OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME · model year

1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME

29 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989OLDSMOBILECUTLASS SUPREME carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 3 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 1989 CUTLASS SUPREME is structure:frame and members with 5 filings, followed by structure (4) and steering (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 1989 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.

29
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

29 filings

Crashes Reported

0 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 MEMBERS5
STRUCTURE4
STEERING3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
SUSPENSION1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1

Recent Complaints

20051012STRUCTURE

THE ENGINE CRADLE FELL OFF CONSUMER 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME. *TS THE CRADLE FELL DROPPING THE ENGINE DUE TO CONDENSATION FORMING BETWEEN THE RUBBER MOUNTING SUPPORTS AND THE METAL FRAMEWORK. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB

20050624POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT:CONSUMER WAS CLIMBING A HILL AT 5% GRADE FIVE MILES LONG ON FREEWAY WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN FROM OVERDRIVE TO SECOND GEAR AND LOCKED IN SECOND. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AFTER THIS HAPPENS IT WILL NOT GO TO FIRST GEAR, SO TRYING TO PULL OUT IN SECOND GEAR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. CONSUMER SAYS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LIKE THIS THREE TIMES. FIRST TWO TIMES ON AN UPWARD GRADE, THE THIRD TIME WAS ON A FLAT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL SHOP AND HAD A USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FROM THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS, AND SOME PLATE IN THE VALVE BODY MELTS, WHICH CASES TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION ONTO THE ROAD.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT FLAKING ON HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE. JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE. SPOKE WITH GM SERVICE MANAGER WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST GM CONCERNING DEFECTIVE PAINT ON THEIR VEHICLES.

Mileage: 116,000

20040422STEERING

SUB FRAME BOLTS RUSTED AWAY AND PULLED THE WASHERS AND RUBBER BUSHINGS THEN THE STEERING SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE STEERING BOX CAUSING NO STEERING. I PHONED GM IN ONTARIO JUST TO ADVISE THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS. THE LADY I WAS SPEAKING TO GOT REAL DEFENSIVE AND BELLIGERENT AND SAID IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN SAID GOODBYE AND HUNG UP. THEN I FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET BY ACCIDENT A WEB SITE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENT LISTING THE YEAR AND MODEL OF MY CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 05/03 A FRIEND OF OURS TOLD US ABOUT YOUR WEB SITE AND THAT YOUR COMPANY MAY TAKE UP MY CASE BECAUSE MYSELF OR ANY OF MY FAMILY OR FRIENDS COULD HAVE DIED AND MAYBE KILLED OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER WHEN I WAS ON THE HIWAY AT 80 KM/HR. I JUST WANTED GM TO LET OTHER OWNERS KNOW SO THEY COULD GET IT FIXED BEFORE ANYTHING FATAL HAPPENED BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS WEB SI

Mileage: 145,400

20030331STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THIS WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE CRADLE BOLTS ON 10/24/02. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS ROTTED AND CORRODED. *JB...*AK

20020814STRUCTURE

LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT T ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS HAD DISCONNECTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020514STRUCTURE

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALER PER SAFETY RECALL 00V189 FOR REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AND REAR CRADLE BOLT RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE QUARTER FRAME WAS ALSO DANGEROUSLY RUSTED AWAY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TT

20020228STRUCTURE

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALER PER SAFETY RECALL 00V189 FOR REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AND REAR CRADLE BOLT RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE QUARTER FRAME WAS ALSO DANGEROUSLY RUSTED AWAY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TT

20010104STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WAS DRIVING 30MPH AND IT BECAME HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF STEERING. MANAGED TO GET TO A DEALER & WAS INFORMED THAT SUBFRAME HAD CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ENGINE & STEERING RACK TO DROP. *AK

20001016STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A TURN. PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTED CONTROL OF INSTRUMENTS PANEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20000905STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE ACCELERATING FOM A STOP, BOTH FRONT CRADLE BOLTS SEPERATED FROM THE CHASSIS. CRADLE ASSEMBLY DROPPED ABOUT EIGHT INCHES. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALER. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES, ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED UNLESS JUMPED. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS "DEAD". OWNER SUSPECTS DAMAGED OR BROKEN WIRING (I.E. GROUND WIRE) AS A RESULT OF EITHER THE INCIDENT OR THE REPAIR. REPAIRS FOR THIS CONDITION HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AS OF THIS DATE .

20000519SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN I HEARD A THUMP AND MY CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED AND THE DID NOT SO I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON AND AVOIDED A MAIL BOX AND ANY BODY DAMAGE TOTHE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AND MYSELF. THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE FRAME WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE BUSHINGS NEED REPLACED, THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRAME NEED REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS REPLACED AT THIS POINT. THE MECHANIC I HAVE WORKING ON IT SAID THE FOUR MOUNTING BOLTS ON THE FRAME WERE CORRODED AND CAME OFF. I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY CURIOUS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS. *AK

20000519STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN I HEARD A THUMP AND MY CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED AND THE DID NOT SO I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON AND AVOIDED A MAIL BOX AND ANY BODY DAMAGE TOTHE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AND MYSELF. THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE FRAME WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE BUSHINGS NEED REPLACED, THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRAME NEED REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS REPLACED AT THIS POINT. THE MECHANIC I HAVE WORKING ON IT SAID THE FOUR MOUNTING BOLTS ON THE FRAME WERE CORRODED AND CAME OFF. I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY CURIOUS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS. *AK

19991202VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF A DISTORTED VIEW WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER AT NIGHT & DURING THE DAY. WHENEVER HEADLIGHTS ARE SHOWN AGAINST WINDSHIELD, UNABLE TO DETECT LINES IN ROAD. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALERSHIP BUT WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO HAVE WINDSHIELD CHECKED OUT.AK

19990903FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

READ INFORMATION IN PAPER REGARDING FUEL TANK BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE BUMPER & COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET BURNED OR A FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED NO REMEDY AVAILABLE TO CORRECT FUEL TANK. *AK

19990730FireFatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

WHILE SLEEPING IN VEHICLE IN AN OPEN AIR PARKING LOT WITH HEATER AND MOTOR ON CONSUMER DIED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISIONING, MOTOR CONTINUED RUNNING UNTIL CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED RESULTING IN FIRE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

19990520STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS WHICH DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR. *AK

19990428FireFatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

WHILE SLEEPING IN VEHICLE IN AN OPEN AIR PARKING LOT WITH HEATER AND MOTOR ON CONSUMER DIED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISIONING, MOTOR CONTINUED RUNNING UNTIL CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED RESULTING IN FIRE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

19990428FireFatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

WHILE SLEEPING IN VEHICLE IN AN OPEN AIR PARKING LOT WITH HEATER AND MOTOR ON CONSUMER DIED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISIONING, MOTOR CONTINUED RUNNING UNTIL CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED RESULTING IN FIRE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

19990217STEERING

WHILE DRIVING FRONT CRADLE BOLTS SNAPPED,CAUSING FRONT END TO DROP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK

Compare 1989OLDSMOBILECUTLASS SUPREME to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME have?
The 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME has 29 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME?
The most-complained component for the 1989 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and STEERING.
Is the 1989 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.