Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls

The Oldsmobile Cutlass has 7 recalls spanning the 1976-1997 production run, with the most serious being a 1997 model year wiper defect where snow or ice buildup can crack the passenger-side wiper pivot housing, disabling that wiper and reducing visibility in poor weather conditions.

The only other recall affecting late production is limited to 1979 models and involves rear axle lubricant with insufficient zinc content, which can cause premature wear of axle components under repeated wheel-spin conditions. A separate 1979 issue affects vehicles equipped with the optional U.S. Rally Gauge Package, where the speedometer and odometer were calibrated in miles rather than kilometers, a compliance issue for Canadian-market vehicles. The 1983 and 1984 model years share a common problem: a failed canister purge thermo vacuum switch that causes the evaporative emissions system to stop working, putting these vehicles out of compliance with Canadian emissions standards. Going back further, 1977 models with the 260 cubic inch engine can accumulate carbon deposits in the exhaust gas recirculation ports of the intake manifold, restricting exhaust flow and causing excess emissions. The 1976 model year has a similar exhaust gas recirculation port deposit issue affecting the intake manifold.