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1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 879,710 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 03V527000 2003-12-11 750,283 affected
Defect

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.

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…

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…

VISIBILITY 01V068000 2001-03-08 129,427 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

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…

Complaints by component

STEERING:RACK AND PINION
12
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
11
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
3crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
4
Total complaints161

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I purchased aftermarket fuel tank and sending unit from parts store :spectra premium brand #gm30a fuel tank and sp09d1h. After installing these parts into my car, I found I had a large gas leak when I filled the car with fuel like about a gallon went on the ground and it leaked as I drove the car…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2020-06-01

“Ignition failure when shutting off vehicle. Ignition stuck between acc and off position. Dashlights and radio lights stayed on steering wheel wont lock, shift lever wont lock freely moved. Unhooked battery to keep it from draining down”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2016-02-23

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 oldsmobile cutlass. While traveling approximately 35 mph, the driver side air bag inadvertently deployed with force and impacted the contact's face, causing limited visibility. The contact mentioned that a substance emitted in the vehicle when the air bag deployed. The…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2014-06-17

“Vechile recently started making groaning noise when steering and from power steering pump. Power steering pump was replace back in 2011. Took to goodyear and tech indicated pump was fine, problem point to the rack and pinion. *tr”

STEERING · reported 2013-12-27

“We bought the car in 2010 from a used car dealer. Upon 6 months of driving we noticed a steering problem that was hard to the left and just didn't seem right. The engine also had overheating and gasket problems so we had the engine replaced. Upon test driving the vehicle the mechanic was driving…”

STEERING · reported 2011-01-25

“Anti-theft system on my 1997 olds cutlass comes on frequently and will not allow my car to start. In researching this issue I see there are literally 100's of complaints regarding this very problem. Gm should be made to fix the issue by completely replacing the defective part with one that is more…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2008-06-11

“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 oldsmobile cutlass. When the contact inserted the key into the ignition, the anti- theft warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. The engine would not start until the light dimmed. She took the vehicle to the dealer, but they could not duplicate the…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2007-12-01

“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 oldsmobile cutlass. When the brake pedal was depressed the tail lights failed to illuminate. The mechanic stated that there was failure in the circuit. Occasionally, it took approximately five minutes before the gears engaged when attempting to shift from park to…”

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) · reported 2007-03-27

Defect investigations

Investigation EA00019 Opened 2000-07-12 · closed 2001-03-06

WINDSHIELD WIPER

ON FEBRUARY 22, 2000, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) INITIATED PE00-009 BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 & 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU & OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO EA00-019 ON JULY 12, 2000.DURING THE COURSE OF THE…

Investigation EA02003 Opened 2002-04-04 · closed 2002-12-10

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL.GM WILL RECALL 1997-98 GRAND PRIX BUILT BETWEEN 1-MAR-96 AND 31-OCT-97; AND 1996-98 U-VANS/J-CARS BUILT BETWEEN 1-JAN-96 AND 31-OCT-97.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.

Investigation EA02003 Opened 2002-04-04 · closed 2002-12-10

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL.GM WILL RECALL 1997-98 GRAND PRIX BUILT BETWEEN 1-MAR-96 AND 31-OCT-97; AND 1996-98 U-VANS/J-CARS BUILT BETWEEN 1-JAN-96 AND 31-OCT-97.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.

Investigation PE00009 Opened 2000-02-22 · closed 2000-07-12

WINDSHIELD WIPER

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE01038 Opened 2001-11-14 · closed 2002-04-04

STEERING RACK AND PINION

ODI HAS RECEIVED 200 COMPLAINTS FROMT CONSUMERS AND 1,238 FROM GM ALLEGING FAILURE OR LOCKUP OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION UNIT (R&P).THIS ALLEGED CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN RESULT.GM HAS REPORTED SIX CRASHES IN WHICH EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ04006 Opened 2004-07-07 · closed 2005-01-13

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN…

Investigation RQ04006 Opened 2004-07-07 · closed 2005-01-13

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.