Your vehicle report

1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
113
Received Jan 1995 to Apr 2014
Official recalls listed
6
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Front brake rotors warp and wear early16 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Seat belt fails to latch or retract12 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines11 complaints · 9.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #97V058000Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and mini vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont and wisconsin. The rear cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both bolts pull through, the rear cradle would not longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft can separate from the steering gear.
  • Recall #95V115000Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 6 crashes, 5 fires, 10 people injured, 1 death.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 11 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

Brakes

1 more problem

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass
41
Show as a table
YearComplaints
199541
199610
199717
19986
199912
200011
20017
20024
20032
20041
20050
20060
20070
20081
20090
20100
20110
20120
20130
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total113

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Front brake rotors warp and wear early1614%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract1211%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines119.7%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving98.0%–
Frame rusts and corrodes through65.3%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring54.4%–
Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly54.4%–
Tires blow out or tread separates43.5%–
Ignition key sticks or will not turn32.6%–
Check engine light comes on repeatedly32.6%–
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up32.6%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #97V058000April 8, 1997676,535 vehicles affected

    structure

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and mini vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont and wisconsin. The rear cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both bolts pull through, the rear cradle would not longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft Can separate from the steering gear.

    If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.

  • NHTSA recall #95V115000June 5, 199522,361 vehicles affected

    wheels

    Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.

    If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.

  • NHTSA recall #94V041000March 28, 1995198,163 vehicles affected

    wheels

    Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.

    If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.

  • NHTSA recall #90V185000October 16, 1990476,422 vehicles affected

    exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

    Brake stoplamps may not illuminate or, in some cases, stoplamps will not stay illuminated all the time when brakes are applied due to a faulty stoplamp switch. Also in vehicles equipped with cruise control, a faulty stoplamp switch Can result in resumption of the cruise control function upon release of the brake pedal.

    A trailing vehicle may not recognize a braking actionin time to respond appropriately. Also, cruise control will reengage uponrelease of the brake pedal and resume the set speed. In either case, it couldresult in a crash without prior warning.

    Remedy

    Install an improved design stoplamp switch.

  • NHTSA recall #90V054000March 14, 1990673,000 vehicles affected

    seat belts

    Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener may pull through door mounted anchor plate.

    Seat belt may not sustain loads required by FMVSS 210, and in a vehicle accident, the seat belt may not properly restrain a passenger, resulting in increased risk of greater injury to an occupant.

    Remedy

    Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.

  • NHTSA recall #89V122000July 24, 19895,459 vehicles affected

    equipment: appliance: air conditioner

    The electronic air conditioning control may not function when starting car that has been parked for a few hours with ignition off.

    Windshield may not defrost and car would not conformwith FMVSS 103.

    Remedy

    Replace electronic comfort control assembly.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN