Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL
- Summary
- A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
- Consequence
- SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT RETRACTORS
- Summary
- THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH MAY NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY DURING A COLLISION.
- Remedy
- THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FREE OF CHARGE.
STEERING:LINKAGES:SLEEVE:TIE ROD:ADJUSTABLE
- Summary
- THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.
- Remedy
- THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (18)
18 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 22.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 22.2% |
| Power train | 3 | 16.7% |
| Steering | 3 | 16.7% |
| Suspension | 2 | 11.1% |
| Tires | 2 | 11.1% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 5.6% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 5.6% |
How 1985 compares with other Cutlass years
Best and worst Cutlass years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3 | 2 |
| 1982 | 1 | 2 |
| 1983 | 5 | 2 |
| 1984 | 16 | 2 |
| 1985 | 18 | 3 |
| 1986 | 23 | 3 |
| 1987 | 16 | 2 |
| 1988 | 74 | 6 |
| 1989 | 113 | 6 |
| 1990 | 103 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1985 Cutlass for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass FAQ
How many recalls does the 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 89V102000 (vehicle speed control), 84V154000 (seat belt), 84V124000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems?
Owners filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (4), Vehicle speed control (4), Power train (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1985 Cutlass compare with other years?
Among the 1981–1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1989 the most (113). The 1985 drew 18. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.