1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 6%of 96 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 205,583miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6% of the 96 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 205,583 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 reverse. Both failures have been occurring for two months. The current mileage was 208,627 and failure mileage was 205,583.”
NHTSA complaint #10187191, filed 2007-04, 205,583 miles“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 1999-11Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4 | 5% |
| 1998 | 6 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 6% |
| 1996 | 5 | 4% |
| 1995 | 4 | 3% |
| 1994 | 5 | 3% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 2 | 1% |
| 1990 | 5 | 5% |
| 1989 | 2 | 2% |
| 1983 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass
25 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsEngine cooling
15 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology