1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe airbags deploying without a crash, sometimes while the car is parked or being started, and many complaints concern delays in getting the recall repair done. Brake and transmission complaints are the next most common, and several concern wear-related failures at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Recall repair delayed by parts availability

   • 14 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 6.3 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2002

   Many owners describe receiving the recall notice but being unable to get the work done. They report being told parts were unavailable, waiting weeks to months, receiving the wrong parts, or being refused an appointment, and some say they were charged a diagnostic fee without the repair being performed. Complaints cluster around late 2000 through 2002, shortly after the recall notice was mailed.

   Recall 00V171000

   What to check: Confirm in writing that the recall remedy was actually installed, not just scheduled, and keep the repair order.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a recall letter saturday, stating that the airbag could deploy without warning. They won't fix it for 6 months! This is absurd. I have 1 in 2000 chances of experiencing this defect. I want to disconnect it until the parts come in but two dealerships I contacted said they couldn't! That is even more absurd. Tell me what to do now!”

   NHTSA complaint #725344, filed 2000-07

   “Consumer received a recall 00v171000 notice for air bag deployment. Dealership was supposedto replace inflator in air bags. Consumer claimed that no parts were replaced in vehicle, and she was charged for diagnostic of vehicle. She has recently received another letter regarding air bag inadvertently deploying. Please provide any additional information/attachments.”

   NHTSA complaint #885462, filed 2001-04
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag deploys without a crash

   • 18 complaints (23%)
   • median 108,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2003

   Owners describe the driver's airbag, and sometimes both front airbags, going off with no impact involved. Several say it happened while starting the car, sitting in park, idling, or driving at steady speed, and some report injuries and loss of control afterward. Others describe the airbag warning light coming on beforehand, and a number say the dealer would not act unless the light stayed on or the repair was paid for. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints filed with no mileage given; several describe it happening at start-up or while parked.

   Recall 00V171000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 00V171000 was completed and request paperwork showing the inflator was replaced. Note whether the airbag warning light works and stays off after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer states while driving 70 MPH, the driver's side tire experienced a blow which caused the consumer to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle rolled over multiple times as it traveled down a steep rock and shrub covered embankment. The vehicle then collided with a large boulder where it came to rest on its roof. (arthur blankeman on behalf of the driver terry geller) ( tire make/model, spectrum starfire, size 215/65 r16) also the air bags did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10027051, filed 2003-08, 108,000 miles

   “Vehicle is equipped with the driver and passenger air bags. While driving across a drivethrough, driver's airbag deployed unexpectedly which caused injuries. There is recall 00v171,000. But, this vehicle is not included in recall due to VIN. Please provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #873881, filed 2000-10
3. 3
   Brakes

   Rotors warp and ABS warnings or braking faults

   • 17 complaints (22%)
   • typically at 4.3 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2002

   Owners describe shudder through the pedal and steering wheel under braking, with rotors replaced more than once on the same car. Others report the ABS and low-traction lights coming on, especially in wet weather, and instances where the pedal felt choppy or the car did not stop as expected. Complaints also mention rusted calipers and rotors flaking apart, with repairs often paid by the owner. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles upward, with repeat rotor replacement within a couple of years.

   What to check: Have the front and rear brakes inspected for rotor scoring or warping, and check that the ABS lamp goes out after start-up. Ask for service records showing how often brakes were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When trying to stop at a stop sign or light the anti-lock brake system fails to respond, and vehicle rolls part way through the intersection. I crashed into the rear of a vehicle in front of me on another occasion. The system from time to time fails to give immediate sense of stopping..”

   NHTSA complaint #734128, filed 2000-10

   “I realize that at the time of filling out this questionairre that this model is no longer being made by GM but I did see I story about the Oldsmobile alero having the same problems and felt complelled to write. We have had to replace the brakes four times on this car. We bought the car new in 1995 and it now has 61,000 miles on it. The first two times that the brakes were done they were fixed under the warranty but we have had to replace them ourselves the past two times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #761381, filed 2002-04
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery and alternator keep failing

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 5.9 yrs old
   • filed 1997–2004

   Owners describe repeated no-start conditions where the battery and alternator were replaced several times over a few years without the problem being resolved. Other complaints mention wiring that smoked at the steering column, turn signals and brake lights that stopped working, and a car that would not start in hot weather when using the pass-key system. Reported over the first several years of ownership, in some cases multiple replacements within three years.

   What to check: Ask how many batteries and alternators the car has had, check for a slow crank or dim lights, and confirm all exterior lights and the security light behave normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this car on 5/31/98 from autonation USA. The battery died within days of purchase and was replaced. We were told at that time that the alternator was also replaced. We had to put the vehicle in the shop twice more after that for various reasons. In september of 1998 the alternator went out again and we took it to a different autonation location and it was replaced, this is when we were told that they had not previously replced it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #706002, filed 1999-04

   “On two occasions the passenger's restraints have been replaced. On two other occasions the restraints will not retract. The dealer has been notified. Driver side front door squeaks, dealer adjusted window track and added a rubber stopper. Trunk leaks. Generator and alternator shorted out and were replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #819849, filed 1997-12
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips and loses power

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 4.9 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2001

   Owners describe the transmission slipping, revving without acceleration, or making a loud noise before the car would only move slowly. In some cases shops found metal debris in the fluid and rebuilt or replaced the transmission, and at least one owner reported the reverse reaction drum had come loose. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 100,000 miles, often during highway driving.

   What to check: Check the transmission fluid for color and debris, and test drive at highway speed to feel for slipping or delayed engagement. Ask whether the transmission was ever serviced or rebuilt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car had a loss of power when it reached normal temperature and going on highway speeds. You had to put the accelerator all the way down to the mat in order to keep going. I took the car to a mechanic and they noticed that the engine was running hot in certain parts of the motor. They replaced the thersmostat and flushed the radiator but that didn't fix the car. They recommended to replace the catalic convertor but that didn't fix it either. The next step was to get the transmission tested. That did it, and the transmission had to be rebuilt. …”

   NHTSA complaint #735475, filed 2000-10

   “When pulling onto street from parking lot engine suddenly revved up and vehicle would not accelerate. Driver heard loud noise coming from transmission and managed to coast back into parking lot. The auto had been at hardin Oldsmobile for service the previous week . Since the service included automatic transmission servicing the dealer was called and vehicle was towed to their location. The dealer subsequently informed us that what they had done could not have caused the failure of the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #720447, filed 2000-03

Buying note. On this model year the airbag recall is the item worth confirming first, since complaints show the remedy was often delayed and the symptom can appear with no warning. A pre-purchase inspection covering brakes, transmission behavior, and the charging system is worthwhile given the age and typical mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.