Total Complaints
29 filings
OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME · model year
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.
Total Complaints
29 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 5 |
| STRUCTURE | 4 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A TURN. PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTED CONTROL OF INSTRUMENTS PANEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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 .
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
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
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
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
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).
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS WHICH DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR. *AK
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).
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).
WHILE DRIVING FRONT CRADLE BOLTS SNAPPED,CAUSING FRONT END TO DROP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
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.