Complaints
160
Crashes
14
Fires
5
Injuries
16
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#113 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:6
#213 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:97,500 mi
#39 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:96,000 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 | 6 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 | — | — | 97,500 mi | |
| Airbags | 9 | 3 | — | 96,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | 130,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 | — | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
13
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,500
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,000
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
130,000
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Oldsmobile Cutlass Years
1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 160 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 13 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (13 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (13 complaints, avg 97,500 mi); Airbags (9 complaints, avg 96,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 103,982 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass include 14 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 16 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Oldsmobile Cutlass reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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