1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass Suspension Problems

“While driving my fiances Oldsmobile, I noticed a bad shudder under light to moderate braking. Upon investigation, I found that the front left control arm had rusted so badly that it had cracked in several places. The structural integrity had been so badly compromised I am sure that had I needed to brake suddenly the control arm would have failed causing the right wheel to come of the vehicle. I was able to flex part of the control arm by hand upon removal from the vehicle. …”

“While backing out of my garage I heard a snapping noise and felt the car bounce. Thinking that is was just the ice ridges in the drive way I proceeded to drive the car. I drove only a few blocks when I smelt something burning so I returned home and parked the car until my husband returned. We took the car to our mechanic were he replaced the front coil springs and the front tire because the broken coil spring left a deep gash in it.”

“The left front coil spring broke blowing out the tire. This happened without warning, and it was a good thing I was only going around 25 MPH and on a side street. If this had happened on a main road there very well may have been a major accident with injuries to myself, my passengers, and others on the road. I am not sure as to how many recent reports there have been made on this issue but I see there were several reports of springs breaking on 1999 chevy malibu's in the past. And I feel this is an uncalled for safety defect. …”

“On april 26,2005 while driving in a residential neighborhood the front right spring broke and caused the tire to blow out, and consumer lost control of vehicle. The spring was replaced, front end aligned and the tire replaced. This could have been a very serious situation had I been driving at a higher rate of speed. The vehicle is a 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass with apx. 42000 miles. I believe there should be a warning to other owners of this make and model automobile. Thank you, harold oliver”

“While driving at 25 MPH coil spring broke. This resulted in the front driver's side tire going up into the fender, and the front wheels locking up. Steering became difficult, then, vehicle stopped abruptly. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they noticed that the rust developed on the edge of the coil spring.”