Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems
Owners filed 163 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass with NHTSA between Dec 1997 and Dec 2014. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (37).
Complaints
163
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic37
- Engine and engine cooling32
- Steering24
- Suspension19
- Electrical system16
- Equipment12
- Visibility9
- Air bags9
- Structure7
- Exterior lighting7
- Tires7
- Seat belts6
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Service brakes, air4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
15
24
34
18
12
15
19
10
3
5
1
1
1
0
0
1
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 15 |
| 1999 | 24 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
37 reports1 crash
“98 OLDS CUTLASS. REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH IN VICINITY OF LR WHEEL . RESULTED IN SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID. NO SEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR FRONT BRAKE FLUID. HEARD OF SIMILAR EVENT WITH SAME MODEL STYLE CHEVY MALIBU. NO YEAR KNOWN. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
32 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OR GREATER THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Steering
24 reports1 related recall
“FRAME, WHERE STEERING RACK BOLTS TO, RUSTED OUT. STEERING RACK BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION. FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. *TT”
Suspension
19 reports
“INTERMITTENTLY THERE IS VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD HAD FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS SINCE 1999.*AK”
Electrical system
16 reports1 crash
“GENERAL MOTORS RECENTLY RECALLED THE 1997-2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. I OWN THE SISTER VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THIS VEHICLE IS THE IDENTICAL LAYOUT OF THE CHEVROLET MALIBU WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. I SENT A COUPLE OF E-MAIL MESSAGES TO THE GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL EXPLAINING TO ME THAT AT THIS TIME THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF DOING A RECALL ON THE OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AS OF YET, I DEEM IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH GM SHOULD FIX. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR ISSUES AS MINE, BUT I WANTED TO INFORM YOU OF MY CONCERNS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROPER FORUM FOR THIS, SO IF NOT, PLEASE FORWARD MY CONCERNS TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. THANK YOU *TR”
Equipment
12 reports
“I CURRENTLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS CUTLASS GL. MY POWER STEERING IS STIFF AND MAKES A "WAILING" NOISE. MY COOLENT SYSTEM HAS A LEAK. MY HEAT AND AIR HAVE COMPLETEY STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS (IN THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED_ WITH MY POWER WINDOW LOCKING UP (DRIVERS SIDE). THE SOUND SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. THE CD PLAYER QUIT WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED MY WIPER BLADES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STILL DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY. ONE TIME WHEN MY TEENS WERE USING MY CAR, THEY WERE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD...NOT ONLY WERE THEY TERRIFIED, IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THEM TO BE IN.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.