Engine
2.2L 4-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 102 of 139 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Brakes
58 complaint records2 crash reports
"BRAKE DRUM ON THE FOUR WHEELS IS RUSTING VERY BADLY. RUST SEEPS OUT FROM UNDER THE HUB CAP AND GOES ALL OVER THE WHEELS...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Electrical system
25 complaint records5 fire reports
"WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PUT FIRE OUT. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATER. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Power train
15 complaint records1 crash report
"WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN REAR RIGHT AXLE BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALL THE LUG S:NUTS AND STUDS THAT GO INTO THE DRUM WERE STILL IN TACK.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE94063 opened Aug 1994 | closed Dec 1994 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES There is no summary currently available |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95V173000 | Seat Belts | THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." | Normally free |
| 94V211000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | THE BRAKE LINES CAN CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. THE LINES CAN WEAR THROUGH RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF HALF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM. | Normally free |
| 93V121000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES." | Normally free |
| 93V035000 | Seats | THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINING MECHANISMS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE SEAT BACK MECHANISMS WILL NOT LATCH UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000052 2000-03-06 | Steering | 13,717 | On certain vehicles located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, extreme levels of moisture and salt can result in corrosion at or near the engine cradle mounts resulting in possible failure of the mounts. |
| 1998179 1998-09-14 | Emissions | 27,450 | Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1105 - Evaporative Emissions. Correction: Dealers will replace the evaporative emission canister purge solenoid valve. Also, the oldsmobile cutlass supreme convertible will have the prom replaced. |
| 1994166 1994-10-27 | Brakes | 6,789 | Certain vehicles may have been produced with a brake pipe contacting the transmission mounting bracket or frame side rail. |
| 1993026 1993-03-03 | Seats And Restraints | 361 | Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 207 - Anchorage of Seats. Front seat back recliner mechanism may not latch properly. Correction: Driver and passenger front seat back recliner machanisms will be replaced. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 130089009 Sep 2013 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules | |
| 990730030A Apr 2001 | Power Train | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT | |
| 990730030 Dec 1999 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT | |
| 990309004 Oct 1999 | Suspension | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT | |
| 98033 Nov 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER PURGE SOLENOID VLAVE REPLACEMENT AND CONVERTIBLE ONLY, PROM REPLACEMENT. *YC |
Show 23 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98033 Oct 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VOLUNTARY EMISSION CAMPAIGN INVOLVING THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER PURGE SOLENOID VALVE REPLACEMENT AND, CONVERTIBLE ONLY, PROM REPLACEMENT. *TT | |
| 876002A Jul 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT | |
| 98576124A Jun 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | COMMENTS ON A TICKING TYPE NOISE THAT BEGINS SHORTLY AFTER COLD ENGINE START-UP AND GRADUALLY DIMINISHES AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. *YC | |
| 970801676305 Aug 1997 | Vehicle Speed Control | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND/OR AN ACCELERATOR CABLE SEPARATION. *YC | |
| 970801735026 Aug 1997 | Service Brakes | COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC | |
| 676305 Mar 1997 | Vehicle Speed Control | DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND/OR ACCELERATOR CABLE SEPARATION (INSTALL ACCELERATOR CABLE AND CLIP). *TW | |
| 676001 Feb 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (REPLACE PCV HARNESS). *TW | |
| 577106A Feb 1997 | Power Train | COLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW | |
| 577106A Dec 1996 | Power Train | COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW | |
| 431041A Aug 1995 | Structure | UNKNOWN | |
| 576124 Aug 1995 | Engine And Engine Cooling | COLD ENGINE TICK OR RATTLE AFTER START-UP (REPLACE PISTON/PIN ASSEMBLY). *SD | |
| 9573T4001 Aug 1995 | Power Train | GRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD | |
| 531018 Jun 1995 | Visibility | UNKNOWN | |
| 576305 May 1995 | Vehicle Speed Control | UNKNOWN | |
| 531005 Feb 1995 | Visibility | FRONT WINDOW SCRAPING NOISE WHEN ROLLING GLASS DOWN. *TW | |
| 577104 Feb 1995 | Power Train | HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFTS. *TW | |
| 577106 Feb 1995 | Power Train | COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW | |
| 435012A Jan 1995 | Service Brakes | ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *TW | |
| 133405 Jan 1995 | Suspension | REAR STRUT RELATED THUMPING/SQUEAKING NOISE. *TW | |
| 436604 Jan 1995 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXHAUST MANIFOLD SEAL SQUEAK. *TW | |
| 476520 Dec 1994 | Fuel System | CRANK NO START/RUNS ROUGH AFTER EXTREME COLD WEATHER SOAK. *TW | |
| 435012 Dec 1994 | Service Brakes | ABS WIRE HARNESS FOR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL MAY RUB ON THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. *TW | |
| 476135 Oct 1994 | Engine And Engine Cooling | OIL LEAK AT THE ROCKER COVER. *TW |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 4 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Oldsmobile Cutlass →