Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic37
- Engine and engine cooling32
- Steering21
- Suspension18
- Electrical system16
- Equipment11
- Visibility9
- Air bags9
- Structure8
- Exterior lighting6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1998 Cutlass vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass failed the safety check 2.19% of the time — 28% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 100,049 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
| 2001060 9 Mar 2001 | Visual System On certain vehicles, if a buildup of snow or ice restricts the movement of the passenger side wiper arm, the pivot housing can crack and the wipe will not opera… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, THE PIVOT HOUSING CAN CRACK AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Oldsmobile told its dealers about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637253 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE BRAKE ALIGN KIT. *TT |
| 636679 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REPEAT BRAKE PULSATION AFTER AN INITIAL BRAKE REPAIR. *TT |
| 634845 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE REGARDING REVISED BRAKE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 634780 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. WITH STORED CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634661 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 634317 | SOME ONWERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 631899 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 631229 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION OR SERIAL DATA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES STORED IN HISTORY. *SLC |
| 629836 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH STORED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 629749 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT AND/OR AN ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF WHICH MAY ILLUMINATE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. *TT |
| 629407 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUAWK NOISE FROM THE FRONT AND/OR REAR SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 628102 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF WATER LEAKING INTO THE CAR ON THE FRONT FLOOR. *TT |
| 627662 | INFORMATION REGARDING SQUAWK NOISE FROM FRONT AND/OR REAR SUSPENSION. *YH |
| 626054 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A SQUAWK NOISE FROM THE FRONT OR REAR SUSPENSION AREA. *SLC |
| 624745 | ALL GMC DEALERS PLEASE DISREGARD ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE WIA20010111 TRANSMITTED 8/7/2001. *YD |
| 624632 | INFORMATION ON INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPARTMENT LOCK CYLINDER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE *JG |
| 624058 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION CLUNK / RATTLE NOISE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 624042 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION CLUNK / RATTLE NOISE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 624025 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE PASSENGER RIGHT FRONT SEAT RATTLES WHEN UNOCCUPIED. *TT |
| 623599 | CONCERNS WITH SUSPENSION NOISE.*JB |
| 623586 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A CREAK OR POP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THIS MAY OCCUR ON TURNS, ON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, OR ON MANEUVERS THAT TWIST THE SUSPENSION. *SLC |
| 622945 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY WANT TO TOW THEIR VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ONT HE GROUND. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING RECREATIONAL (DINGHY) TOWING FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 1996 THROUGH 2000 TOYOTA CAVALIER. *TT |
| 620810 | SUBJECT REGARDING POLYMER SERVICE PISTONS. *TT |
| 619724 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT WHEN THEY CLOSE THE HOOD, THE PRIMARY LATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPER
WINDSHIELD WIPER
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation