OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME · model year

1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME

25 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1988OLDSMOBILECUTLASS SUPREME carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1988 CUTLASS SUPREME is structure:frame and members with 3 filings, followed by structure (3) and steering: steering wheel/handle bar (2). 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 1988 CUTLASS SUPREME. 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.

25
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

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

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS3
STRUCTURE3
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM1
SUSPENSION:REAR1

Recent Complaints

20070307SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH,THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AND HAD TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,400.*AK THE CALIPERS WERE CORRODED. UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

Mileage: 65,800

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE PAINT STARTED PEELING ON THE HOOD AFTER I WASHED MY CAR AND IT STARTED PEELING ON THE DRIVER DOOR FRAME. THE PAINT LIFTED AWAY FROM THE PRIMER COAT. TALKED TO DEALER AND THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT I TALKED TO SAID THAT THE CENTER OF AUTO SAFETY AND YOUR INFORMATION ON THE PEELING PAINT WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GETTING THE CAR PAINTED. THE PAINT ON THE DOOR STARTED PEELING BEFORE AND WE TOUCHED IT UP WITH TOUCH UP PAINT. WE ALSO BOUGHT THE CAR USED.

Mileage: 70,000

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT PEELING IN SHEETES ON HOOD AND ROOF

20030912STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE A 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. WHICH IS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND THEY STATE THAT DUE TO VEHICLE AGE IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. YET I FOUND ON A GM WEBSITE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THIS INFORMATION. "THE HANDLE CASTINGS BREAK, FAIL, FATIGUE AND STRETCH - NO CURE OR FIX EXCEPT TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY. IT IS THE CASTING (NOT THE HANDLE) THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM - THAT'S WHY YOU WON'T FIND USED ONES, THEY ARE ALL BROKE! " THIS AFFECTS ALL 1987-1996 GRAND PRIX'S, BERETTA'S AND CUTLASS SUPREME'S. SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES AND YET THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY. 1996 WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO. THEY EVEN KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND DO NOTHING. SEEMS LIKE A SCAM TO CHEAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY AS THEY COST $136 + TAX UNINSTALLED. IF THEY INSTALL IT IS $204+ TAX. TAKE THAT $204 TIMES MILLIONS OF CARS AND BAM SEVERAL MILLIONS DOLLARS A

Mileage: 168,925

20030812CrashSUSPENSION

WHEN MAKING SUDDEN STOPS VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE PASSING LANE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN 1996. *AK

20021101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

20020813STRUCTURE

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO HAVE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REAR BOLTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THE ENGINE DROPPED AND CONSUMER LOST STEERING. CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE BUT IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID BECAUSE THERE IS NOW A RECALL OUT ON THE ABOVE SAID DEFECT, HOWEVER THE RECALL IS FOR THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS.*JG

20011101CrashSTRUCTURE

IDENTICAL FAILURE AS DESCRIBED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V189000/ CRADLE BOLTS. HOWEVER, THIS CAMPAIGN IS LIMITED TO NORTHERN TIER OF STATES "WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY." MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY OF THOSE STATES. I CONTEND THE PROBLEM TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED. WHAT ABOUT COASTAL STATES WITH PLENTY OF SALT AIR. WOULDN'T THEY BE SIMILARLY AFFECTED TOO? MANUFACTURER REFUSED SETTLEMENT BECAUSE TENNESSEE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF STATES FOR ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.*AK

20010515STRUCTURE

THE CRABLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189 CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT THE MANUFACTURER ONLY CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OF THE CRADLE BOLTS AND THE LABOR, NOT THE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN THE BOLTS FAILED. NLM

20010405CrashSUSPENSION:REAR

THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS "FELL OFF" THEREFOR CAUSING A FLIP OVER WHEN THE BACK RIGHT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE BLEW BECAUSE THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRES, THEREFOR, EXPOSING THE THREADS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P195/R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/R14 )

20010305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FALLS APART --NO BRAKE SHOES AT ALL IN REAR. GRINDING OF DRUMS AGAINST OTHER BRAKE PARTS. *AK

20010305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FALLS APART --NO BRAKE SHOES AT ALL IN REAR. GRINDING OF DRUMS AGAINST OTHER BRAKE PARTS. *AK

20010305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FALLS APART --NO BRAKE SHOES AT ALL IN REAR. GRINDING OF DRUMS AGAINST OTHER BRAKE PARTS. *AK

20001107STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE RODS RUSTED OUT DUE TO ROAD SALT. *SLC

20001025STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FRAME GOT CORRODED WHICH CAUSED FRONT END TO FALL WITH THE BUSHING, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE, BUT NOT WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20001023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

NO SUMMARY

20000315STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS HANGING AND THE HINGES ARE RUSTED. THIS FAILURE WAS RECALLED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, BROUGHT IN TO DEALER, THEY CLAIMED DOOR ASSEMBLY WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. POWER WINDOW ON THIS DOOR HAS NOT WORKED SINCE PURCHASE. *AK *ML

20000315ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS HANGING AND THE HINGES ARE RUSTED. THIS FAILURE WAS RECALLED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, BROUGHT IN TO DEALER, THEY CLAIMED DOOR ASSEMBLY WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. POWER WINDOW ON THIS DOOR HAS NOT WORKED SINCE PURCHASE. *AK *ML

20000306ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BODY MOUNTS SNAPPED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

19991229STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE FRONT ENGINE-CRADLE RETAINERS BROKE PERMITTING THE ENGINE TO FALL TO THE ROAD SURFACE AS I TURNED ONTO A HIGHWAY DISABLING ALL STEERING CONTROLL. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD OF A RECALL ( THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1997 ) ON THE REAR RETAINERS OF THE ENGINE-CRADLE. I HAVEN'T CHECKED THE PART #S TO SEE IF THEY ARE THE SAME #S BUT THE FUNCTIONS ARE THE SAME, TO HOLD THE SUB-FRAME TO THE BODY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OLDSMOBILE THAT DUE TO THE AGE ( 10 YEARS ) AND THE MILEAGE THAT THIS IS MY RESONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. MY QUESTIONS ARE WHY ARE THE REAR RETAINERS UNDER RECALL AND NOT THE FRONT RETAINERS SINCE THEY ARE SIMILAR IN FUNCTION AND DESIGN? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHEN THESE RETAINERS BREAK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS? WHEN IS THE CAR TOO OLD FOR A RECALL WHEN IT'S STILL IN USE? I'VE HAD THIS CAR AT GOODYEAR AND FIRESTONE EACH THIS PAST YEAR FOR FRONT-END ALIGNMENT AND THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

Compare 1988OLDSMOBILECUTLASS SUPREME to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME have?
The 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME has 25 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME?
The most-complained component for the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR.
Is the 1988 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME 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.