Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1986 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:RESTRAINT:BELT ANCHOR AND ATTACHM
- Summary
- LEFT HANDED DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR PLATE MAY BE UPSIDE DOWN IN LOCK PILLAR SO THAT THE UNTHREADED SLOT OF THE PLATE ALIGNED WITH THE HOLE IN THE LOCK PILLAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE ANCHOR BOLT BEING DRIVEN INTO THE SLOT INSTEAD OF THE THREADED HOLE OF THE ANCHOR PLATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN A VEHICLE CRASH, BELT ANCHOR BOLT MAY PULL LOOSE FROM ANCHOR PLATE, THUS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES, AND INCREASES LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANT.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A BOLT ANCHOR PLATE REINFORCEMENT AND NEW BOLT, AS NECESSARY.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:HARNESS:REAR COMPARTMENT
- Summary
- AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES THAT THIS STOP LAMP BE LIGHTED ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO, THE OPERA LAMPS MAY COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP PROVIDES ADDITIONAL WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. IF THIS LAMP MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A REAR END ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- CORRECTLY INDEX WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS.
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 (23)
23 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 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 13% |
| Power train | 3 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 13% |
| Steering | 3 | 13% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 8.7% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 8.7% |
| Structure | 2 | 8.7% |
| Tires | 2 | 8.7% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 4.3% |
How 1986 compares with other Cutlass years
Best and worst Cutlass years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1991 | 193 | 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 1986 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
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass FAQ
How many recalls does the 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 89V102000 (vehicle speed control), 86V093000 (seat belt), 86V061000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems?
Owners filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (3), Power train (3), Service brakes (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1986 Cutlass compare with other years?
Among the 1982–1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1991 the most (193). The 1986 drew 23. 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.