Oldsmobile Cutlass Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Oldsmobile Cutlass model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1982 drew the fewest (1) and the 1991 the most (193).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 2 | Seat belts | — | — |
| 1981 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1983 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1984 | 16 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1987 | 16 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1985 | 18 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1986 | 23 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1988 | 74 | 6 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1999 | 80 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 21–23 |
| 1997 | 96 | 2 | Service brakes | — | 21 |
| 1990 | 103 | 6 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1989 | 113 | 6 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1996 | 123 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1992 | 136 | 3 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1993 | 139 | 4 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1994 | 148 | 4 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
155 | 2 | Service brakes | — | 21–24 |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
156 | 3 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 1991 Among the most complaints |
193 | 6 | Service brakes | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Oldsmobile Cutlass years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 193 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 60 (31%); Engine and engine cooling 30 (16%); Seat belts 26 (13%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 9 fires, 14 injuries. 6 recall campaigns listed.
1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 156 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 37 (24%); Air bags 32 (21%); Electrical system 18 (12%).
Reports mention 12 crashes, 14 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 101,500 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 155 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 41 (26%); Engine and engine cooling 32 (21%); Steering 21 (14%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,537 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Oldsmobile Cutlass years with the fewest complaints
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 1 (100%).
Reports mention 1 injury. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 2 (67%); Fuel system 1 (33%); Structure 1 (33%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 2 (40%); Equipment 1 (20%); Exterior lighting 1 (20%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Oldsmobile Cutlass owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 80 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 66,000 |
| 1998 | 155 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 60,537 |
| 1997 | 96 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 82,274 |
| 1996 | 123 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 115,000 |
| 1995 | 156 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 101,500 |
| 1994 | 148 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 75,000 |
| 1993 | 139 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 136 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 193 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 103 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 113 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 1 | — |
| 1988 | 74 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1987 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1986 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Oldsmobile Cutlass recalls
- SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR:CONTROL ARM (1981 model year; 5,821,160 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 1981; 81V025000)
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:RESTRAINT:BELT ANCHOR AND ATTACHM (1991–1993 model years; 2,216,325 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1995; 95V173000)
- EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL (1984–1988 model years; 1,755,897 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 1989; 89V102000)
- GM/STEERING GEAR BEARINGS (1997–1998 model years; 750,283 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2003; 03V527000)
- GM/CRADLE BOLTS (1991 model year; 713,435 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2000; 00V189000)
All 38 Oldsmobile Cutlass recall campaigns · Oldsmobile Cutlass problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Oldsmobile Cutlass years FAQ
Which Oldsmobile Cutlass year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1982 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Oldsmobile Cutlass years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1991, 1995 and 1998 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Oldsmobile Cutlass problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (469 of 1,598 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile Cutlass have?
NHTSA lists 38 recall campaigns covering the Oldsmobile Cutlass. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Oldsmobile Cutlass recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.