Total Complaints
22 filings
OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS · model year
1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
22 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985OLDSMOBILECUTLASS carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 CUTLASS is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 1985 CUTLASS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
22
Complaints
3
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080417ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. A FEW YEARS EARLIER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO GARAGE FOR A DIAGNOSIS, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND ON APRIL 13, 2008, THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE OILER RACKER ARM ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING A HOLE FOR THE OIL TO FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEED AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 5/6/08 *CN UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR
Mileage: 139,000
20020514FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS DISABLED AND PARKED, DUE TO SUSPECTED ENGINE TROUBLE, THE ABANDONED VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*JB(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-485)
20011030FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS DISABLED AND PARKED, DUE TO SUSPECTED ENGINE TROUBLE, THE ABANDONED VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*JB(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-485)
20010406FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE DIED, THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
20001027TIRES
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60-65MPH IN A 1985 STATION WAGON OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS CIERA. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE SEPARATED. CONSUMER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PULLED APART WITH A KNIFE. TIRE WERE PURCHASED 2-18-98 WITH 10-12,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.TIRE SIZE IS 195/75R14. THE MODEL TIRE IS A PREMIER 4.*AK
20001017STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THREE PLACES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20001017SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BOTH PASSENGER'S SID EAND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CRUISE CONTROL SURGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK
20001017VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOTH PASSENGER'S SID EAND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, CRUISE CONTROL SURGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK
19990325CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPRIENCING PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO FENCE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
19990216VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR UNEXPECTEDLY SPEEDS UP/ACCELERATES. *AK
19981203STEERING
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BEEN TO DEALER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19981123POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
19980729STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE.*AK *JB
19980205SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE PULLS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED DUE TO MISALIGNMENT.
19980203CrashTIRES
REAR TIRES LOCKED UP, VEHICLE FISHTAILED, LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AK
19971003SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION BOLTS RUSTED, ALLOWING THEM TO PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING..
19961220POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE, TOOK TO DEALER REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION 200-C METRIC . *AK
19961021CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19950320PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS LOOSE. CAUSING IT TO RUB ON FRAME CHASSIS. TT
19950104POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, ONLY 45K. TT
Compare 1985OLDSMOBILECUTLASS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS have?▼
The 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS has 22 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1985 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.