Oldsmobile / Cutlass / 1998
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems
Owners have filed 223 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass with NHTSA. Service brakes, hydraulic account for 21.1% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 16.1%.
Complaints223
Crashes8
Fires0
Injuries4
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes, hydraulic 21.1% · 47
Engine and engine cooling 16.1% · 36
Steering 9.9% · 22
Suspension 9.0% · 20
Electrical system 8.1% · 18
Equipment 4.9% · 11
Visibility 4.9% · 11
Structure 4.5% · 10
Severity
Of those complaints, 8 describe a crash and 4 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 10 model years of the Oldsmobile Cutlass in this data, 1998 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 1991 draws the most.
Filing volume has held steady, 6 in the last three years against 7 in the three before.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 60,537 miles.
In owners' own words
Extreme pulsation when braking - steering wheel and brake pedal are difficult to control. The dealer has tried replacing the brake pads, turning the rotors, and replacing the rotors and nothing has worked. After each of the 5 times we have this car serviced, the pulsation returns after 3,000 to 4,000 miles. We are entering arbitration proceedings with Oldsmobile to demand a buy-back. Service brakes, hydraulic
Ongoing problem with excessive wear of pads and rotors as of 8,000 miles. Dealer replaced front pads, and turned the rotors. As of 15,10o miles replaced both front rotors. At 23,300 miles, turned front rotors and replaced front pads; at 34,300 miles replaced front pads and turned rotors, and as of 39,000 miles, problem has reoccurred. Dealer notified. Service brakes, hydraulic
The brake rotors needed to be resurfaced. Would slow down & brakes vibrated badly. They were also warped. Would fail to catch when needed. Took to dealer & brakes repaired. 8 Months later, having same problems. Took to different dealer & informed rotors should be replaced, not resurfaced. Did not replaced due to lack of warranty. Service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Oldsmobile Cutlass years
1993 193 complaints · 29.0% service brakes, hydraulic 1994 200 complaints · 20.0% service brakes, hydraulic 1995 199 complaints · 20.1% service brakes, hydraulic 1996 160 complaints · 16.3% service brakes, hydraulic 1997 161 complaints · 18.6% service brakes, hydraulic 1999 117 complaints · 22.2% electrical system