Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and it carries 3 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 | 30 | 18% |
| Steering | 29 | 17% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 5% |
| Suspension | 8 | 5% |
| Air bags | 7 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 4% |
| Visibility | 5 | 3% |
| Structure | 5 | 3% |
| Tires | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I PURCHASED AFTERMARKET FUEL TANK AND SENDING UNIT FROM PARTS STORE :SPECTRA PREMIUM BRAND #GM30A FUEL TANK AND SP09D1H. AFTER INSTALLING THESE PARTS INTO MY CAR, I FOUND I HAD A LARGE GAS LEAK WHEN I FILLED THE CAR WITH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
IGNITION FAILURE WHEN SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE. IGNITION STUCK BETWEEN ACC AND OFF POSITION. DASHLIGHTS AND RADIO LIGHTS STAYED ON STEERING WHEEL WONT LOCK, SHIFT LEVER WONT LOCK FREELY MOVED. UNHOOKED BATTERY TO KEEP IT FRO
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE V
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITH FORCE AND IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S FACE, CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT MEN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
VECHILE RECENTLY STARTED MAKING GROANING NOISE WHEN STEERING AND FROM POWER STEERING PUMP. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACE BACK IN 2011. TOOK TO GOODYEAR AND TECH INDICATED PUMP WAS FINE, PROBLEM POINT TO THE RACK AND P
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2010 FROM A USED CAR DEALER. UPON 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING WE NOTICED A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS HARD TO THE LEFT AND JUST DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT. THE ENGINE ALSO HAD OVERHEATING AND GASKET PROBLEMS SO WE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE ANTI- THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE LIGHT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON MY 1997 OLDS CUTLASS COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND WILL NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO START. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I SEE THERE ARE LITERALLY 100'S OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM. GM SHOULD BE MADE T
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass. 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 DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO
Risk: REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DA
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 30 of them (18%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1997 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.