1978 Oldsmobile CUTLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
0 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1978 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Pattern summary
There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
78V139000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
Reported: 1978-06-13 (June 13, 1978)
THE HUB PORTION OF THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS GENERATED DURING ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS. EVENTUALLY, THE BLADE COULD BREAK APART AT THE HUB AND BLADE PIECES COULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE ENGINE. IF THE HOOD IS OPEN WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE FRAGMENTS WOULD BE FREE TO FLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗79V175000 · Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
Reported: 1979-07-23 (July 23, 1979)
UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE TEMPERATURES IN THE FRONT WHEEL OUTER BEARING AREA WHICH CAN AFFECT THE WHEEL BEARING GREASE. THIS CAN RESULT IN INADEQUATE LUBRICATION OF THE BEARING. THIS CONDITION MAY BE FURTHER AGGRAVATED BY IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE NUT.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT WHEEL OUTER BEARINGS PACKED WITH GREASE AND THE SPINDLE WILL BE COATED WITH LUBRICANT. NEW GREASE RETAINER CAPS WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO MAINTAIN GREASE IN OUTER BEARING. THIS WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗81V025000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 1981-02-25 (February 25, 1981)
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.
Remedy: BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗84V149000 · Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
Reported: 1984-11-24 (November 24, 1984)
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗85V048000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders
Reported: 1985-04-29 (April 29, 1985)
EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.
Remedy: ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 11.4%ODI 875267WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES PEDAL IS SOFT. BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE. *AK | 54.4%ODI 525166LEFT REAR ABS BRAKES LOCKE DUP SIX TIMES. ALSO REPLACED CALIPERS/PADS AND ROTORS. *AK | 21.9%ODI 852646WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ALSO, AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES THE BRAKES OPERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 73.6% | 118.1%ODI 10065766BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE PER YEAR. CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO OR THREE TIMES. VEHICLE WILL NOT DO AN EMERGENCY STOP. IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP NORMALLY. THE ABS DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MECHANICS SAY THIS IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK | 107.2% | 1812.2%ODI 10049138 · 115,430 miTHE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CRUISER MAKE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP ON AN ICY ROAD. AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, 15 MPH OR LESS ONCE THE ANTILOCK BREAKS KICK IN THE CAR TAKES OFF AND SLIDES RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THIS BEHAVIOR IS UNPREDICTABLE, SCARY AND QUITE DANGEROUS. THE TIRES AND BRAKES ARE NEW AND IN GOOD CONDITION. DISABLING THE ANTILOCK BREAKS MAKES THE CAR VERY EASY TO STOP UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS EVEN IF A WHEEL SKIDS A LITTLE BIT. THIS ISN'T AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE AS MUCH AS IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN CONCEPT. … | 159.6% | 1310.6%ODI 10015987WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ABS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANIMS DO NOT LOCK INTO POSITION AND CAN ALLOW FOR SEAT OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, WINDSHIELD DURING A CRASH. MJJ | 1111.5%ODI 10023375 · 600 miABS LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES, USUALLY DURING A TURN, BUT NO ADVERSE CONDITIONS OCCUR. WHEN DIAGNOSED, IT WAS STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD. I HAVE HAD BOTH FRONT SPEED SENSORS REPLACED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, AND SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT, I JUST DEAL WITH THE LIGHT. I JUST BROUGHT IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO, AND AGAIN THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS SAID THAT IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. *NLM | 138.4%ODI 716848THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER CHANGING BRAKES AND ROTORS 3 TIMES. *AK | 33.8%ODI 739403CAR LIGHTS SLOWLY WENT OUT ON DRIVE HOME. ANTILOCK BRAKES WENT OUT, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND FINALLY ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACED BATTERY-HORN WOULDN'T WORK AND LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP-RESET COMPUTER-NOW DAY RUNNING LAMPS DON'T COME ON WHEN START THE CAR ON-THEY ONLY COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. THE AIRBAG SENOR IS ALSO OUT. THIS ALL OCCURRED AT 37000 MILES.*AK |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 810.8%ODI 715508THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES GO ON FINE, AND STOP THE CAR GREAT, BUT THEY DO NOT RELEASE ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED, AS HAS THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. ONCE THEY I LOCKED, IF I TURN OFF THE ENGING AND WAIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RELEASE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL SHOPS, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN FIRE TWICE, AND SMOKE AND TOTALLED ROTOR… | 1513.3% | 1918.4% | 126.2%ODI 723075PURCHASED CAR IN JANUARY OF 1997 AND NEED TO CHANGE CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND PADS APPROX. EVERY 15,000 I WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS THE CALIPER DESIGN AND THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS. *AK | 85.9%ODI 858528CONSUMER TOOK VEHIICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK UP. CALIPERS WERE BINDING. THEY REPLACED THE SLEEVES ON THE REAR BRAKES. BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE OPENED, WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEY WOULDN'T OPEN. AT 30,000 MILES DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE BRAKES. ALSO, REAR TIRE CAME OFF. *AK | 42.9%ODI 733714WHY THE NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SLOW SPEED AND WHILE BACKING? | 32.0% | 53.2% | 32.4% | 33.1%ODI 10033265 · 137,000 miSINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1997, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, ONCE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED, AN $800 REPAIR. THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED, A $400 REPAIR. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING HOME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, I WAS WITHIN A MILE OF HOME, SO I JUST KEPT GOING. AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED, SPEED LIMIT, GAS GAUGE, ETC. I ALSO APPARENTLY HAD NO LIGHTS BECAUSE THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOS… | 63.9%ODI 706455SEVEN INCIDENTS OF DISC BRAKE FAILURE. REPORTED TO DEALER. FIXED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT STILL FAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 810.8% | 65.3% | 65.8% | 168.3% | 128.8%ODI 480621BRAKES LOCK IN OPEN POSITION/FAIL WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT USED CONTINUOUSLY. *AW | 117.9% | 42.7%ODI 489911BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING PANIC STOP, DUE TO WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. | 85.1% | 21.6% | 22.1%ODI 558852TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BRAKE PROBLEMS, WHICH BEGAN IN JUNE OF 1998, SINCE THAT TIME AND UP TO THE PRESENT THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST, THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE, REPAIRS INCLUDE REAR DRUM REPLACEMENT(6/9/98), RIGHT FRONT HUB REPLACEMENT(8/4/98), FRONT PADS & ROTORS RESURFACED(3/12/99), LEFT FRONT ROTOR REPLACEMENT(6/11/99), RIGHT FRONT CALIPER AND FLEX HOSE REPLACEMENT(7/6/99),LEFT ROTOR RESURFACED (7/12/99) ,CALIPERS AND ROTORS CHANGED(8/23/99)FRONT ROTORS RESURFACED(1/18/00), BRAKE SYSTEM EXPERINCING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND NOISE. *CJ | 31.9%ODI 541032NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS. | 33.8%ODI 553548CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 OF THE SAME VEHICLES, DIFFERENT YEAR AND BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL BRAKE FAILURES. NLM |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 810.8%ODI 482140ROTORS CORRODED/CALIPERS FRACTURED/ LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *SKD | 76.2% | 32.9%ODI 803544SEIZURE OF REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. DLRS OBSERVATION: CRACKED ROTORS. *AK | 94.7% | 85.9% | 53.6% | 42.7% | 53.2% | 43.3% | 55.2% | 1610.3%ODI 10021548 · 60,537 miNAR 05/21/2003 *MR WATER LEAK IN TRUNK, MISSING ABSORBER IN REAR DOOR, SUSPENSION NOISE, 4 NEW TIRES REPLACED, NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, AND COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKAGE. *CB | 911.3%ODI 10002519CONSUMER STATES BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES,THE VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 211.1%ODI 560374WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE DIED, THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM | 28.7%ODI 548227VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS | 425.0%ODI 507032ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, CAUSING FATALITY.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) | 22.7%ODI 859543WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD JUST GO DEAD. ONCE GOING DOWN A HILL POWER WENT OUT AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. BUT CONSUMER MANGAGED TO LEVEL CAR OFF. CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. VEHICLE WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN. *AK | 98.0% | 11.0%ODI 523422INTERMITTENT STALLING. ONCE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THEN AFTER IT SEATS FOR 5 T0 10 MINUTES, VEHICLE RESTARTS AND HAS NO PROBLEMS FOR MANY DAYS AND WEEKS. *AK | 136.7% | 75.1% | 53.6%ODI 723475THIS ENGINE FAILURE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPEN. POOR QUALITY PARTS. *AK | 85.4% | 53.2%ODI 521818THE CAR HESITATES AND NEARLY STALLS CONSTANTLY, THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIX SITUATION. | 64.9%ODI 10104627 · 130,000 miWAS DRIVING THE CAR NOTICED IT WAS NOT WARMING UP CHECKED ANTI FREEZE AND NOTICED IT WAS LOW IN RADIATOR AND IN OVERFLOW CONTAINER. ADDED ANTI FREEZE LOOKED TO SEE IF HAD BEEN LEAKING AT HOSES OR WAS AFTER ADDING ANTI FREEZE AND IT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN LEAKING AT ANY HOSES OR FROM RADIATOR. STARTED CAR DID NOT RUN RIGHT SHUT ENGINE OFF PULLED DIPSTICK AND FOUND OIL TO BE DISCOLORED. CALLED AROUND AND FOUND THAT THIS YEAR ENGINE MADE BY GENERAL MOTORS IS KNOWN TO BLOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND THAT THIS EXACT CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN… | 44.2%ODI 10154524 · 129,000 miINTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET- 3100 V6 ENGINE ON GM PRODUCT. *JB | 63.9%ODI 721579SHAKE, VIBRATION IS FELT MOST WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 50-60MPH. I WAS TOLD THAT NEW TIRES WOULD STOP THE VIBRATION AND THAT A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT WOULD HELP IN THE MEANTIME. THE BALANCING AND ROTATING AS WELL AS HAVING THE CAR ALIGNED HAVE NOT HELPED AT ALL. I DONT THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIRES. THE OIL SMELL CANNOT BE EXPLAINED, THERE ARE NO LEAKS. *AK | 11.3%ODI 858172WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. DEALER IS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15.6% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 16.3% | 45.4%ODI 10057815WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. *PH *NM | 54.4%ODI 10071781WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. *AK THE LIGHT DEVICE FLASHED RED/GREEN BEFORE GOING DEAD ON A STEEP HILL AND OR DANGEROUS CURVE. THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT, THEN THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT THROUGH A FENCE. *SC *JB | 32.9%ODI 512350ECM FAILED TWICE,IGNITION MODULE FAILED, WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING LEAKING. | 157.8%ODI 10025017WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK | 85.9%ODI 10042081PROBLEMS WITH FENDER SCRATCHES ON BODY, DAMAGE AXLE BOOT, MOTOR DAMAGE, SPARK PLUGS, EXHAUST, ETC...*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REPAIR SHOP DAMAGED THE VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THEIR CARE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE BATTERY EXPLODED. *PH THE RPM'S ON THE VEHICLE RACED EXTREMELY HIGH, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, ALSO THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WERE CAUSED BY THE… | 21.4%ODI 10159343 · 31,493 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED ALONG THE FITTINGS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 93V121000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES LINES, PIPING, AND FITTINGS. … | 74.7% | 21.3%ODI 703457BRAKES ARE UNRELIABLE. PADS HAVE REPLACED THREE TIMES AND REAR ROTORS TWICE. FRONT ROTORS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 3000 MILES. SERVICE TECH INDICATES DESIGN PROBLEMS RELATED TO BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, TIMING BELT FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE.MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND HELPED WITHOUT WARRANTY REPAIRS. ALSO, ALTERNATOR FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE/REPAIR TIME TWICE USUAL DUE TO LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR AND DESIGN OF ENGINE. *AK | 43.3%ODI 10034142CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE CUTS OFF ON HER AT WILL. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT THE CAUSE. CONSUMER GETS SCARED WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, BECAUSE SHE IS AFRAID THAT VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MAY RUN INTO HER. WHEN VEHICLE CUTS OFF THE RPMS GO DOWN TO ZERO, AND VEHICLE COASTS ALONG. *AK | 44.2%ODI 10047305 · 52,400 miI HAVE A 97 AND 99 OLDSMOBILE CUTLAS WITH V6-191 3.1L VIN M SFI ENGINES. THEY BOTH LEAK COOLANT FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND IS CAUSED BY THE DEX COOL ANTI-FREEZE INSTALLED BY THE MFG. THE COST EST. FROM THE OLDS DEALER IS $850.00 TO REPLACE THE GASKET. THESE CARS EACH HAVE 50,000 MI. IF THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM I SHOULD GET SOME RELIEF FROM THE MANUFACTURE. *LA | 106.5%ODI 10011931 · 44,000 miTHE HEAD GASKET CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT. *JB TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS AS THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE APPROACHES 50K MILES, AND MAY DEFECTIVE. SCC | 33.8%ODI 10006923 · 89,900 miLOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF GM VEHICLES... THE GASKETS LEAKING THAT IS. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**763569 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 810.8%ODI 489449CALIPERS FROZE, CAUSING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES/LOSS OF BRAKES. *SKD | 65.3%ODI 482761REAR CALIPERS RUSTED, CAUSING REAR BRAKE FAILURE, PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. *SKD | 1615.5%ODI 487846REAR CALIPER SLIDE PINS RUSTED, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. *SD | 168.3%ODI 10017980 · 80,000 miTHE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STICKING AND CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. *NLM | 96.6%ODI 10065766BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE PER YEAR. CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO OR THREE TIMES. VEHICLE WILL NOT DO AN EMERGENCY STOP. IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP NORMALLY. THE ABS DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MECHANICS SAY THIS IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK | 75.0%ODI 10036822I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR A TURNING CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEIZED.*AK | 10.7% | 10.6%ODI 10114440 · 119,000 miMY MAIN COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE DISC BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPER ASSEMBLIES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE 1996 AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND MORE RECENTLY THE CALIPERS DUE TO THEM FREEZING UP. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO INSTANCES PROBABLY THREE WHERE I CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF UNEVEN WEAR. THE CALIPER WAS NOT PROPERLY RELEASING AND IT WAS CAUSING ONE PAD USUALLY THE INSIDE PAD (THE ONE WITHOUT) THE METAL STRIP TO WEAR DOWN. IN THE FIRST… | 10.8%ODI 898151REAR CALIPERS ARE FROZEN AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, REAR BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS REAR CALIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITION, ROTORS WERE RUSTY AND REPLACED. *YH | 11.0%ODI 716430BRAKES FAILED 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE MAY 1998. AFTER 4TH TIME, CALIPERS WERE FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS FIXED AT OTHER THAN DEALERSHIP AS DEALER DENIES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. | 10.6%ODI 719457I HAD TO FIX MY BRAKES 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE WHILE NOT UNDER. ALSO, REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS. NOT ONE TIME DID THE DEALERS CHECK THIS WITHOUT PAY. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 32.2%ODI 828544VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DRIVERS FRONT SIDE WAS HIT AT 35MPH. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. GM WAS CONTACTED AND TOOK INFORMATION. *AK | 117.4%ODI 10171987ENTERED MY CAR AFTER BEING INSIDE STORE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START CAR WHEN THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL WENT OFF. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK FROM THE FRONT OR REAR AT THE TIME OF MY ENTRY, I BECAME DIZZY FROM THE POWDER. THE HORN BECAME ACTIVATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE TO GET THE HORN TO STOP. *NM | 2415.4%ODI 10087116 · 15,000 miWHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER LEANED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVOQ WAS FILED BY TONNY JENNINGS 408 GRAND AVE SW, FORT PAYNE, AL 35967/[phone removed]. *AK | 1310.6%ODI 10002541CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAGS, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB | 44.2%ODI 10136676 · 98,349 mi1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.*MR THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICEL CAME IN CONTACT SOMEHOW WITH A DRAIN WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THIS CONSEQUENTLY CAUSED HTE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER AND DAMAGE TO THE DASH. | 63.9%ODI 10051844 · 71,000 miTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK *SC *JB | 45.0%ODI 10145619DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HIT A SIGN AND A BRICK WALL. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 75 complaints · 1999: 34 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 27 | 52 | 75 |
| 1999 | 7 | 20 | 34 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 126 | 27 | 2 |
| 1999 | 64 | 14 | 2 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component |
|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.