Complaints
223
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#118 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Avg mileage:60,537 mi
#213 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
#310 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:76,200 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 18 | — | — | 60,537 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 | — | — | 76,200 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 | — | — | 46,162 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | — | — | 78,617 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 7 | — | — | 30,742 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 | 4 | — | 71,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 | — | — | 65,200 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | — | 51,988 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 49,768 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 5 | — | — | 71,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,537
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,200
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,162
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,617
Steering:Rack And Pinion
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,742
Suspension:Front
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,000
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,200
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,988
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,768
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,000
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
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
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Oldsmobile Cutlass Years
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 223 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor with 18 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (18 complaints, avg 60,537 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (13 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (10 complaints, avg 76,200 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 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 60,748 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass include 8 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 4 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 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 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 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
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 1998 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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