AI Damage1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 43
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 33% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 28% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- Steering: 14 complaints (33% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 12 complaints (28% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (12% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (7% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 43 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Engine coolant reservoir has an oily scent and has oil deposits inside.
Mrs. Jones ownes a 1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme. On march 10, 2004, I entered the driver seat of the said car to depart from home. When I engaged the ignition to start the car the air bag deployed. The defective air bag struck me in face, causing injury.
The plastic fasteners on the front passenger side seat belt fell off. Driver's side the seat belt fastener cracked and was about to fall off. The seat belts were not able to be latched. Dealership did not indicate why the failure occurred, they were just quoting the replacing price of the part.
When making a right turn consumer heard a loud noise. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
When braking and driving heard a grinding noise. Vehicle was taken to be repaired, was determined that rear caliper slides were frozen and engaged the rear brakes. Rear calipers and rotors were replaced. This has happened 3 times in 2 years.
When braking heard a grinding noise. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that rear pistons were stuck and engaged the rear brakes. Rear calipers and rotors were replaced. It was not known how long the vehicle was in this condition because there was no warning of this problem besides the noise.
Problems with smoke coming from underneath dash. Request information on vehicle as far as accurate mileage, lemon check and recall check. Dealer refused to let consumer trade in the vehicle or give her answers to her question. In addition, she requested information on any accidents/recalls on the vehicle.
The steering locked up which made it difficult to control the vehicle as well as turn corners. The dealer replaced the rack and pinion assembly.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,758 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cutlass Supreme has 33 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 43, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, service brakes, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 43. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (14%), vibration (7%), A/C or heater (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
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.