Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.

2
Total Recalls
276
Total Complaints
14
Total Crashes
15
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths
1998
Worst Year
1999
Best Year
53
Fair
Overall Reliability Score (0–100)

Own a Oldsmobile Cutlass? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Oldsmobile Cutlass — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison

YearVerdictRecallsComplaintsCrashesInjuriesDeathsTop Issue
1999BestCaution5823TiresFull report →
1998WorstAvoid112454Service Brakes / HydraulicFull report →
1997Avoid19478Service Brakes / HydraulicFull report →

3 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.

Most Common Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems

Service Brakes / Hydraulic
46
Electrical System
36
Engine And Engine Cooling
35
Steering
28
Suspension
25
Air Bags
14
Tires
14
Exterior Lighting
12
Visibility
10
Structure
9
Fuel System / Gasoline
8
Service Brakes / Air
7

Based on 276 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.

Cutlass Years to Avoid

1998 Cutlass
124 complaints · 1 recalls · 5 crashes
Details →
1997 Cutlass
94 complaints · 1 recalls · 7 crashes
Details →
1999 Cutlass
58 complaints · 0 recalls · 2 crashes
Details →

Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Best Cutlass Years to Buy

Not enough data to identify standout low-problem years.

Years with fewest complaints and recalls.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems by Year

Select a year to see detailed complaints, recall notices, and safety incident data.

Frequently Asked Questions — Oldsmobile Cutlass Reliability

What year Cutlass has the most problems?

Based on NHTSA data, the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 124 complaints and 1 safety recalls. See the full 1998 report for specific defects.

Is the Oldsmobile Cutlass reliable?

The Oldsmobile Cutlass has accumulated 276 owner-filed complaints and 2 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 1999 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Cutlass.

What are the most common Cutlass problems?

The most frequently cited problem areas are: Service Brakes / Hydraulic (46 reports), Electrical System (36 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (35 reports), Steering (28 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.

How do I check if my Cutlass has an open recall?

Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Check a Specific Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN

Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

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