The 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,051,940 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 164 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH…
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH CAN RESULT IN RESUMPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.
THE ELECTRONIC AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN STARTING CAR THAT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS WITH IGNITION OFF.
WINDSHIELD MAY NOT DEFROST AND CAR WOULD NOT CONFORMWITH FMVSS 103.
REPLACE ELECTRONIC COMFORT CONTROL ASSEMBLY.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“1989 cutlass calias. Consumer writes in regards to while traveling the steering wheel locked up and vehicle had no brakes. *smd the consumer stated her husband was not able to control the vehicle, and hit a median. The consumer wasn't driving very fast. The consumer no longer owns the vehicle. *jb”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1989 oldsmobile cutlass. The vehicle was leaking power steering fluid and the steering was difficult to turn. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and paid to have it repaired. Once he left the mechanic, the failure recurred. He is planning to return to the state…”
“While 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…”
“When driving 70mph a fire started in the rear right side of the vehicle, causing the consumer to pull over. Dealer has been notified. *ak”
“Rear brakes lock up while driving causing an accident. Dealer notified. *akthis defect happens once every year. *jg”
“Right side of subframe dropped while traveling on highway. Dealership is aware of problem.*ak”
“Nhtsa recall 00 v 189 000/ manufacturer's recall 00065-s/crable bolts: dealer: king orourke cadillac oldsmobile; lynbrook,ny; phone# 516/593-6420 refused to honor recall because structure around cradle bolts have severely rusted out. Dealer wanted to charge consumer to replace that structure…”
“Recall was not done properly. Repairs still under warranty. However dealership district manager refuses to repair car. Contacted general motors and they tried to get the dealership to repair. Manager is stating that yes the recall states that the bolts can pull through the frame but says that the…”
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.