OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS · model year

1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

266 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991OLDSMOBILECUTLASS carries 266 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 11 fires, 14 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 1991 CUTLASS is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 16 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (16) and engine and engine cooling:engine (15). 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 1991 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.

266
Complaints
13
Crashes
11
Fires
14
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

266 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER16
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE15
STRUCTURE15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE13
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH6
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM6
SEAT BELTS6
SEATS6

Recent Complaints

20110425VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH BEFORE THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20101123SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 95V173000, SEAT BELTS FRONT, ANCHORAGE ON HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE, CONTACT HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT, BUT WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD FAIL IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF UPDATED 03.22.11

Mileage: 60,000

20080513STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED BY A DEALER BECAUSE HE WAS EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V189000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,632 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,132. UPDATED 06/09/2008. *LJ

Mileage: 99,132

20080513SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED BY A DEALER BECAUSE HE WAS EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V189000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,632 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,132. UPDATED 06/09/2008. *LJ

Mileage: 99,132

20050223STRUCTURE

THE REAR CRADLE BOLT RECALL 00V189000 DEFECT OCCURRED WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS RESULTED IN THE SUBFRAME BENDING AND THE STEERING COLUMN COMING APART. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME AND STEERING COLUMN. THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 77,000

20041112STEERING

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK.....ALL STEERING WAS LOST NOT JUST POWER STEERING. WITH NO CONTROL, VEHICLE MOVED TO THE NEXT LANE. DRIVER HAD NO STEERING, ONLY COULD USE BRAKES. DEALER BOUGHT IT FOR $500.00 TO GERT VEHICLE OFF ROAD.F THIS VEHICLE WA SGOING A THIGHWAY SPEED, THE DRIVER OR ANOTHER DRIVER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK

Mileage: 150,000

20040823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $ 1250. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

20040422SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT. I'M A DISABLED PERSON, AND HUSBAND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED FOR A YEAR OR MORE, AND ALSO HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD THAT I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I HAD VISITED MY HUSBAND WHERE HE'S ON STANDBY WAITING TO GO OVER SEAS, HE HAD TO TIE MY SEATBELT IN A KNOT TO GET IT TIGHT SO IT WOULD NOT GET IN THE WAY WHILE DRIVING OR GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. IS THERE ANYWAY THAT YOUR COMPANY CAN HELP ME GET THIS FIXED. MONEY IS TIGHT AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, AND CAN'T BE WITHOUT A CAR FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20040202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES ALREADY BECAUSE IT WILL CUT OFF WILL DRIVING, PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATING USING CONSUMER AUTOMOBILE REVIEW SITES ON THE WEB. I FIND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OR ONES VERY SIMILAR PRODUCED BY GM/OLDSMOBILE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39,700 MILES ON IT. I HAVE A 2 YEAR WARRANTY, THAT HAS YET TO BE HONORED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I AM SERIOUSLY WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF COVER UP OR INTENTIONAL IGNORING OF A COMMON MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THIS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU. *JB

Mileage: 39,600

20030820STRUCTURE

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH RECEIVED RECALL 00 V 189 000 FOR CRADLE BOLT OCCURRED. ENGINE DROPPED, AND VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE. VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 96,000

20030707STRUCTURE

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE CRADLE BOLT FAILED, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO DROP.*AK

20030626ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK

20030513STRUCTURE

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOSE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND. WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *NLM THE STEERING KNUCKLE RIPPED OUT AND THE CRADLE BROKE CAUSING EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD TO FALL OUT. THE CRADLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

20030513STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOSE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND. WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *NLM THE STEERING KNUCKLE RIPPED OUT AND THE CRADLE BROKE CAUSING EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD TO FALL OUT. THE CRADLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

20030501SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STICKING AND CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. *NLM

Mileage: 80,000

20030327VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. *JB THE NEW MOTOR DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. *SCC

20021206VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

CONSUMERS SON WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THINKING THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK, CONSUMER TRIED TO FREE IT BY HAND. THE ACCELERATOR WAS FREE AND FUNCTIONING. THE DEALERS FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE DID NOT DISENGAGE BUT HELD THE ACCELERATOR OPEN, CAUSING A RACING ENGINE AND RUNAWAY VEHICLE. *JG *DT

20021206FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE BAFFLE IN THE GAS TANK CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. *JG

20021206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CONSUMER HAD NEW FRONT BRAKES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND ADJUSTED. *JG

20021203STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER DOORS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND SO I HAVE NO WAY TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE AT ALL SHORT OF BREAKING A WINDOW JUST TO REPLACE YET ANOTHER DOOR HANDLE. VERY POOR DESIGN AND VERY WEAK POT METAL HANDLES AT 135.00 EACH TIME ONE IS REPLACED (NOT INCLUDING LABOR)THIS IS GETTING REDICULOUS. DT

Compare 1991OLDSMOBILECUTLASS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS have?
The 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS has 266 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 11 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS?
The most-complained component for the 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1991 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.