NHTSA vehicle safety data
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 155 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Oldsmobile dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass owner complaints
Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass, describing incidents dated July 20, 1997 to November 24, 2014.
Most-cited components
- Service Brakes 40 complaints
- Engine 32 complaints
- Steering 21 complaints
- Suspension 18 complaints
- Electrical System 15 complaints
- Equipment 11 complaints
Of the 155 complaints on file, 7 report a crash; across all 155 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #10667719 · Filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
ODI #10609708 · Filed
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…
ODI #10576006 · Filed
HAVE HAD IGNITION SWITCH JUST SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN GM'S RECENT RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCHES ON NEWER CARS. LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR THE LAST 10 OR SO YEARS. WHEN IT HAPPENS I JUST QUICKLY…
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass in 6 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Recall Query RQ04-006: WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
Closed January 13, 2005
- Recall Query RQ03-001: POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
Closed September 15, 2003
- Engineering Analysis EA99-030: OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
Closed March 25, 2002
- Engineering Analysis EA00-019: WINDSHIELD WIPER
Closed March 6, 2001
- Preliminary Evaluation PE00-009: WINDSHIELD WIPER
Closed July 12, 2000
1 more NHTSA investigation
- Preliminary Evaluation PE99-037: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
Closed October 29, 1999
AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS
NHTSA #07E021000 · Fuel System, Other — Storage — Tank Assembly — Pressure Relief Devices · NHTSA notice
Reported March 12, 2007 · DELPHI
Potentially affected: 742 vehicles
Owners notified April 27, 2007
Defect description
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Safety consequence
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Notes
THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED BY GENERAL MOTORS.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
GM/STEERING GEAR BEARINGS
NHTSA #03V527000 · Steering — Rack and Pinion · NHTSA notice
Reported December 11, 2003 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Potentially affected: 750,283 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 03062 · Owners notified February 5, 2004 · Vehicles built June 1, 1997 – October 31, 1997 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Notes
GM RECALL NO. 03062.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM
NHTSA #01V068000 · Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Linkages · NHTSA notice
Reported March 8, 2001 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Potentially affected: 129,427 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 01014 · Owners notified August 14, 2001 · Vehicles built June 1, 1997 – January 31, 1998 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Notes
ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other Oldsmobile Cutlass model years
Check your 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Oldsmobile Cutlass at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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