AI DamageOldsmobile Cutlass Supreme: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme across 9 model years: 298 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 17% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 12% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 4% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 74 complaints (25% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 52 complaints (17% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 36 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 34 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 29 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1990–1991
- 2.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1988–1989
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1989–1997named in 1 complaints
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1996
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1991–1997named in 1 complaints
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1984–1987
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1984–1988
- 4.3 L · diesel · 6 cyl 1984–1985
- 5.7 L · diesel · 8 cyl 1984–1985
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1993
- automatic, 4-speed 1984–1997
- manual, 5-speed 1988–1993
Drive: FWD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 298 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 74 | 6 | 0 |
| Air bags | 52 | 5 | 0 |
| Structure | 36 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 34 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
This happened some time ago but I recently read of an investigation that you have undertaked and decided that this may be relevant. I also have seen service bulletins for this issue.
Power steering suddenly failed without warning and no prior symptoms. Sudden total loss of power assist while turning left caused major accident. Car was driven off the road into a brick retaining wall causing over $3,000 damage to the car plus $350 damage to the wall.
When making sudden stops vehicle swerved into the passing lane. Vehicle was involved in a collision in 1996.
(arthur blankeman on behalf of the driver terry geller) ( tire make/model, spectrum starfire, size 215/65 r16) also the air bags did not deploy.
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. (tiresize: p195/r14)( dot number: tire size: p195/r14 )
Upon impact, in a rear collosion, driver's seat collapsed into the rear seat, resulting in injuries.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.