1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brakes that wear or warp early, and about driver's-side airbags that deploy without warning, sometimes while the car is parked or just being started. Electrical complaints range from batteries draining overnight to smoke or burning smells at the steering column, and a number of owners describe transmission or accelerator-cable problems that left the car unable to accelerate or shift normally.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Early brake wear, warped or corroded rotors

   • 30 complaints (19%)
   • median 119,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Complaints describe front rotors and pads needing replacement well before owners expected, with vibration or noise when braking and, in some cases, rear rotors also replaced more than once. Several owners report calipers that did not release properly, causing uneven pad wear. According to the complaints, dealers resurfaced or replaced rotors and pads, and some owners were told the wear was normal for the car. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 16,000 miles up to about 190,000, with many in the 28,000-120,000 mile range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the rotors and pads inspected for scoring, warping, corrosion or uneven pad wear, and ask for service records showing how often brakes were replaced. A service bulletin describes an ABS pump that runs when not needed, so also ask whether the ABS light behaves normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My main complaint relates to the disc brakes, rotors, and caliper assemblies on my vehicle. I have owned my vehicle since 1996 and on several occasions have had to replace the brake pads, rotors and more recently the calipers due to them freezing up. Since I have purchased the car I have had at least two instances probably three where I changed my brake pads prematurely because of uneven wear. The caliper was not properly releasing and it was causing one pad usually the inside pad (the one without) the metal strip to wear down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10114440, filed 2005-03, 119,000 miles

   “Premature rear brake failure seems common for this and the comparable body styles of GM. Gm service managers say this is a common problem. Acquired car with 34k, failure occurred at 60k again at 100k and again at 120k. Gm doesn't seem to care because they claim it is normal for the particular car.”

   NHTSA complaint #755223, filed 2001-12
2. 2
   Air bags

   Driver's airbag deploys with no impact

   • 21 complaints (13%)
   • median 119,248 mi at 10.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2010

   Many complaints describe the driver's-side airbag firing without a collision, often at the moment the key is turned or when the car is parked, idling or moving at low speed. Some owners report the airbag warning light coming on beforehand, and others describe injuries to the arm or face. Owners say dealers could not find a cause, and some mention difficulty getting recall parts. Reported from the late 1990s through the 2000s, at low mileage in some cases and past 150,000 miles in others; several occurred at startup or just after turning the key.

   What to check: Ask whether any airbag recall or replacement has been completed and whether the airbag warning light is currently off. Note that some complaints also describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, so the system is worth having checked by a shop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On friday 10/6/2000 while my sister driving the car, the airbag light in the dashboard comes on with no reason. My sister then desided to take it to the Oldsmobile dealership the next morning. The next day, while starting the car, the airbag deployed in her face. I took the car to arnold palmer Oldsmobile in charlotte. The service department told me they will check on any recalls by the manufacture. After ten days, they told me there is no recall and the problem was from the horn modula. I think thy did not want to blame it on the manufacture. …”

   NHTSA complaint #734843, filed 2000-10

   “Airbag deployed while traveling down a road with no notice and no incident leading to the forementioned deployment. Stunned and confused-driver could not see and applied brakes and turned steering wheel to left to avoid oncoming traffic.”

   NHTSA complaint #10156648, filed 2006-05, 189,200 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and electrical shorts, smoke at column

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • median 71,151 mi at 11.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe batteries going dead after the car sits for a day or two, repeated battery and alternator replacement, and fuses that keep blowing. Several complaints mention smoke or a burning smell around the steering column, along with turn signals, brake lights, high beams or the horn stopping working. Reported from the late 1990s through the 2000s, from low mileage up to about 170,000 miles, often described as intermittent.

   Recall 97V0170001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that the battery holds charge after sitting, test the turn signals, brake lights, horn and high beams, and look for a melted or repaired steering-column connector. A recall covers a strained washer/wiper switch power wire, so ask whether it was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Each year since the purchase of this Oldsmobile I have had to replace my alternator. I previously owned a 1989 Oldsmobile and had to do the same. The hesitating/stalling problem is what originally prompted me to get rid of my 1989 and purchase a newer version. I have owned this car for three and one half years and am just now experiencing similar problems. The problem was never identified/corrected in the 1989 car but hopefully, the dealer can correct the problem in my current car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #726740, filed 2000-08

   “Intermittent smoke coming from behind steering wheel, headlights high-beam stuck on, turn signals did not work. Repeatedly moving headlight dimmer-lever seemed to temporarily correct problem. Now unable to get any high-beams, smoke comes and goes, turn-signals come and go, horn stopped working entirely.”

   NHTSA complaint #10140020, filed 2005-10, 71,151 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Accelerator cable breaks or engine speed runs up

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 101,500 mi at 11.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe the accelerator pedal going to the floor with a broken cable under the hood, and others describe the engine racing to high rpm or the car surging and hesitating without warning. Some complaints say the dealer was aware of the problem but did not resolve it. Reported mostly between roughly 20,000 and 100,000 miles, often during acceleration onto a freeway or while passing.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the accelerator and cruise-control cable for fraying or looseness, and test that the pedal returns smoothly and engine speed settles at idle. A service bulletin describes intermittent chuggle or hesitation on light acceleration, so ask whether that was ever addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Started engine normally, began forward movement when brake pedal became exceedingly hard, pushed transmission to neutral, and engine revolutions immediately went to 4600 RPM. Could not regain control of engine speed and/or brake function. This failure mode leads to very dangerous out of control condition. This is a design flaw when this 'fail dangerous' mode is permitted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10141973, filed 2005-11, 101,500 miles

   “While entering freeway at about 20 MPH accelerator was depressed and went all way to the floor. There were no signs or symptoms prior to incident. Vehicle was puled off road, and checked under hood and noticed a broken cable. Vehicle was repaired at an Oldsmobile dealer. No acciident or injuries occurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #876219, filed 2000-12
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifts or loss of gear

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 90,291 mi at 12.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2010

   Complaints describe the car jerking or hesitating when accelerating, coming out of gear at speed, harsh shifts into gear, and in some cases refusing to go into reverse or second gear. Owners report transmission replacement, sensor replacement that did not solve the problem, and repeated repair visits. Reported from the late 1990s through the 2000s, mostly between roughly 60,000 and 120,000 miles, with a few past 150,000.

   What to check: Drive the car from cold and check for delayed or harsh engagement, slipping between gears and whether reverse engages promptly. Ask for transmission service records and whether the fluid was changed regularly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and something dropped under my hood causing it to be stuck in one gear. I believe my transmission is messed up. It won't go in reverse only forward.”

   NHTSA complaint #10018312, filed 2003-05

   “Consumer disappointed in how repairs to transmission on the 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass cierra was handled. The gears in the transmission failed, the first time one of the smaller shops wanted the consumer to leave the vehicle in the shop for 5 days as collateral until the part arrived and pay $1400.00 up front. The consumer continued to experience problems with the transmission. The gear would not shift into 2nd gear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10122645, filed 2005-05

Buying note. Check the brake and airbag systems carefully before buying this model year, since those are the most common themes in owner complaints, and confirm which open recalls or service bulletins have actually been completed. A pre-purchase inspection covering brakes, the airbag warning system and electrical behavior is worth the cost on a car of this age.

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.