The 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,767,833 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence
SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
POWER TRAIN87V1680001987-10-2611,936 affected
Defect
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
Consequence
THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRECTION.
Remedy
REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
3fires1deaths
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1
Total complaints22
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving at approximately 25 mph lost control of the vehicle due to rear axle disconnecting from vehicle. There was no crash involved, and no one was injured. Dealership has not examined vehicle. Please provide any additional information/attachtments.*ak”
“Engine failure causing fire. Ohio state police report.”
“Vehicle was parked for a few minutes, then caught on fire from under the front grill of the vehicle.”
“The driver's side seat belt buckle housing is broken and it keeps jamming. *ak”
“Driver seat belt will not extend so that it will fit around the driver. *ak”
“Driver seat belt will not extend so that it will fit around the driver. *ak”
“Engine compartment fire, causing fatality.(attorney for client)”
“Failure on the driver and passenger side seat retarctors. Tt”
Defect investigations
InvestigationC89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA90041 Opened 1990-08-29 · closed 1992-03-30
BRAKE PERFORMANCE
===
InvestigationPE89145 Opened 1989-07-21 · closed 1989-09-22
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.