holding body to frame together. *ak
- Structure
Cradle IS rusted due to a recall on the cadle retainers and bolts. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Fluids all full. If engine IS turned off and pedal IS depressed. When turned on all ok but brakes fail randomly without warning. Has been serviced by brake shop. Flush and fill of brake fluid. No visable problems.*ak
- Structure › Frame and members
I was on internet and found a section that had stated a paint peeling problem with oldsmobiles and it had stated that the gm manufacture would furnish a free paint for the cars that had this problem.. The car that I own IS a 1990 oldsmobile cut.sup.in.sed.4d. if this IS a true fact could you please let me know. No safety defect mentioned in summary. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Rear seat belts will not release from retracting mechanism, causing seat belts to become inoperable. Please give any further details.*ak
- Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
While driving the right front wheel came off of the vehicle, causing damage to the vehicle when it slid to a stop. (ohio traffic crash report) *mjs
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Intermittent digital dashboard failure (speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge). *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
I took to the shop 3 times no one can find the problem the master computer was even replaced with a gmac rebuild the problem has not changed. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
When traveling at any speed and upon depressing the brake pedal, pedal goes to the floorboard, causing extended stopping distance, also, after pumping the brakes the brakes operate. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer unable to determine the cause. Please provide any further details. *ak
- Unknown or other
Paint on the entire car IS peeling off in sheets
- Exterior lighting › Brake lights · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum · Unknown or other
Rear brake lights stay on even if no key, speeedometer. Odometer intermittent failure, rear brakes froze and rusted causing failure of front brake linings and rotors in 3000 miles
- Unknown or other
No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
The digital dashboard in this car fails intermittantly. sometimes it fails on startup, and sometimes while the car IS moving. upon failure the dashoard IS black, with no way to determine the speed of this automobile. sometimes the failure lasts for a few minutes, and somtimes for hours. on one…
The digital dashboard in this car fails intermittantly. sometimes it fails on startup, and sometimes while the car IS moving. upon failure the dashoard IS black, with no way to determine the speed of this automobile. sometimes the failure lasts for a few minutes, and somtimes for hours. on one trip I had no speedometer for 4 hours. I believe that fhe failure of the speedometer IS a safety issue. I was informed by an employee of the local general motors dealer that failure of digital dashoards in gm cars happens often and IS expensive to repair. I was given a figure of approximately $650.00 to repair my dashboard, which would require that it be sent to the factory and fhat I would not have the use of my car for 2 to 6 weeks. since the speedometer IS a component of the digital dashboard, and certainly related to vehicle safety, I believe that general motors should be held responsible for this cost. if not required to be responsible for the full cost, gm should at least be required to participate in the cost of this repair. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Engine cradle separation
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
- Cradle bolt failures
There is no summary currently available
- Corroded rear disk brakes
There is no summary currently available
- Failure stop lamp switch
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 39080Rear strut related thumping/squeaking noise.
- 39072ABS warning light IS on.
- 37955ABS wire harness for the right front wheel may rub on the brake line causing the ABS warning light to come on.
Every Oldsmobile Cutlass model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.