Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and it carries no 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 | 41 | 25% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 12% |
| Seats | 11 | 7% |
| Suspension | 8 | 5% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 4% |
| Power train | 7 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 4% |
| Structure | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
1993 CUTLASS CIERA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR CONDITIONER CONVERSION KIT UPGRADE AND POWER STEERING ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DECLINED ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS A DECAL ON THE UNDERSIDE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. A FUSE IS IN THE BOX, WHERE
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE PIPES CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED ALON
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HIS FRIEND WAS DRIVING SHE HEARD A NOISE, GOT OUT, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. ALSO, ANOTHER CRACK STARTED ON THE A FRAME ON THE OTHER SIDE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
ON JUNE 10TH, TWO DAYS AGO, I TOTALED MY 93 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME ON I-93 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHILE MY YEAR (93) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, 88 -91 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM
NHTSA complaint: Steering
MY DIG. DASH WORK HALF THE TIME AND NOT THE REST. I CAN NOT SEE MY SPEED, GAS OR MILEAGE. ALSO EVERY NOW AND THEN SMOKE COME OUT FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DOOR HANDLES NO LONGER WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE. CHILDREN TRYING TO OPEN THEM AFTER THEY ARE BROKEN GET THEIR FINGERS PINCHED .*AK
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 41 of them (25%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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 70/100. 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.