1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems
The 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 160 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (16%) concerns brakes. After that come air bags (14%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 160 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 16 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 115,000 miles 23 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 23 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 115,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 16 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Oldsmobile Cutlass with enough data (77 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH the smell of smoke could be detected. The vehicle was pulled off the side of the road. Within a few minutes the smoke went away and the vehicle was restarted. A few moments later the vehicle was on fire under the hood. Smoke filled the vehicle, the doors would not unlock, and the windows would not roll down. The occupant climbed to the back seat and tried to kick the windows out. Someone saw the vehicle on fire and extinguished the fire.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 57MPH. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. Vehicle was totalled.
Consumer was hit from rear by a car traveling 50 MPH. Upon impact, drivers side seat collapsed and came off the track. Dealer has been contacted.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 30 MPH in dry road conditions, the ABS light illuminated when the brake pedal was depressed. Also, the brake pedal went to the floorboard, and stopping distance was increased. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who performed a diagnostic, but could not determine the problem. The brake pads were replaced, but the problem recurred 5 months later while traveling 30 MPH. The dealership was contacted, but never returned a call.
Driving down the highway and went to turn the corner at a green light and the steering wheel was hard to turn I almost hit another car. The air bags light has been staying on since 2009.