1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a fairly even split of front-end complaints: brakes, steering, electrical gremlins and cooling-system leaks dominate the sampled complaints, with most appearing between roughly 50,000 and 140,000 miles. Several reports involve gradual wear that turned into repeated repairs (brakes, steering rack, intake gasket leaks), while a smaller group describes abrupt loss of power steering or a no-start condition tied to the anti-theft system.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake noise, rapid pad/rotor wear, ABS light on

   • 20 complaints (21%)
   • median 137,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2006

   Owners describe grinding and squealing brakes, pads and rotors replaced repeatedly within short mileage intervals, and rotors found pitted or warped, producing pulsation and a spongy pedal. A separate recurring theme is the ABS light coming on at random, often during a turn or over a bump; dealers reportedly traced this to wheel speed sensors and wiring, and several owners say the light returned after the repair. Spread across the sample from low mileage up to about 140,000 miles; brake hardware complaints appear from the first few thousand miles onward, while ABS light complaints show up from very low mileage to well past 70,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for grinding or squeal on a test drive and feel for pedal pulsation; ask for service records showing how often pads, rotors and wheel speed sensors were replaced, and check whether the ABS light stays off over bumps and turns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since I purchased the vehicle in 1997, there have been numerous problems. The front brakes have been replaced 3 times, once while still under warranty. The air conditioning unit failed, an $800 repair. The motor on the driver side window malfunctioned, a $400 repair. Today, while driving home the battery light came on, I was within a mile of home, so I just kept going. As I was turning into my driveway, all of the controls on the dashboard failed, speed limit, gas gauge, etc. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10033265, filed 2003-08, 137,000 miles

   “After driving vehicle for a month had applied brakes and a grinding noise was heard. Noise proceeded to get worse. Took vehicle back. Brake pads were changed. A month later , needed a new set of brakes. Problem happened every two weeks. Mechanic indicated no knowledge of cause of problem. Brakes kept messing up & were under warranty, but not being properly repaired.”

   NHTSA complaint #875785, filed 2000-11
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering rack and power steering loss or binding

   • 19 complaints (20%)
   • median 79,701 mi at 7.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2014

   Complaints describe the steering binding, locking up, or the wheel suddenly pulling to one side, sometimes with power steering fluid leaking from the gear and a groaning noise from the pump area. Repair reports include rack-and-pinion replacement and power steering pump replacement, and several owners say a dealer declined to perform the steering-gear recall work, citing a non-original part or VIN coverage. Reported from a few thousand miles on cars with early rack replacement up to vehicles past 100,000 miles, with several reports in the 50,000-100,000 mile range.

   Recall 03V5270002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groans or binding, check the rack and pump area for fluid leaks, and confirm with a dealer whether recall 03V527000 was completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 and the power steer had a complete failure and ran him towards oncoming traffic and then back another direction. Upon return to the shop he concluded the entire rack was broken and needed replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10548733, filed 2013-10, 60,000 miles

   “I had a recall on my steering rack pinion and the dealership and the manufactory would not honor it because they said the original GM part had been replaced with an non GM part.”

   NHTSA complaint #10061925, filed 2004-03
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Anti-theft (PASS-Key) no-start and electrical faults

   • 20 complaints (21%)
   • median 99,298 mi at 9.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2016

   Owners describe the security or theft light blinking and the engine refusing to crank, sometimes needing a wait of ten minutes or more before it will start; some report it happening more often in cold weather or when making short stops. Related reports mention ignition switch problems, smoke or burned wiring at the steering column, failed window motors, and dash or lighting failures. Dealers in several complaints could not duplicate the condition or offered no remedy. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 110,000 miles, with a few reports at very low mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Start the car several times cold and warm and watch for the theft light; ask whether the ignition switch orPass-Key components have been replaced, and look for scorched wiring or a smell of burnt plastic near the column.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass and I have been having problems with the passlock anti-theft system on this vehicle for some time. Sometimes when I try and start this vehicle, the theft system light starts to blink on and off. When this happens, the vehicle can not be started for at least 10 minutes. This is very frustrating as it usually happens at the worst of times, like in the cold winter weather, at a gas station, or in a loading/unloading zone at a hotel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10165327, filed 2006-08, 98,597 miles

   “This car has had all of its scheduled maintenance performed at the dealership. During the first year that I owned the car, a) the cruise control stopped working and the cable from the cruise control power unit to the throttle body had to be replaced, and b) the carpet started balding in an area where there normally isn't any contact with my feet. …”

   NHTSA complaint #713608, filed 1999-10
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks at the intake manifold gasket

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2013

   Owners report coolant loss with no obvious external leak, overheating, and a dealer or shop diagnosis of a failed intake manifold gasket, with coolant or oil seeping at the rear of the engine. Repair estimates quoted in complaints run from several hundred to around $850 for the gasket, and some owners say the leak returned after the first repair. Reported from about 40,000 to 100,000 miles, with repeat failures noted around 75,000-82,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for crusty residue or seepage at the rear of the engine and around the intake; ask whether the intake manifold gasket has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 97 and 99 Oldsmobile cutlas with v6-191 3.1l VIN m sfi engines. They both leak coolant from the intake manifold at the rear of the engine. I am told this is a common problem with this engine and is caused by the dex cool anti-freeze installed by the mfg. The cost est. From the olds dealer is $850.00 to replace the gasket. These cars each have 50,000 mi. If this is in fact a common problem I should get some relief from the manufacture.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047305, filed 2003-11, 52,400 miles

   “Dt:the contact stated the intake manifold gasket leaked oil and antifreeze due to the type of plastic that was manufactured for this gasket. The gasket has not been repaired because the manufacturer will not assist in the cost. Updated 11/30/2005 - although the dealer verified the problem as requested by the manufacturer they refused refused to cover the cost of the repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10142877, filed 2005-11, 41,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wiper arms cross or fail

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2003

   Complaints describe the wiper arms crossing over each other or one arm coming loose while in use, sometimes in heavy rain, leaving the windshield unclear. In some cases the dealer found the wiper transmission housing cracked or replaced the wiper transmission assembly; at least one owner was told the vehicle was outside a wiper-linkage recall by VIN. Reported across the sample without a consistent mileage pattern, including very early failures and later ones near 71,000 miles.

   Recall 01V068000

   What to check: Run the wipers at both speeds and watch whether the arms track normally without crossing or lagging, and ask a dealer whether recall 01V068000 applies to the vehicle's VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In the middle of driving during heavy rain, windshield wipers stopped working as the driver side wiper arm flipped over the passenger side wiper arm. When I stopped the car to check what happened, I noticed that the passenger side wiper arm was loose. I brought the car into the dealer the next day and was told that the loose wiper arm evidently had caused the windshield wiper transmission housing to crack and in the process rendered both wiper arms inoperable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #712037, filed 1999-09

   “Description of problems- drivers side rear window replaced at delivery due to large scratch. Tail light cover replaced due to moisture build up. Drivers and passengers window motors replaced due to malfunction. Ball joints replaced at 2000 miles, cv joints replaced at 1000 miles, control arms replaced once at 5800 miles and again at 10000 miles. Steering rack replaced at 12400 miles, by this time the complete front end had been replaced from the factory original. And at 19000 miles it is making noise again.”

   NHTSA complaint #714750, filed 1999-11

Buying note. This model year draws a wide mix of front-end and electrical complaints, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on the steering rack, brakes and wiper linkage is worthwhile, along with checking that any open recalls for the steering gear and wiper linkage were completed. Service records showing intake gasket and brake work help gauge how much of this maintenance is already done.

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.