1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems
- Complaints
- 139filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 4campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.1L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year centre on the brake system: many owners describe calipers that stick or seize, rear brakes that do not adjust or engage, and a pedal that goes to the floor, with repeated pad, rotor and caliper replacement. Electrical complaints form a second group - smoke from the dash or steering column area, horn and lighting faults, and door locks or a trunk that operate on their own. Older vehicles in the sample also show structural and front-end wear, such as door hinges without a stop and subframe or ball joint breakage.
- Brakes
Sticking or seizing calipers and weak rear brakes
- 26 complaints (19%)
- typically at 4.2 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Owners describe rear brakes that do not adjust so the car stops mainly on the front brakes, calipers that stick or seize so the front brakes do not release, and repeated replacement of pads, rotors and calipers. Several report the pedal sinking to the floor and extended stopping distances, and some say the dealer or repair shop acknowledged the pattern while charging for the work. A few mention a bolt backing out of a caliper or a wheel running very hot. Reported across the life of the vehicle, in both the 1990s and 2000s filings, with one owner stating a shop said the check could only be done past 100,000 miles.
Recall 94V211000Recall 93V121000
What to check: Have the rear brakes inspected for seized calipers and ask for service records showing how often pads, rotors and calipers were replaced. Ask whether the brake line and hose recalls were completed, and check for fluid leaks or rusted lines near the fittings.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I highly recommend not to buy a Cutlass with the 3.4 dohc the engine in this car sucks I've had to replace almost everything motor wise in this car. From a main seal to head gasket to spark plugs and wires which to fix anything on this car with 3.4 cost you your life!! Brakes have been replace 3 times also and back rotors rust easy and can't be fixed ..so they say!!!”
NHTSA complaint #734482, filed 2000-10“My 1993 olds Cutlass sl has had brake calipers replaced twice in a year in the rear with GM parts once in the front. All rotors replaced, twice in the front. The hop I take the car for service says the Cutlass has problems with brake components on this car. I wasn't notified of any recall. Any information on this you could give to me would be great. I feel I should be able to recoup some of the cost from GM. The shop told me there was a class action lawsuit on the brake problems. Please let me know who to contact. Thanks.”
NHTSA complaint #10036894, filed 2003-08 - Body and structure
Hinges, latches and seat mechanisms that do not hold
- 14 complaints (10%)
- median 110,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1996–2003
Owners report doors that swing freely because the door stop no longer works, outer door handles that stop opening the door, and a broken seat track so the seat will not latch in place. Others describe the driver's seat back collapsing, in one case after a rear impact, and shoulder belts that no longer retract. Reported on older, higher-mileage cars, including one complaint filed at about 110,000 miles.
Recall 93V035000Recall 95V173000
What to check: Open and close each door and check that it holds at the detents, try every outer handle, and rock each front seat back to confirm it latches. Ask whether the seat recliner and rear belt anchorage recalls were performed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driver's shoulder seat belt tensioner failed to retract backwards. Took vehicle to dealership & was informed by mechanic the belt tensioner was not working anymore. This caused a lack of protection for driver.”
NHTSA complaint #858749, filed 2000-03“Driver side seat track is broken. Seat is unable to latch in place;dealer notifed and informed that repairs would only be done at consumer cost. Can NHTSA provide further details.”
NHTSA complaint #844484, filed 1999-08 - Electrical system
Smoke or fire from dashboard, steering column or under hood
- 10 complaints (7%)
- typically at 7.4 yrs old
- 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2004
Owners describe smoke coming from the base of the windshield, the steering column or under the hood, in some cases with flames that were put out by disconnecting the battery. The horn sounding on its own is reported before one dash fire, and in another case a mechanic attributed an under-hood fire to the alternator. Several also report the digital dash working intermittently, leaving speed and fuel readings unreadable. Mostly reported on vehicles that were already several years old, sometimes shortly after the car was parked.
What to check: Look for discoloured or melted wiring around the steering column and horn, and ask whether the alternator and battery have been replaced. Any smell of hot plastic or repeated blown fuses is worth investigating before purchase.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My dig. Dash work half the time and not the rest. I can not see my speed, gas or mileage. Also every now and then smoke come out from my steering column.”
NHTSA complaint #10062756, filed 2004-03“After driving for a half an hour, vehicle was parked for 25 minutes. Suddenly horn began to sound. When consumer went out to see the problem, noticed smoke at the base of the windshield, near the center of the dashboard. The smoke was dark black. Flames then rose into the top of the interior. Fire was put out by consumer after disconnecting the negative battery cable. Dealer has been contacted by insurance.”
NHTSA complaint #853049, filed 1999-11 - Body and structure
Subframe, control arm and ball joint breakage
Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe a broken subframe on the passenger side with a crack starting on the other side, a steel control arm that broke in half at low speed, and a lower ball joint that failed and took the axle with it. In some accounts the car pulled or lost steering control before the parts were found broken. Reported on cars with substantial mileage and age, typically a decade or more after delivery.
What to check: Have a shop inspect the subframe, control arms and ball joints for cracks, corrosion and play before buying, especially on a car used in salted-road areas.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“On june 10th, two days ago, I totaled my 93 Oldsmobile Cutlass supreme on I-93 in new hampshire. While my year (93) has not been recalled, 88 -91 were all recalled for separation of the steering intermediate shaft from the steering gear as a result of corrosion of 2 bolts where road salt use is high, including in massachusetts. I have been commuting from boston to hanover nh to teach for the past 10 weeks. A couple weeks ago I started worrying about steering. …”
NHTSA complaint #10075271, filed 2004-06, 120,000 miles“While driving at 4 MPH on boulevard vehicle went out of control. Off road the steal plate control arm broke in half. Dealer contacted , and cannot remedy the problem. Ordered rear axle trailing arm assembly. Problem still exists. Provide further information.”
NHTSA complaint #834276, filed 1999-01 - Electrical system
Door locks and trunk opening by themselves
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe electric locks cycling up and down on their own, the trunk popping open while driving, and keyless entry working without any command from the fob. Owners report that dealers were unsure whether the cause was electrical, and in one case the car also shut down when coming to a stop. Reported on vehicles of various ages, with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.
What to check: Test the power locks, keyless entry and trunk release several times, including with the engine running, and ask whether the lock actuators or keyless module have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“On both doors latch system is not working, when turning key the lock pops up like door is open. But, when pulling handle its still locked. Consumer also states that the bolt for the brake caliper backs out on a regular basis, causing wheels to lock up ruining one of consumer tires and rim.”
NHTSA complaint #893823, filed 2001-08“When driving at any speed and coming to a stop vehicle shuts down without any prior warning. Also, and electrical locks keep poppiing up and down and making noise, and the trunk keeps popping up.”
NHTSA complaint #839884, filed 1999-06
Buying note. Brake condition is the first thing to check on this model year, since owners describe repeated caliper and rear-brake work, followed by an inspection of the wiring and the front-end structure. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with older cars, plus a check that the open recalls were completed, gives the clearest picture.
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.
NHTSA recorded 139 consumer complaints for the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass. 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 120,000 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes48 35%
- Electrical system21 15%
- Equipment10 7.2%
- Engine cooling9 6.5%
- Body and structure9 6.5%
- Fuel system8 5.8%
- Seats8 5.8%
- Suspension8 5.8%
- Steering7 5.0%
Also reported: Vehicle speed control (6), Other or unknown (5), Air bags (3), Seat belts (3), Wheels (3), Exterior lighting (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Tires (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2).
Example complaints
Brakes: “I have had a lot of problems with the rear disc brakes equipped on my Cutlass supreme. There was a class action suit against GM for this reason. I believe GM should resolve, pay for and reimburse those of us who have had to deal with these cars.”
NHTSA complaint #753131, filed 2001-10Electrical system: “While driving home from racine, we crossed the rr tracks in sturtevant and the Cutlass just died. We had lights but no ignition. We summoned police to call a towtruck to tow it to frank gentile Oldsmobile. After three days they called to tell us the did a diagnostic test for $84 which determined my starter shorted out and blew a 60 amp fuse; I questioned why the starter had anything to do with it since the car was moving, but they assured me it was the starter that shorted therefore blowing the 60 amp fuse that shut down the ignition! That cost me $401. …”
NHTSA complaint #747673, filed 2001-07Transmission and drivetrain: “I have had 3 oldsmobiles 1982 -87- 93 all 3 of my transmissions have gone out at under 100,000 miles I have all ways maintained them I have allways bought 100,000 5 year waranties.on my 93 I never had a check engine lite go on the dealer said I had a bad sensor and a bad wire harness after 750.00 dollars which is a lot of money for me it still does not work right.all so at 96000 miles only 5 months after my 5 year warenty was up I had to replace my main computer (ECM)again no check engine light ever came on . The way I take care of my cars this should not be happining. …”
NHTSA complaint #700061, filed 1998-10Equipment: “The contact owns a 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The consumer stated the driver's side sun visor has a decal on the underside stating that the vehicle is equipped with a driver's side air bag. A fuse is in the box, where it indicated an air bag fuse. However, there is no air bag. The consumer stated GM failed to notify consumers that some of the vehicles produced could have an erroneous driver side sun visor decal stating that the vehicle is equipped with a driver side air bag. Updated 04/18/13”
NHTSA complaint #10503709, filed 2013-03, 206,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 110,000 and 136,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cutlass Ciera Compact Passenger CAR · sedan | not rated | 4 / 3 | — | — | — |
| Cutlass Ciera Medium Passenger CAR · sedan | not rated | 4 / 4 | — | — | — |
| Cutlass Supreme · sedan | not rated | 2 / – | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cutlass Ciera FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 21 | 28 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Cutlass Ciera FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Cutlass Ciera FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Cutlass Cruiser FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Cutlass Cruiser FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Cutlass Cruiser FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Cutlass Supreme FWD | 3.1L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Cutlass Supreme FWD | 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 27 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Cutlass Supreme FWD | 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 24 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Cutlass Supreme FWD | 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 15 | 24 | 18 | $3,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V173000Sep 15, 1995Seat belts › Front › AnchorageCovers: Oldsmobile Cutlass 1991–1993, Buick Century 1989–1996, Oldsmobile Ciera 1989–1990, 1994–1996 +2 more
These vehicles were assembled with rear outboard safety belt anchorages that may not withstand the required load. This does not comply with fmvss no.210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
- 94V211000Oct 26, 1994Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Oldsmobile Cutlass 1993–1994
The brake lines can contact the transmission mounting bracket of the frame side rail. The lines can wear through resulting in loss of brake fluid, and eventual loss of half the vehicle braking system.
- 93V121000Jul 21, 1993Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Oldsmobile Cutlass 1993, Chevrolet Cavalier 1993, Pontiac Sunbird 1993 +1 more
The brake hoses were manufactured incorrectly, and do not comply with fmvss 106, "brake hoses."
- 93V035000Mar 9, 1993SeatsCovers: Oldsmobile Cutlass 1993, Buick Regal 1993, Pontiac Grand Prix 1993 +1 more
The driver and passenger front seat manual reclining mechanisms do not comply with the requirements of fmvss 207, "seating systems." the seat back mechanisms will not latch under certain conditions.
Recall details for the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Oldsmobile Cutlass
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 80 | 64,190 | 0 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 155 | 60,537 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 96 | 79,462 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 123 | 115,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 156 | 100,750 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 148 | 75,000 | 4 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 139 | 120,000 | 4 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 136 | 118,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 193 | 88,000 | 6 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 103 | — | 6 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 113 | 200,000 | 6 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 74 | 120,000 | 6 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 16 | — | 2 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 23 | — | 3 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 18 | 139,000 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 16 | 31,179 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 1983 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Oldsmobile Cutlass model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
Complaints on this model year centre on the brake system: many owners describe calipers that stick or seize, rear brakes that do not adjust or engage, and a pedal that goes to the floor, with repeated pad, rotor and caliper replacement. The issues reported most often: Sticking or seizing calipers and weak rear brakes; Hinges, latches and seat mechanisms that do not hold; Smoke or fire from dashboard, steering column or under hood.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass have?
NHTSA recorded 139 consumer complaints for the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 48 complaints (35% of the total), followed by electrical system with 21.
Has the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass been recalled?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass get?
The EPA rates the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass (Cutlass Supreme, 3.1L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 120,000 miles and the middle half falls between 110,000 and 136,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.