Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 67 | 38% |
| Structure | 20 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 9% |
| Seat belts | 12 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 3% |
| Power train | 5 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE VEHICLE IS A 1990 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA SL. I CHECKED BOX AS CHEVROLET AS OLDSMOBILE IS NOT AN OPTION ON THE DROP DOWN. FOUR NEW TIRES INSTALLED BETWEEN 12/31/13 AND 1/31/14, UNIROYAL AWP II TIGER PAWS SIZE P1
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN SPRAYED QUICK START INTO THE CARBURETOR AND ATTEMPTED TO STAR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I HAVE A 1990 OLDSMOBLE CUTLASS SUPREME. A RECALL #00065 FOR GM WAS DONE ON MY CAR AND ONLY THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS WERE DONE. BUT UPON REVIEWING NHTSA'S RECALL #00V189000 THE FRONT AND REAR SHOULD HAVE BE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE TRUNK. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ANTENNA WIRES CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DASHBOARD COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SHE COULD NOT TELL HOW MUCH FUEL THERE WAS OR HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING/DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, AND
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD COMPONENT DOESN'T WORK 99% OF THE TIME. I NEVER KNOW THE SPEED I AM GOING, OR IF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING COMES ON. WHEN THE DASH DOES COME ON IF YOU HIT THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IT GOES BACK OFF. I
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHEN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE OWNER STATED THERE WAS NO WHERE IN THE MANUAL THAT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED WITH EVERY BATTERY C
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE HOOD LATCH CABLE FROZE AND THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER BROKE. IN TURN THEE CABLE AND THE LEVER MUST BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGI
Risk: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 48 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 67 of them (38%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.