1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cutlass Supreme years
- Not enough data 3rd of 3 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. That ranks 3rd out of 3 Cutlass Supreme model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (14 complaints, 33%), typically at around 45,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 43owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 14 | 33% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 23% | 60,872 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 12% | 96,900 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 7% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 7% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 5% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 5% | 43,872 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:rack and pinion
Problem: 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 exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
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. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (EA03019) — opened Sep 15, 2003, closed Dec 18, 2003, led to recall 03V527000.
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (RQ03001) — opened Jan 2, 2003, closed Sep 15, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Engine coolant reservoir has an oily scent and has oil deposits inside.*ak
Mrs. Jones ownes a 1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme. On march 10, 2004, i entered the driver seat of the said car to depart from home. When i engaged the ignition to start the car the air bag deployed. The defective air bag struck me in face, causing injury.*ak
The plastic fasteners on the front passenger side seat belt fell off. Driver's side the seat belt fastener cracked and was about to fall off. The seat belts were not able to be latched. Dealership did not indicate why the failure occurred, they were just quoting the replacing price of the part.*ak
After having recall 03v527000 performed on my vehicle, i am having clicking noises every time i turn the wheel of the vehicle. *ak
When making a right turn consumer heard a loud noise. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.*ak
Other Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 43 | 1 |
| 1996 Cutlass Supreme | 47 | 2 |
| 1995 Cutlass Supreme | 77 | 1 |
See all Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme problems by year, every Oldsmobile model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Oldsmobile models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme?
Owners most often report steering, service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cutlass Supreme model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.